Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Matthew 4:1-11), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• Before Jesus is our example, he is our Savior, our Champion. So when he went out to the wilderness to face the devil’s temptations, he did it as our representative, on our behalf. Where our old humanity has consistently failed in the face of temptation, Jesus has restored our humanity in faithfulness to God and his Word. What are some temptations you have faced? How have you been tempted to find a path to goodness apart from relationship with God? How do you feel when you have fallen before temptation and sinned? Why do you feel that way? When you succumb to temptation, do you view it as an opportunity to thank God that your Savior stayed faithful and true on your behalf, so that God would receive you as if you were just as faithful as Jesus?

• Each time the devil tempted Jesus to find his good apart from God, Jesus clung to God’s Word. Jesus was hungry after 40 days and nights of fasting, but he was hungrier still for God’s Word. God’s revelation was more satisfying to him than bread. This is how human beings are meant to live, and this is what Jesus has restored in his new humanity, which is yours through your union with him in the Spirit. When you face temptation, do you think of God’s Word? Do you hold fast to the declaration of God’s love to you in Christ? Do you believe that there is no good for you apart from God? Do you believe that your relationship with God is worth clinging to, even if he leads you into places of suffering and trials in this life?

• We learn from Jesus how to resist temptation. He didn’t need ideal circumstances or psychological tricks to remain faithful to God. Often our strategies for resisting temptation depend on something other than God’s Word, or even appeal to one sin to cancel out another (for example, appealing to pride or fear in order to rein in lust). Have your strategies included reward-or-punishment behavior modification programs, the arrangement of external circumstances, or shame-based accountability groups? What’s wrong with these strategies? Do you believe that God’s Word and the Spirit of Christ in you is enough to help you overcome the devil’s temptations?

• FOR THE CHILDREN: Can you think of a time when you were tempted to disobey God, and then you went ahead and disobeyed him? Can you believe that Jesus never sinned like that? Do you believe that he forgives you, and wants you to share his perfect relationship with God? Have you asked him for help for the next time you face that temptation to disobey God?