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THE BATTLE WITHIN (3): FIXING THE FIGHT

Bottom Line: We are tempted to believe we know how God works and how we think we can work Him. Scripture References: Matthew 4:5-7; Psalm 91:12; Exodus 17:2-3

As a continuation of last week’s theme, we are still talking about how temptation is related to our trust in God. But this week, we are looking from a specific angle—our temptation to manipulate God. Your goal this week is to help students explore the many ways that we are tempted to manipulate God, and make God much smaller than God actually is. This week has the potential to help many students understand why they may have felt frustrated with God in the past—because they were looking for God to be far less than who He actually is and fit in the box they have for Him. Don’t miss the potential this week to help students examine the way they pray and communicate with God.

 

MS QUESTIONS:

 

1.       If you had to explain temptation to someone, how would you define it?

 

2.       Why do you think we get tempted to do things that we know aren’t going to be best for us in the long run?

 

3.       Have you ever chosen to make a bad choice because you were fairly confident that you could get out of the consequences?

 

4.       Have you ever made a poor choice and then assumed that God would bail you out of trouble? What’s the danger in assuming what God will or will not do?

 

5.       If God doesn’t bail you out of a situation, does it mean that He doesn’t care about you? Why or why not?

 

6.       Last week, what did we say was connected to our ability to resist temptation?

7.       What do you think it looks like to cooperate with God? Do you think you have ever done that? What do you think it looks like to manipulate God? Do you think you have ever done that?

 

8.       What might prevent you from deciding to cooperate with God rather than trying to get God to act the way you think He should?

 

9.       When you try to get God to give you what you want, or act the way you think He ought to act, how does it affect the way you pray and the way God can relate to you?

 

10.   What is something you learned today?

 

HS Questions

 

1.       What did you think of the talk this week? What did you hear the speaker say?

 

2.       If you had to explain temptation to someone, how would you define it?

 

3.       Why do you think we get tempted to do things that we know aren’t going to be best for us in the long run?

 

4.       Have you ever chosen to make a bad choice because you were fairly confident that you could get out of the consequences?

5.       What are some ways that people might try to “manipulate” God? Can you think of some examples?

 

6.       What are some potential consequences of trying to manipulate God? (It doesn’t work and we blame God, we don’t ever really listen to God or get to know God, etc.)

 

7.       Last week, what did we say was connected to our ability to resist temptation?

 

8.       How does cooperating with God look different from manipulating God?

 

9.       What might prevent you from really surrendering to God and deciding to cooperate rather than manipulate?

 

10.   How does having a manipulative relationship with God affect your prayers and the way God can relate to you?

 

11.   How would you describe yourself right now when it comes to relating to God—are you a cooperator, or a manipulator?

 

THE BATTLE WITHIN (WEEK 2): IN THIS CORNER

Bottom Line: Every time you’re tempted, your confidence in God is at stake, not just your self-control. Scripture References: Matthew 4:1-4; Deuteronomy 8:3, 11-14, 17

Most of us evaluate the temptations in our lives based on the immediate consequences and the probability of getting caught. After all, it usually comes down to what makes the most sense for me.  But what if we really believed that there was a God who was bigger, and smarter and more capable than ourselves? How would it change the way we view temptation if we acted like the most rational and logical thing was to submit to God rather than leaning on our own understanding? Your goal this week is to help students see how every temptation is an opportunity to trust God or trust only in themselves.

 

HS QUESTIONS:

 

1. What do you remember about our talk last week? Did anyone recognize a temptation they might not have recognized, or respond to a temptation in a different way because of what we talked about last week?

 

2. What did you think of the talk this week? What did you hear the speaker say?

 

3. What are some areas of life where a high school student might be tempted to think, “if I don’t take this into my own hands and do it myself, what I want won’t happen”? (Maybe a relationship, acceptance with a group of friends, academic achievement, future plans)

 

4. What makes people think it’s up to them to make things happen? Why is it difficult to trust God?

 

5. Think of one area of your life (either an immediate thing or something more long term) where it is difficult for you to really trust God. In your mind answer the following questions:

a.       Does God care about this particular thing in my life?

b.       Do I think God is big enough to take care of this area of my life?

c.       Can God be trusted to take care of this area of my life?

 

6.       Which question(s) did you feel most uncomfortable answering “yes” to? (Leader: see the closing challenge)

 

7. How does your view of temptation change when you view it as a question of whether God can be trusted to handle it and not a question of whether or not you get caught?

 

8. How is your faith at risk when you give into temptation—even just one time?

 

9. What can you do this week to help you begin to trust God more?

 

MS QUESTIONS:

 

1. What do you remember about our talk last week? Did anyone recognize a temptation they might not have recognized, or respond to a temptation in a different way because of what we talked about last week?

 

2. Temptation is always a test of our faith. What does that mean?

 

3. If temptation is a test of your faith, why does God care so much about the way you respond to temptation?

 

4. Knowing how much is on the line, why do you think Christians still give into temptation?

 

5. Think of one area of your life where it is difficult for you to really trust God. In your mind answer the following questions:

a.       Does God care about this particular thing in my life?

b.       Do I think God is big enough to take care of this area of my life?

c.       Can God be trusted to take care of this area of my life?

 

6.       Which question(s) did you feel most uncomfortable answering “yes” to? (Leader: see the closing challenge)

 

7.       How does remembering God provided manna to the Israelites in the desert for 40 years remind us that God can be trusted to provide for our daily needs?

 

8. What can you do this week to help you begin to trust God more?

 

9. What is something you learned today?
   

NEW SERIES: THE BATTLE WITHIN

THE BATTLE WITHIN (WEEK 1): the main event

 

Bottom Line: In every single temptation you face, there is always more at risk than you think. Scripture References: Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 4:1-3

 

Temptation—everyone’s favorite topic. But don’t panic yet! You’re goal this week is just to introduce the topic in such a way that students can feel comfortable acknowledging the reality of temptation in their own lives. WARNINGS: Temptation is a tricky small group topic. The purpose of this series is not to get your students to confess personal struggles to the group, but to help students begin to think openly about the dynamic of temptation and the significance that it has on their faith. Most of the “specifics” in this series are deliberately handled in a self-reflective manner rather than asking students to share out loud because we believe that conversations about specific struggles are best when student initiated or when done in one-on-one settings. As your students work through this topic, it may be a perfect time for you to schedule some of those one-on-one conversations you’ve been meaning to have.

 

HIGH SCHOOL QUESTIONS

 

1.       What did you think of the talk this week? What did you hear the speaker say?

2.       What is your absolute favorite food? Pretend someone put that food in front of you and told you not to eat it for thirty minutes. How would you rationalize not waiting to eat it?

 

3.       What are other ways that people tend to rationalize doing things they know they shouldn’t do?

 

4.       When you are rationalizing, do you stop to think about everything that is at stake or do you tend to focus on the most immediate consequences?

 

5.       Have you ever seen someone give into temptation, and it affected not only his or her life, but the lives of those around him or her? (Without giving names, what are some examples of how this can happen?)

 

6.       Who might be affected if you give in to temptation?

 

7.       How does thinking about the effects on these people change the way you think about some of the temptations in your life?

 

8.       If I said that temptation and trust are linked, would you agree? How are they related?

 

9.       If trust and temptation are linked, how is your faith in God connected to your ability to resist temptation?

 

10.   How would knowing all that is at risk when it comes to our response to temptation change the way you deal with it?

 

MIDDLE SCHOOL QUESTIONS

 

1.       What is was your absolute favorite food growing up? Pretend someone put that food in front of you and told you not to eat it for thirty minutes. How could you talk yourself into thinking it would be okay to eat it before the time was up?

 

2.       What are other ways that people tend to talk themselves into doing things they know they shouldn’t do?

 

3.       What normally goes through your head when you are being tempted?

 

4.       What are some common temptations for students at your school?

 

5.       Can you think of some long-term consequences for someone who gives into those temptations?

 

6.       How could giving into some of those temptations end up hurting not only the person who gives in, but other people in that person’s life as well?

 

7.       If I said that temptation and trust are linked, would you agree? How are they related?

 

8.       How can a person resist temptation when it happens? (ex: Stop. Think it through. Pray. Remember what God says. Ask a trusted adult or Christian who you trust.)

 

9.       What is something you learned today?