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Youth

Giving Things Up (Lent), and Engaging Temptation

February 16, 2024

Discussion Questions

These questions are just to help get the discussion going. They do not need to be discussed in order. 

Lent 

  • Have you ever heard of the church season of Lent?

  • Are you giving up anything during Lent? 

  • What does the Lent season mean to you?

  • Do you feel like you need to give something up?

  • Do you ever do something other than giving something up like meditation or journaling? 

  • Do you think giving up something for Lent is or would be hard? Does doing hard things make you a good Christian why/why not? Does it make you a good person? 

 

These are the temptations that Jesus faces in the desert. Read them and discuss the associated questions:

 

  1. Turn Stones into Bread: Satan tempts Jesus to use his divine power to satisfy his physical hunger by turning stones into bread.

    1. What virtue do you think is shown by not accepting bread?

  2. Jump from the Pinnacle of the Temple: Satan suggests that Jesus should demonstrate his divine nature by throwing himself off the pinnacle of the temple, relying on angels to save him.

    • Do you ever question god's existence and does that make you tempted to test god? Have you ever had an experience that made you more confident in your faith? 

  3. Bow Down to Worship Satan: Satan offers Jesus power and authority over all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for worshiping him

    • Does the fact that Jesus resisted temptation make him a better leader? Does this apply to all leaders? What do you look for in a leader?

Discussion Background Materials

Matthew 4 (NRSV):

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,

‘One does not live by bread alone,
   but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
   and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, 9 and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written,

‘Worship the Lord your God,
   and serve only him.’ ”

11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

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