Using Scriptures to Reject Temptation

Child did something they weren’t supposed to do; child doesn’t want to read scriptures; child doesn’t understand why reading scriptures is important.

Scripture Lesson
Right after Christ was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, he retreated to the wilderness for forty days to fast. Fasting is when people go a period of time without food or water in an effort to become closer to God and understand His will. As hard as Christ is trying to follow God, Satan is working just as hard to tempt Christ to follow him instead.


Why do you suppose Satan tempts Christ at the same time He is fasting?
When does Satan tempt us?

Though Christ was tempted each day, the apostles only record three temptations. Here is the first one.


Why would Satan tempt Christ to turn rocks into food?
When are you the weakest; if Satan wanted to tempt you, when would he do it?
How did Christ reject Satan’s temptation? Why did he say “It is written”?


Why does Satan tempt others with power and riches?
Again, Christ said “It is written”; why does he keep using scriptures to tell Satan he will not fall into temptation?
Why are scriptures so important?
The scripture that Christ mentions was one of the Ten Commandments that Moses received. Who, then, writes the scriptures? (This is kind of a trick question)

Listen to the third temptation and notice how Satan tries to tempt Christ this time.


This time Satan tried twisting the scriptures to tempt Christ; why would Satan do that?How does Satan take good things and try to trick people with them? Can you think of an example?


Christ said:

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me: (John 5:39)

And Paul, one of Christ’s apostles, said:


If the scriptures show us how to live the way God would like us to live, how often should we read scriptures?
Next time you don’t want to read scriptures, what are some things you could do?
Next time you are tempted by someone or something, what are some things you could do?