INTRODUCTION: What is one of your earliest memories of “peer pressure”?

READ: James 1:13-15; Luke 4:1-4

WATCH SERMON

DISCUSS
1. What is the difference between managing sin and being set free from sin? What difference does it make our lives?
2. Share an experience in your life where you moved from managing your sin to finding freedom (not necessarily perfection) from your sin.
3. What do we learn about temptation from James 1:13-15?
4. Where does temptation come from? How have you experienced the “unholy trinity” in your own life?
5. How have you wrestled with seeing your desires as a bad or sinful thing needing to be suppressed?
6. “Am I allowing my desire to be fulfilled by the good thing God is giving me and only the good thing?” How does this understanding of desires differ from the way you have previously seen it in regard to sin and temptation?
7. Have you ever confessed your temptations to someone? How did that impact your decision to move forward in sin?
8. What is it that tends to keep us from moving to sin when we first confess our temptations?
9. Why is it so important to have people in our lives that we can call on when we face temptation or need to confess our sins? Why do you think Scripture commands us to do this?
10. Who is someone you can call on in a crossroads between facing temptation and moving toward sin?

PRAY
Take some time to summarize what you have heard your group share and how we can pray for one another.

What are some themes you have heard others share about temptation? How does that lead us to praise Him? What are some needs and concerns that were shared? How can we pray specifically for you this week?

FOR FURTHER STUDY
The following is not meant for large group discussion but can be done as an individual study to grow in your understanding of Scripture and the way it transforms our lives.

→ Here are some verses that speak about temptation: https://www.christianity.com/bible/bible-verses-about-temptation-26

What do you learn about temptation from these passages?
How does this shift your understanding about the difference between sin and temptation?
What do we learn from Jesus about how to walk through temptation without sinning?

→ List 4-5 areas of sin that you struggle with the most. Next to those sins, write what your underlying, Godly desire is.

What does it look like to give that desire to God recognizing that He is the one that gave it to you in the first place?
Are there ways God is calling you to fulfill that desire that follow Scripture and his leading?
Ex: Success at my job that leads to overworking, ignoring my relationship with God, others, and physical health

→ A desire to do well at the space God has given me to work in order to seek transformation of my city and the family God has called me → It can look like working hard while setting boundaries that do not allow for my job to take the place of desiring God more than my success and sharing my temptation to make success my end goal and identity with a close friend or mentor

→ We have been given brothers and sisters in Christ to help us navigate our journey through temptation and away from sin. Who do you have in your life that you can honestly and safely share your own temptations? Here is a helpful article to give some ideas of things to look for: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/why-accountability-matters