Connect20-25 minutes
If this is your first time meeting as a group, take some time to get to know each other.
Good questions to start with:
- What keeps you busy during the week?
- How did you get connected at The Crossing?
- What drew you to this study?
If you are an ongoing group, catch up on life since the first time you saw each other and share a moment in the past few months when you have seen God at work.
Learn5-7 minutes
You will watch a short clip of the message from this series to set up your group discussion. The full version of the message is also available
online to reference before or after your group meeting.
Discuss20-30 minutes
- What were your main takeaways from the message or video clip?
- What’s a time you were tempted to take a shortcut—and why did it feel so compelling in the moment?
- How does this third temptation differ from the first two (stones to bread; pinnacle of the temple)? What “lever” is the enemy pulling here?
- The offer is to bow “just this once… in private.” Why is hidden compromise so corrosive—both behaviorally and spiritually?
- Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. What does this verse teach us about temptation?
- Read Romans 15:4-6. What comes to mind when you hear the word, "endurance?"
- How does Scripture help us find endurance during moments of temptation?
- Scripture helps equip and encourage us as we face temptation. What other tools have been helpful for you or someone you know in the face of temptation?
*If this discussion stirs up personal feelings, our pastors would be honored to hear your story and journey with you. Email pastors@thecrossing.church to get in touch.
Pray10-15 minutes
Is there anything coming up this week that’s exciting or stressful? If you feel comfortable, you can share prayer requests with the group so they can pray for you this week. You may also opt to use the following prayer.
Jesus—You are God, yet You lived a human life here on earth, so You understand the pull of temptation. Help us to align our thoughts and desires with You so that we, too, may thwart the evil one's attempts to make us believe we are in control and not You. Remind us that we don't have to face temptation with whatever amount of willpower we can muster; rather, we need to turn to You and rely on Your power. Thank You for how You love us and for the enormous lengths You went to in order to save us. Be with us as we go about this week. Amen.
Action Steps5-10 minutes
Between now and next week, here are some suggestions for action steps.
Attend the Weekend Service: Note any takeaways, next steps, or reflections in a notebook. These will help you as you prepare to participate for your small group, and your small group will benefit from your insights and questions as you learn together.
Other Practical Action Steps:
- Diving into the Bible: Read Matthew 4:1-11. Jot down some things you can learn from Jesus about resisting temptation. This week, how can you implement what you learn?
- Memorize Scripture Together: As a group, work to commit this Scripture to memory this week: 1 Corinthians 10:13.
- Personal Reflection: Write down your greatest area of temptation. Find passages in Scripture that relate to that temptation and reflect on those promises. If you are not sure where to start, talk to your group leader, ask one of our pastors after service, or email pastors@thecrossing.church.