The Master's Touch small group Bible studies
Temptation, James 1:13-18
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When trials give way to temptations, what do we do? Last time we talked about tests and the need to study for them. This time we are relating gardening to our spiritual life.
Suppose you have a master gardener living next to you. Every year she plants prize tomatoes. You have a garden too, but your tomatoes don't look anything like hers. So at night, when no one is around, you take one of her plants and put it into your garden and replace hers with one of your own. That's cheating and stealing, isn't it? We may reason, well if God did not want me to do this, he wouldn't have me live next to a master gardener. I couldn't resist the temptation. What is bad about this person's thinking?
Answer: He not only would not accept the blame for what he did, but he blamed God for the temptation. We might be tempted to use the same excuse and blame God if we were a bank cashier or an accountant, or we were exposed to pornography on the job, or we met a nice Christian whom we are attracted to who is not our mate.
We are studying today in James chapter 1, verses 13-18. What does James 1:13 have to say about temptation?
Answer 1 (Answers are found at the bottom of this page)
God does not tempt anyone. So, whose fault is it if we succumb to temptation?
For the non-Christian, sin not only leads to a life of emptiness and trouble but also physical and spiritual death. For the believer who has trusted in Christ for new life and forgiveness, unchecked sin can lead to trouble, spiritual defeat and possibly even physical death. Even if we are sure we have spiritual life, it will seem like we don't. To please God, when facing trials and tribulations, do not give into temptations. They will choke the life out of you so you cannot produce spiritual fruit.
James 1:16 says, “Don't be deceived, my dear brothers,” (NIV). How might we be deceived?
What is the true nature of God? James 1:17
What are some good gifts that God has given us? Eternal life, families, jobs, ministry opportunities, and maybe even persecution, or some other hard trial or test, to make us better Christians.
James 1:18 says He [God] chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created, (NIV).
Notice the contrast of James 1:18 with verses 14-15. James 1:14-15 talks about desire that gives birth to sin. James 1:18 talks about birth that comes from believing the word of truth, the gospel found in the Bible. It leads to life while sin leads to what? A: Death.
What reason did James say God chose to give us spiritual life, according to verse 18?
How does James 1:18 relate to our spiritual lives if we are the firstfruits?
Lessons to live by: (leaders, ask for member's ideas first)
Today's Bible memory verse: James 1:14 "but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed," (NIV).
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A1: When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone, (James 1:13, NIV).
A2: James 1:14-15 "but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death," (NIV)
A3: We might deceive ourselves into believing sin is not our fault. We might be deceived by others who tell us sin is not our fault. We may reason God would not put us into this situation if he did not want us to do this thing, this sin. We might be deceived about the true nature of God.
A4: Every good and perfect gift above is from, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows, (James 1:17, NIV).
A5: That we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. Some of you have gardens and you look forward to the first fruits of your garden. What does the term firstfruits imply? It implies more will be coming.
A6:First, God wants to produce good spiritual fruit (character) in us so that he can be proud of us. Second, there are more people who will be saved. We need to pray for unsaved people and plant gospel seeds so that they may be saved.
Lessons to Live by: (my answers)
- To please God, when facing trials and tribulations, do not give into temptations. They will choke the life out of you so you cannot produce spiritual fruit
- Understand where temptations come from and do not blame God for them.
- Draw your life and strength from God, and he will produce spiritual fruit in you. Plant gospel seeds in other people's lives so that they will be saved and join the harvest.
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