Big Idea Discussion Guide
Session 1 - Serious Temptation
Big Idea
God never tempts us, the Devil does. But God restricts
our temptations to only what we can handle and
always gives us a way out.
Icebreaker
What is a food or drink that you cannot resist? What
about it do you find so irresistible?
Picture this: It’s late on Saturday night and you are
sitting on the couch watching your favorite movie.
The kids and your spouse have turned in early, so it’s
just you. Its the perfect finish to the day. You start
thinking that you could use something to eat, and you
just can’t shake the feeling of how good a bag of chips
or a half gallon of ice cream would be. . .
It’s Tuesday morning and your boss’ office wants to
know why the order you were asked to place didn’t
come in on time. The reason it didn’t come in on
time is because you forgot to place the order. Do you
confess to your oversight, or blame the supplier and
get away with it? . . .
Its the Thursday evening commute and a person on
the train pushes you out of the way and takes the seat
you were about to sit in. You want to tell them just
how you feel about how inconsiderate they are . . .
You just heard the juiciest bit of gossip and you can’t
wait to share it. You will become “a person in the
know” and elevate your social status at the cost of
someone else (who you say deserves it) if you share it.
Do you spread the gossip or not?
We all face temptations everyday. They are a part
of our lives, especially if we follow Jesus. Situations
come into our lives daily where we can choose to do
the right thing or the wrong thing. Our character is
defined by what we choose in these situations. God
knows that we are tempted in many ways everyday
and He wants to teach us to deal with our temptations
so we can choose wisely.
Community Christian Church / www.communitychristian.org
1. Why do you think temptation is so prevalent in our
lives? Do you think it’s possible to go a day without
being tempted? Why or why not?
There’s a book in the later part of the New Testament
called James that many believe to be one of the
most practical books of the Bible. James talks about
temptation - both its origin and how it grows within us.
James 1:13-15
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting
me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he
tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by
his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.
15
Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;
and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death.
13
Surprised by what James has to say? Temptation does
not come from God - God never tempts us with a
choice between good and evil. Instead, temptation
comes from our own evil desires and from the evil one,
Satan. This even implies that temptation is custom
made – what tempts me may or may not tempt you.
2. How does knowing that our evil desires and the
world we live in are responsible for our temptations
affect your understanding of them? Does it make
temptation seem more or less escapable?
In James we also learn that temptation leads to sin. Sin,
according to James, when it is full-grown, gives birth
to death. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth
to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death.
(James 1:15)
But is James going overboard here? Using this logic, all
temptation, if unchecked, has the ability to lead us to
death. Its clear that temptation can lead to more sin,
but how can eating that extra bag of chips, or swearing
at someone out of anger lead to death? Isn’t that a little
melodramatic?
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Big Idea Discussion Guide
Session 1 - Serious Temptation
3. Do you agree with James, that all temptation can
lead to “death?” Why or why not?
It is helpful to know that temptation is unavoidable - if
we are breathing, we will face temptation. It is important
to realize, however, that while temptation can lead to
sin, temptation does not equal sin. Temptation is a
natural part of being a human, but does not in itself
harm our relationship with our God. How we respond
to temptation either pulls us closer to God, or draws
us away. James makes it clear that if we give into
temptation, it leads to sin, which leads to death. Death,
as James describes, doesn’t only mean physical death, it
means an amount of destruction, decay and deadness
in our lives. Sin kills our sensitivity towards the enemy
making us weaker. Continual sin deadens our attention
to the voice of God that guides us away from temptation
and can, and often leads to more extreme destruction
and death.
Thankfully, it is possible to resist temptation. Read what
it says in I Corinthians about temptations and our ability
to withstand it.
I Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is
common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let
you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when
you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that
you can endure it.
While God never tempts us, He ensures that we are never
tempted beyond our ability to resist the temptation. It
also states that God always provides a way out.
4. Is it surprising to read that you are never tempted
beyond your ability to resist? Is it comforting? Why
or why not?
5. Think of “common” temptations that people
frequently give into. What are some ways out that
God provides us in dealing with these sins?
Community Christian Church / www.communitychristian.org
Identifying ways God provides for us to escape
temptation and actually using them are two
different steps. If we are honest, the real battle
is often in taking our leave from temptation, not
seeing the way out.
6. What are some reasons you might ignore the
“way out” God provides when you are tempted?
Share a time you saw the exit strategy, didn’t
take it, and wish you had.
James reveals the primary root of our exit strategy.
He sets it before us in these clear steps: Submit to
God, resist and come near to God.
James 4:7-10
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil,
and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God
and he will come near to you. Wash your hands,
you sinners, and purify your hearts, you doubleminded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your
laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift
you up.
7
What a promise! Our God, in moments of greatest
weakness, promises that He will come even closer
to us to get us through temptation - all we have to
do is humble ourselves before Him, resist the enemy
and draw close to Him.
7. Practically, how does that look in our lives? In
what ways can I “draw close to God” in the
midst of temptation?
Next Steps
Take a moment as a group to thank God for not
giving up on us. The reality is that despite our lifelong battles with sin and temptation, God is still
actively setting up exit strategies for us daily! Spend
time expressing your gratitude to God for his grace
and patience!
This week, memorize these words of James: “Resist
the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to
God, and God will draw close to you.”
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Leader’s Guide
Session 1 - Serious Temptation
1. It is impossible to live a day without being
tempted, but look at why temptation is so
prevalent in our lives. Avoid settling for easy
answers like blaming TV or the internet or the
availability of things that tempt us. Try to push
into James’ thought that we allow ourselves to
be tempted. It will set up your discussion later.
2. Try to keep the focus more on the second
question than the first - is temptation escapable
or not? Why or why not?
3. Biblically, the answer is yes, you may want to
come to the study with some examples of how
a “little” sin can lead to a life destroying one e.g.
giving in to the temptation to steal can can lead
to stealing, giving in to the temptation to overeat
can lead to serious health problems, etc. Try to
lead your group members into the connection
rather than force them into it - it will be more
challenging and stick better that way.)
7. Try to generate a list of a few ways to you can
practically resist temptation ahead of time.
The first step is to committing your life God
(humbling yourself ). God can’t help you resist
temptation if you don’t submit to Him. Ways to
resist temptation might be the support of others
in your small group, or a support group of people
dealing with the same temptation. In recovery
circles people who deal with addictions learn
what their “triggers” are and they learn to avoid
them and replace them with something else.
What are some “triggers” that people have that
can be avoided? What can they replace it with?
4. It should be comforting, because of the promise
of the verses. It could be unsettling, because
if we are never tempted beyond our ability to
cope, then why do we give in so much?
5. Again, you may want to come to the study with
an example to get the ball rolling if no one can
produce one. If you are tempted by watching
inappropriate programs - you can cancel your
cable, go to bed earlier, get an accountability
partner, etc. Be careful however, at providing
“pat” answers that are altogether unrealistic or
unhelpful, or may make someone who deals
with that temptation and fail feel awful or stupid
about suffering from it.
6. Again, be cautious here, watch for “less mature”
people in the group who may spout off with
something that will hurt the group or the person
sharing. To make this easier, you may want to
start with a story of your own.
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For copies of Big Idea products visit www.newthing.org/store