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The Battle in the Wilderness

August 29, 2021 Preacher: Dan Wong Series: Luke

Passage: Luke 4:1–13

Click here for the sermon discussion questions or see them listed below. We highly encourage you to listen, think, and talk about the sermon. These are questions you can reflect on by yourself, with your family, or with your small group.

Discussion Questions

  1. Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to suffer the attack of the devil. How would you explain the following: “Suffering is not inconsistent with the will of God.”?  How have you seen God use trials and suffering in your life?
  1. Satan initially tries to tempt Jesus with His greatest perceived need: hunger.  In v.3, when the devil says, “If you are the Son of God,” he is calling into question the Fathers love and provision for His Son.  What is your greatest need and how do you think Satan can take advantage of your needs?  How do you know God understands and cares about your needs?  Why does God sometimes call us to wait in the wilderness?
  1. In his second temptation, Satan uses ambition, the intoxication of political power and allure of prestige and human admiration.  Jesus refutes Satan by saying you shall worship God alone. Why do you think humanity is so tempted by power, honor, respect, fame and fortune?  When we place these things above God, what are we revealing about our faith and trust in God?  If someone could see what you give most of your time, thought, attention, desire, resources, and effort to, what would this say about what you truly worship? 
  1. In Satan’s third temptation, he twists Scripture and calls upon Jesus to presume upon His relationship with His Father and test His love.  In what ways do we sometimes test God?  What kinds of proof do you think you need to know that God loves you?  When bad things happen, do you immediately think that God is angry with you?  If so, what does this reveal about how you view God’s love?  How should we view God’s love for His people?
  1. In overcoming Satan’s temptations, Jesus succeeds where everyone else in history has failed. He endured all the temptations of humanity and yet without sin. He proved Himself to be the unique lone righteous one who could suffer once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18).  Jesus did all of this for His people. How does this knowledge encourage and embolden you when you are in your wilderness, in your trials, and as you walk through the valley of the shadow of death? 

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