Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. No one, when tempted, should say, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; —James 1:12-14

The Promise of Technology

While technology promises us the power to do more with less, we now have more tech but less

-satisfaction.

What you do with your tech today has massive implications for your soul

. Proverbs 4:23

“I have little reason to believe that people who have zero desire to live with Jesus and his community now
would want to be conscripted into that forever.” —John Mark Comer

Social Media is a Megaphone Romans 7:15, 18-19, 21

This Week:

All of us know temptation: the desire to live a life without

. Genesis 3:1-7

They

knowledge they were not ready to receive: that they were unprotected, vulnerable, and in danger.

The way we try to protect ourselves can be

, if it weren’t so tragic, painful, and devastating to others.

Temptation is not from

. God’s feelings of love and care towards them did not

Reveal Answer

.

The devil in the Bible is described as the

, destroyer, and deceiver.

The devil’s job is to steal our

, to cage us and take away the full and abundant life Jesus has for us. John 10:10

The “Three Enemies of the Soul” are: The

. The

Reveal Answer

. And the

Reveal Answer

. Ephesians 6:10-12

“The devil’s strategy: deceitful ideas that play to disordered desires that are normalized in a sinful society.” —John Mark Comer in Live No Lies: Recognize and Resist the Three Enemies That Sabotage Your Peace

For Jesus, the devil is

. John 8:44

The devil is not in hell; the devil is

. 1 Peter 5:8-9

“The line between good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.” —Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 1918-2008

A Short History of Temptation:

Evagrius Ponticus was a monk in the Egyptian desert who wrote, “Talking Back: A Monastic Handbook for Combating Demons.”

His writings became known as “The Eight Evil Thoughts,” then “The Eight Terrible Temptations,” and finally,

“The Seven Deadly Sins.”

1. Lust, 2. Gluttony, 3. Greed, 4. Sloth/Indifference 5. Envy, 6. Anger/Irritation, 7. Pride.

How Temptation and Technology Work Together:

Unlimited access to knowledge.

Jesus came to destroy the devil’s work and to set all humanity

to choose good, to choose love, to choose life.

In 2023, the average age children were exposed to pornography was

years of age (41% during the school day).

More than half reported seeing adult content

and 15% first saw pornography at

Reveal Answer

years old or younger.

The Common Sense Media study found __84%

of the pornographic images children viewed depicted violence, rape, or choking.

“Parents should be looking through their children’s phones…looking through and not shaming, but rather, let’s have a conversation about what you saw.” —Dr. Joe Kort, Ph.D, LMSW

“Freedom without self-mastery is a disaster waiting to happen.” —John Mark Comer

The Problem of Temptation:

Desire only leads to more

.

“We sin because we believe a lie about what will make us happy.” —John Mark Comer

No one sins in a

.

When we yield to temptation, untold pain and

follow even if we don’t see it.

“In the beginning we have a choice, but eventually, we have a character.” —John Mark Comer

Action Step:

How to Resist Temptation Really James 4:7-8a

Rest, give, forgive, and stay in community.

“My additional notes:

”.