Unshakable Resolve

CELL MATTERS

Unshakable RESOLVE: resisting the shortcuts that weaken us.

Opening thoughts:  In a sense, all temptation is a shortcut to get what God promises us but to do it in our own way.  God has promised us real, eternal, abundant life and to get it, we must obey His Word.  Satan comes along and tempts us with an offer to take a shortcut and get life on our own terms.  These shortcuts always weaken us, they never strengthen us.  Let’s talk about this as a group and help to sure up one another’s resolve to live God’s way.

OPENING QUESTIONS:

1. What is your favorite “comfort food”? 
2. When you are stressed, what do you do to cope with it?  Ie- eat; work-out; sleep; watch tv; read a book; etc.

GOING DEEPER:

1. READ Luke 4:1-14.
2. How would you describe the power struggle going on here?
3. What is Satan trying to do with Jesus?  What is Satan’s goal in tempting Jesus?
4. Do you believe that it was possible for Jesus to sin? (This question gets debated a lot!)
5. What tactics does Jesus use to defeat Satan’s temptations?

GETTING PERSONAL:

1. How would you compare your own temptations with the temptations that Jesus faced?
2. When do you find yourself most vulnerable to the tempter?
3. Share a story about a time when you successfully resisted temptation.  What was it like? 

GROUP PRAYER:

1. Pray for one another’s weak spots.  Perhaps people have shared areas where they are prone to temptation.  Let’s pray for one another in these areas.
2. Remember to pray for your friends who do not yet know Jesus.

MAKE A PLAN:

1. The annual “Christmas in April” is coming up on April 24.  This is a great opportunity for your group to serve together in our community.  You will be hearing more about it at church in the coming weeks.