SEPTEMBER 26, 2018: CONFIRMATION 40 DAYS & NIGHTS: THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS
KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: GOD S SOVEREIGN AND SAVING RULE WHERE EVERYTHING IN TURNED TO RIGHTS. THIS INCLUDES A RESTORING OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOD, HUMANITY AND ALL OF CREATION ITSELF. REPENTANCE: A TURNING AWAY FROM IDOLS, EVIL AND SIN AND TOWARDS GOD. BAPTISM: JOHN S BAPTISM WAS A UNIQUE MOMENT OF REPENTANCE, PREPARING PEOPLE FOR THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. AFTER JESUS RESURRECTION, AND THE SENDING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, BAPTISM BECAME THE SIGN AND MEANS OF ENTRY INTO THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY. WE ARE BURIED IN OUR SINS AND RAISED TO NEW LIFE IN CHRIST, RECOGNIZE THE GIFT OF THE PROMISED HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES AND REST IN GOD S FAITHFUL PROMISES IN RESCUING US OUT OF THE WATER. LAW AND GOSPEL: THE LAW SPEAKS OF THOSE PARTS OF SCRIPTURE WHERE WE FIND OURSELVES GUILTY, AS IT WERE, FOR OUR INABILITY TO KEEP GOD S COMMANDS, AND LIVE UP TO GOD S DEMANDS FOR US. THE GOSPEL SPEAKS OF THE GRACE AND MERCY THAT HAS BEEN FREELY GIVEN TO US WITHOUT EARNING OR MERIT ON OUR END. IT IS THE FAITHFUL PROMISE THAT WE HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN ON NO ACCOUNT OF OUR OWN DOING.
THE BIG PICTURE: GOD & ISRAEL GOD HAD CHOSEN ISRAEL TO BE THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD SHARE HIS LOVE TO T H E W O R L D, L I V E I N OBEDIENCE TO GOD S SOVEREIGN RULE AND REFLECT GOD S LOVE & LIGHT TO THE SURROUNDING NATIONS. OTHERS WERE TO LEARN OF THE ONE TRUE GOD BY WATCHING HOW ISRAEL LOVED AND LIVED. IN ADDITION, AS NATIONS HONORED ISRAEL S GOD, GOD S BLESSING WOULD BE EVIDENT IN THEIR NATION AS WELL.
The Big Picture: Jesus and Israel ISRAEL WAS RESCUED FROM SLAVERY OUT OF EGYPT (HOSEA 11) JESUS WAS CALLED OUT OF EGYPT AS A YOUNG BOY (HOSEA 11) ISRAEL CROSSED THE RED SEA AND THE JORDAN ON THEIR WAY TO THE PROMISED LAND JESUS WAS BAPTIZED BY JOHN IN THE JORDAN RIVER ISRAEL WANDERED FOR 40 YEARS IN THE DESERT. JESUS SPENT 40 DAYS AND AND NIGHTS IN THE DESERT ISRAEL HAD TWELVE TRIBES. JESUS CALLED TWELVE DISCIPLES. WHERE ISRAEL MISSED THE MARK, JESUS DID NOT-GOD S PROGRAM CONTINUES AND THOSE WHO RESPOND IN FAITH ARE NOW A PART OF IT.
Temptation 1: Turning Stones to Bread Temptation 2: Throwing Himself from the Temple Temptation 3: Worshiping Satan instead of God for power and control Temptations 1 & 2: If you are really God s son Temptation 3: Just worship me and I ll give you
FAMILY CHALLENGE MEMORIZE THE FOLLOWING VERSE TOGETHER: I HAVE HIDDEN YOUR WORD IN MY HEART, THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST YOU. PSALM 119:11. DISCUSS HOW HAVING GOD S WORD DEEP WITHIN US CAN HELP US IN TIMES OF TEMPTATION AND TRIAL? BONUS: HAVE EACH FAMILY MEMBER PICK A VERSE OF THEIR OWN CHOOSING AND MEMORIZE IT. QUIZ EACH OTHER AND TALK ABOUT WHY THOSE VERSES WERE CHOSEN.
HOW ARE WE TEMPTED WHAT ARE SATAN S WEAPONS IN TEMPTING JESUS? (READ LUKE 4:1-13 HOW DOES SATAN TEMPT BELIEVERS TODAY? GUILT YOU RE ALREADY MESSED UP, WHY NOT SIN? DOUBT IF GOD LOVE S YOU, WHY HASN T HE HELPED YOU? DECEPTION IT S OKAY, IT S ONLY ONE TIME. EACH PERSON IS TEMPTED WHEN THEY ARE DRAGGED AWAY BY THEIR OWN EVIL DESIRE AND ENTICED. THEN, AFTER DESIRE HAS CONCEIVED, IT GIVES BIRTH TO SIN; AND SIN, WHEN IT IS FULL-GROWN, GIVES BIRTH TO DEATH. JAMES 1:14-15
GROUP DISCUSSION WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TEMPTATIONS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE FACE MOST OFTEN? HOW HAVE YOU WITNESSED TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND OTHER ADULTS TRY TO PROTECT YOU FROM TEMPTATION? HOW DOES OUR CULTURE ADDRESS TEMPTATION?
WHY RESIST TEMPTATION IF CULTURE APPROVES SIN, AND/OR IF WE KNOW WE ARE FORGIVEN OF ALL OUR SIN, WHY DO WE EVEN TRY TO RESIST TEMPTATION?
HOW DID JESUS RESIST TEMPTATION? HE WAS LEAD BY THE SPIRIT. HE REMEMBERED WHO WAS AND WHOSE HE WAS. HE KNEW GOD S WORD AND WOULD NOT LET IT BE TWISTED.
HOW CAN WE RESIST TEMPTATION? Satan has already been defeated. He has no direct authority over us. Stay Alert Study God s Word Make wise choices. Put on the Armor of God
HOW CAN WE RESIST TEMPTATION? 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God