Identity Theft #2 - I Am What Others Think
Matthew 4:1-11
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund
Part of Identity Theft—July 15 - 30, 2023
July 21, 2023

Identity Theft App.png

Group Study Guide

Date: July 22-23, 2023
Speaker: Dr. Kurt Bjorklund
Series: Identity Theft
Message: #2 - I Am What Others Think

Download PDF Version

Scripture

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do 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 splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. —Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV)

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” —Matthew 3:16-17 (NIV)

12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God —John 1:12 (NIV)

11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. —Psalm 91:11-12 (NIV)

3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. […] 6 Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other. —1 Corinthians 4:3-4,6 (NIV)

Notes

Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts. —C.S. Lewis

  • Matthew 3:16-17; John 1:12; Matthew 4:6-7

Jesus was exposed was precisely the temptation to do something spectacular, something that could win him great applause. “Throw yourself from the parapet of the temple and let the angels catch you and carry you in their arms.” But Jesus refused to be a stunt man. He did not come to prove himself. He did not come to walk on hot coals, swallow fire, or put his hand in the lion’s mouth to demonstrate that he had something worthwhile to say. “Don’t put the Lord your God to the test. —Henri Nouwen

It will not approach you without my permission & design. And my design is always good even if I permit an arrow to take their life… This is a statement of exact always good even if I permit an arrow to take their life… This is a statement of exact and sweeping providence, not a charm against adversity. —Derek Kidner

  • Psalm 91:11-12; 1 Corinthians 4:3-4,6

Study Guide

Step One: Icebreaker (Optional)
If you were offered the power to read people’s minds, would you take it? Why or why not?

Step Two: Open
Ask someone in your group to pray to open your time together. Ask another person to read Matthew 4:1-11.

Step Three: Discuss

  1. What stood out to you the most in this weekend’s teaching? What was challenging, encouraging, or confusing to you?

  2. Ephesians 6:11 says: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” What schemes does Satan use in the temptation of Jesus? What does that teach us in regard to the schemes he might use on us?

  3. Each of the first two temptations begins with the phrase: “If you are the Son of God…” Why is it important to be secure in our identity? How do you tend to identify yourself? How does your self-identification line up with how God identifies you?

  4. How did the people in Jesus’ day view him? How would their view of him be different had he acted upon Satan’s temptations?

  5. What are the dangers of living for everyone’s approval? What was at stake for Jesus in this passage? What was at stake for us?

  6. In this passage, we see that Satan will sometimes use Scripture in his schemes against us. What are some different ways Scripture has been used as a weapon by Satan? How should we respond to the improper use of Scripture?

  7. Read John 2:23-25. Multiple times, throughout his life, Jesus was tempted to prove himself to man. But he knew better than anyone that people can worship you one day and then curse you the next. If we know that people can be so inconsistent, why do we so often base our worth on their thoughts toward us? How can we gain a more secure understanding of God’s thoughts toward us?

Step Four: Close in Prayer