I’m doing a video series about temptation called The Invisible War with my high school small group students. The series was created by Rick Warren. In the lessons, he talks about how Jesus quoted scripture in the face of temptation. I thought if that was what worked for Jesus, then we should follow his model.
I challenged my guys last week to come back this week with some verses that could help them deal with temptation. I’m proud of them for taking time to do this. I emailed all of the verses to them so they could read through them and hopefully memorize them. (All verses are from the NLT version)
Here’s what they came up with:
Chris’ verse:
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” Matthew 19:26
Brandan’s verse:
Just as Death and Destruction are never satisfied, so human desire is never satisfied. Proverbs 20:26
Shane’s verse:
But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Donny’s verse:
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. 1 John 1:9
Chip’s verse:
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power. 2 Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. 3 For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. 5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don’t be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry. 6 God’s terrible anger will come upon those who do such things. 7 You used to do them when your life was still part of this world. Colossians 3:1-7
Slater’s verse:
Be on guard. Stand true to what you believe. Be courageous. Be strong. 14 And everything you do must be done with love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
So if your eye — even if it is your good eye — causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. Matthew 5:29
Dennis’ verse:
Obey God because you are his children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of doing evil; you didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God — who chose you to be his children — is holy. 16 For he himself has said, “You must be holy because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:14-16
