Turning Temptation into Triumph

Main Thought

We’ve all been tempted. There’s no avoiding it. Sometimes it’s something small, like eating a delicious dessert while trying to eat healthy. Other times, it may be something more significant and harmful leading to feelings of guilt and regret. The bible uses the word “temptation” and “trials” interchangeably. As strange as it sounds, temptation in itself is not wrong. God sees these moments as trials and an opportunity for our spiritual growth. At the same time, the devil sees these moments as an opportunity to cause you to fail creating separation between you and god. The end result, positive or negative, depends on your response. The good news is Jesus himself, knows what it’s like to be tempted. He also overcame the temptation and makes it possible for us to do the same.

Main Passages

9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
- Matthew 6:9-13

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your Go and him only shall you serve.’”
- Matthew 4:1-10

12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
- 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
- Hebrews 2:17-18 (NIV)

Discussion Questions

1. What stood out from the main thought and the main passages above?

2. According to the passages above, what are some weapons that we can use when we face temptation? What other tools not mentioned above, do you find helpful when experiencing temptation?

3. What area of testing or temptation are you believing God to give you victory over? What steps can you take to put yourself in a position to win in this area this week?

The Heart of Forgiveness

Main Thought

Forgiveness is “ RELATING to others based on God’s MERCY toward US and RELEASING others to God’s JUSTICE.” In the Gospel of Matthew, we are reminded in ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ that forgiveness should be as regular a part of our lives as asking for our “daily bread.” We are also reminded that we must not only seek God’s forgiveness but also seek to extend forgiveness to others as well. And as we allow God’s forgiveness to come “to us” and flow “through us”, we will keep the door of His peace, blessing, and favor open in our lives.

Main Passages

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
- Matthew 6:9-15

“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
- Matthew 18:21-35, ESV

Discussion Questions

1. What stood out to you from the main thought and main passage above?

2. Share about a time when you either received forgiveness (from God or others) OR when you extended forgiveness to others. What happened? How did it impact your life?

3. In what area of your life do you need to experience God’s forgiveness? And to whom (or what) do you think God is challenging you to extend forgiveness to today ? (a family member, co-worker, yourself, an unexpected situation, etc.)

Close:

As you close, take a moment to pray for one another and to personally pray for forgiveness as needed. Below are a few helpful “sample prayers” to help you to pray for forgiveness, if you’re not sure where to start:

For Personal Forgiveness:

“Father, in the name of Jesus, please forgive me for _______(describe what happened)______ . Thank you for forgiving me and for helping to live for you. Amen.”

For Forgiving Others:

“Father, in the name of Jesus, I choose to forgive___(person, yourself, or a situation) for _____(describe what happened)___________. Amen.”

All I Need

Main Thought

Sometimes, we become anxious or worried when our minds dwell on the things we need. Did you know that God is aware of our needs too? While we should work hard, we should also acknowledge God as our ultimate provider. He knows what we need and when to give it to us. We can come to God and confess our needs to Him. He’s a Good Father who wants to provide! But why do we need to confess our needs to God when He already knows what they are? Consistently praying for our needs builds our trust in God and develops our relationship with Him. We can ask Him to provide daily, and we can grow closer to Him every step along the way.

Main Passages

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.  Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

- Matthew 6:9-13

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

- Matthew 6:31-32

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

- Matthew 6:33

Discussion Questions

1. What stands out to you in the Main Thought or Main Passages above?

2. Have you ever seen God miraculously meet your needs, or the needs of someone you know?

3. What do you need God to provide in this season? Pray with your group.

The Power of Persistent Prayer

Main Thought

In the Gospel of Luke, the topic of persistent prayer immediately follows  what we know today as “The Lord’s Prayer.” Jesus highlights the principle of praying and not giving up because He understood that persisting in prayer is the key to seeing God’s Kingdom come and God’s will done on Earth. As we persist in prayer, God changes something IN us so that He can change the world THROUGH us. As God works in us, He 1)  “sensitizes” our hearts (so that we care about what He cares about), 2) strengthens our will to obey Him, and 3) shapes our character (so we become more like Him.)

Ultimately,  persisting in prayer begins with having a  relationship with God. As we hold the “faith tension”  between God’s goodness (having a” Restful Trust”) and God’s ability (having a “Confident Hope”), we will continue to be fueled to pray until something happens. 

Main Passages

“And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” 

- Luke 18:1-8, ESV

“And he [Jesus] withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly…”

- Luke 22:41-44, ESV

Discussion Questions

1. What stood out to you from the main thought and main passage above?

2. As  we persist in prayer, God often desires to  1)  “sensitize” our hearts (so that we care about what He cares about), 2) strengthen our will to obey Him, or  3) shape our character (so we become more like Him.) What do you think God wants to change in you as you persist in praying for someone or something? 

3. For whom  or for what does God want you to persistently pray for in this season so that He can change the world through you? 

Coming to God isn't Complicated

Main Thought

Sometimes, things that should be simple can become complicated. Coming to God in prayer should be simple! But we complicate it with our desire to be “great.” Sometimes, we want to feel great. If we feel anxious, hurried, upset, or unfocused, then we might not pray. Sometimes, we want to sound great. We want to say the right things in the right way. This creates an unattainable and unsustainable standard that no one can meet. We might even want to look great, earning our right to speak with God because of the good things we do. These complications often keep us from talking to God at all. They cause us to feel distant from God. Instead of complicating prayer, God wants us to come to Him like children. Children don’t hide their feelings. They play and lose focus all the time. Children blurt things out and aren’t concerned with how they sound. And children don’t mind being a little messy. God is a good Father who just wants His children to speak with Him.

Main Passages

33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.

- Mark 9:33-34

13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

- Mark 10:13-15

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

- Revelation 3:20

Discussion Questions

1. What stood out to you from last Sunday’s sermon, the Main Thought, or the Main Passages above? 

2. Have you ever complicated prayer with a desire to be “great” in some way? If so, how?

3. What adjustment can you make to come before God like a child?

A Touch of Heaven

Main Thought

Have you ever traveled (or even moved) somewhere new and different? Different places are filled with different languages, expressions, customs, and more. It can take a while to get used to a new place after experiencing this “culture shock.” But that’s exactly what God wants us to do. He wants us to become accustomed to His Kingdom and its culture. Jesus often did things differently than culture expected; through Him, we get a glimpse of God’s desires. If we become accustomed to God’s Kingdom, then we can operate as agents of His Kingdom who accomplish HIs will on the earth.

Main Passages

9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10  Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

- Matthew 6:9-15

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. - Isaiah 55:8-9

7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. 9 You received without paying; give without pay.

- Matthew 10:7-9

Discussion Questions

1. In what ways did Jesus do things differently than mainstream society would do or expect? (“Love your enemies,” “Whoever desires to be first among you must be the servant of all,” “Leave the 99 to go after the one,” etc.)

2. In what ways are you personally challenged to adjust to God’s Kingdom and/or His way of doing things?

3. Is there a practical step of faith you can take this week to act as an agent of God’s Kingdom?

Our Father

Main Thought

Jesus taught His followers to pray in a revolutionary way. He tells us to address God as “our Father.” Realizing that God is our Father changes the way we think about prayer. As our Father, God loves us more than we can imagine. He also operates in a totally different realm, which means He’s more powerful than we can comprehend. God’s power and love puts Him in a class all by Himself. Love means that He wants to help us, and power means that He’s able to help us. That’s why we should be willing to pray “big prayers.” If we only pray for ordinary things, then we’ll only receive ordinary answers to prayer. If we ask God for extraordinary things, then we’ll begin to see extraordinary answers! Remember, our Father in Heaven is an extraordinary God.

Main Passages

9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. 

- Matthew 6:9-15

17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 

- John 20:17

Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; 

- Isaiah 66:1

Discussion Questions

1. Can you think of any answers to prayer in your life, whether they were ordinary or extraordinary?

2. Do you believe that a) you can approach God as a good, loving Father; and, b) God has the power to help you? Please explain.

3. Pray together and ask God for something extraordinary! (Partner or cluster as necessary.)