Group Study Guide
Date: July 15-16, 2023
Speaker: Dr. Kurt Bjorklund
Series: Identity Theft
Message: #1 - I Am What I Do
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)
Notes
Identity based on what we do leads to:
17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. […] 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. —Exodus 18:17-18,22 (NIV)
9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. 10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. —Ecclesiastes 2:9-10 (NIV)
7 As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” 8 Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” —1 Samuel 18:7-8 (NIV)
11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. —Hebrews 2:11 (NIV)
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. —Romans 8:29 (NIV)
Study Guide
Step One: Icebreaker (Optional)
Now that we’re into the heat of summer, share a time you remember being the hottest.
Step Two: Open
Read Matthew 4:1-11 and pray to open your time together in God’s word.
Step Three: Discuss
- What stood out to you the most in this weekend’s teaching? What was challenging, encouraging, or confusing to you?
- Why do you think the number one question people ask when they first meet someone is “What do you do for a living?”
- Verse 1 notes that Jesus was “led” into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit. Why do you think it’s sometimes necessary for God to lead His people into difficult situations? How does knowing that He led you there help to change your perspective on the difficult seasons of life?
- The devil temps Jesus and His followers to settle for something less than God’s best. How does Satan often show the bait while hiding the hook when it comes to temptations?
- Satan comes to tempt Jesus when He’s at His weakest, not having eaten in 40 days. How can someone prepare themselves for a spiritual attack while being in a vulnerable state?
- During each temptation, Jesus quotes scripture to the devil. How have you used this strategy or how could you see this being an important strategy against the devil’s schemes?
- How does finding your ultimate identity in Jesus and what He says about you in His word enable you to live as He says in verse 4? How can people consistently put themselves in a position to live on God’s word?
Step Four: Close in Prayer