Matthew 4:1-11
Lead in: It’s interesting to recall that God showed His power by the flood for forty days and forty nights and afterward a new people rose up. Christ also manifested his power in the desert and defeated the devil so a new people would rise up victorious in Christ. The lesson? Out of seeming disaster comes unexpected blessing. Out of seeming defeat comes unexpected victory.
Prompt: Reflect on a time when, out of a seeming disaster, came an unexpected blessing. And, when out of a seeming defeat, came an unexpected victory.
Lead in: If you wanted a name for the passage from Matthew 4:1-11, it could be called three rounds with the devil. Jesus’ training and conditioning regimen for his upcoming title fight was forty days of fasting to toughen him up for the biggest challenge he’d faced to that point.
Prompt: What spiritual training and conditioning regimen do you plan on using during this Lent’s 40 days of journeying with Jesus in the desert?
Lead in: During his forty days in the desert Jesus faced the test of three fierce temptations. He faced the lust for power, prestige, and pleasure.
Prompt: Where do you see these temptations popping up in your life?
Lead in: Jesus faced three tests in the desert. The first test, knowing that he was hungry, the devil dared Jesus to turn stones into bread.
Prompt: How might the things you hunger for lead you into temptation?
Prompt: When you are being tempted, what helps you resist temptation?
Lead in: The second test of Jesus in the desert, the devil dares Jesus to jump off the parapet of the temple to prove that he’s really who he says he is.
Prompt: Reflect on a time when you were tempted to prove to others how important and
significant you are.
Lead in: The third test of Jesus in the desert, on a high mountain the devil points to all the kingdoms of the world in all their glory. He then says to Jesus, “All this is yours if your bow down and worship me.”
Prompt: Where is it in your life that you are most vulnerable to bowing before something and
worshipping it as your god?
Lead in: After three rounds with the devil, there is one left standing. Jesus.
Prompt: Reflect on a time that you felt the power of God’s grace after surviving an intense spiritual ordeal.