_____________________________________________________________
NOTE TO PARENTS: Each of the main points can be taught/discussed over different days throughout the week.
MORE FROM THIS LESSON:
POINT #2 – BEING TEMPTED IS NOT A SIN & YOU ARE NEVER ABOVE BEING TEMPTED
POINT #3 – GOD WILL NEVER TEMPT YOU & HE WILL PROVIDE A WAY OUT OF TEMPTATION
________________________________________________________________
POINT #1 – TEMPTATION
We are going to talk about TEMPTATION. What do you think TEMPTATION is or what does that word mean? (Allow your child to answer: thinking about doing something wrong; thinking about doing something that would make you feel instantly happy – but doing that act would hurt your relationship with God.) We are tempted with many things in our day to day life. Even Jesus was tempted when He was living on the earth.
In Matthew, Chapter 4, verses 1-4 (ERV) it says, “Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert. He was taken there to be tempted by the devil. Jesus ate nothing for 40 days and nights. After this, he was very hungry. The devil came to tempt him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these rocks to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “The Scriptures say, ‘It is not just bread that keeps people alive. Their lives depend on what God says.” Here we read that Jesus hadn’t had anything to eat or drink for 40 days! Have you ever not had any food or drink for that long? For most of us, it’s usually just hours that we are without food. Jesus hadn’t had anything to eat because He was fasting. What does FASTING mean? (Allow your child to answer: it’s when we give up food, drink and/or other things for a time, so we can spend more time seeking God.) You see, the enemy KNEW that Jesus was fasting and that He was hungry. So what did the enemy tempt Jesus with? (Allow your child to answer: the enemy tempted Jesus with FOOD – with bread!)
Is it bad to eat when we are hungry? (Allow your child to answer: No) So, why would it have been bad for Jesus to turn the stones into bread so He could eat? (Allow your child to answer: because it was what Satan was telling Him to do, not God.) This is a great example of the enemy tempting with things that don’t seem to be bad, but Just like Jesus, we must be careful to know whether it’s from God or if it’s from the enemy. Jesus was tempted to do something the enemy wanted Him to do, not God. Because Jesus said no to the enemy, He overcame temptation. Jesus reminded the enemy of what the Bible says. He reminded the enemy that we don’t live on bread alone, but we live on the word of God.
Jesus had a call on His life, a mission, an assignment. And so do we! And the enemy knows about it. We all have a special purpose and assignment, and one common assignment that we all have… is that we are all called to tell others about Jesus and to help bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth. The enemy does not want more people to know about Jesus, so he will try to distract us with temptation. But, because Jesus overcome temptation, so can we!
Discussion Questions
- What are some things you have been tempted with?
- What are some things that you were tempted with today?
- Did you give in to that temptation and sin? What happened?
Prayer
Jesus, we are so thankful that you overcame temptation from the enemy. We are so thankful for the example you have given us to also overcome the temptation that the enemy will bring to us. Holy Spirit, we ask you to help us remember the truths that we read in the Bible. Help us to remember to speak the WORD of God to every temptation. Help us to be strong to not give in to temptation and sin. We want to be close to you and we don’t want temptation and sin to separate us from you. We want to live our lives for you. We want to fulfill our assignment, our calling, our mission here on earth. We want to help others come to know you and we want to help bring Heaven to earth. We pray all of these things in your name Jesus, amen.
Scripture Memory Verse
Jesus answered him, “The Scriptures say, ‘It is not just bread that keeps people alive. Their lives depend on what God says.” Matthew 4:4 (ERV)
Application/Activity
COLORING PAGE
GAME
Play a game of Simon Says. Talk about how when we say Simon Says, it’s like when God says. Also, explain how the enemy will try to trick us into doing something and will tell us something to do, but we don’t do it, because God didn’t say to do it, just we don’t do something that Simon doesn’t say.
Worship Song
THIS WEEK’S SERMON FROM BIG CHURCH
Every week our Roads Kidz Family Worship Lesson coordinates with The Roads Sermon.