WEEK 8 - OUTLINE
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION
Theme: Learning to Recognize the Battle Before It Becomes the Fall
Main Scripture: Matthew 6:13
“And lead us not into temptation…”
Supporting Scriptures
Matthew 26:41 ● 1 Corinthians 10:13 ● James 1:13–15 ● Proverbs 4:23 ● Psalm 119:11 ● Galatians 5:16 ● Hebrews 4:15–16
BIG IDEA
Prayer doesn't just help us recover after temptation; prayer helps us __________ before temptation comes.us recover after temptation; prayer helps us __________ before temptation comes.
LOOKING BACK
Over the past several weeks, Jesus has been teaching us how to pray:
Jesus Teaches Us What It Means
Our Father Who __________ is
Hallowed Be Your Name How we __________ God
Your Kingdom Come What we're __________ for
Your Will Be Done What we're ____________
Daily Bread What we're ____________ God for
Forgive Us How we deal with our own ___________
As We Forgive How we deal with the failures of _______
Lead Us Not Into Temptation How we deal with the __________ itself
Tonight, Jesus turns our attention toward the __________.
He knows we're going to face temptation, so He teaches us how to pray __________ the battle.
ICEBREAKER: KNOW YOUR WEAKNESS
What's something you're really good at resisting?____________________________________________________________________
What's something you have a hard time saying “no” to?____________________________________________________________________
Remember: Everybody has areas where we're stronger and areas where we're more vulnerable. Jesus doesn't teach us to pretend we're not vulnerable. He teaches us to __________ about it.
READ THE WORD
Matthew 6:13 – “And lead us not into temptation…”
Matthew 26:41 – “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
1 Corinthians 10:13
What do these verses tell us about temptation?
TEACHING NOTES
1. TEMPTATION IS NOT THE SAME AS SIN
Jesus was tempted.
Hebrews 4:15 says Jesus was: “tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
Being tempted isn't automatically __________.
Remember:
The temptation is the __________.
Sin is when we say __________.
You can't always control what knocks on the door, but you can decide whether you __________ it in.
A thought can come. A feeling can come. An opportunity can come. A temptation can come.
The question is: What do I do __________?
2. TEMPTATION OFTEN BEGINS BEFORE THE TEMPTATION
James 1:14-15 describes the progression:
____________ → ____________ → ____________ → ____________ → ____________
Temptation rarely begins with: “Let's destroy your life today.” 3
It usually starts much smaller:
“Just look.”
“Just think about it.”
“Just one time.”
“Nobody will know.”
“You deserve this.”
Key Thought
Big falls often begin with small _____________ that didn't look dangerous at the time.
That's why Jesus teaches us to pray ____________ the temptation.
3. KNOWING YOUR WEAKNESS IS NOT WEAKNESS
Matthew 26:41– “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Jesus knew His disciples' vulnerability. We need to know __________.
Ask Yourself:
When am I most vulnerable?
Where am I most vulnerable?
Who am I most vulnerable around?
What emotions make me vulnerable?
What circumstances lower my guard?
Remember: What you refuse to identify, you cannot __________ for.
Self-awareness is spiritual __________.
If you're vulnerable when you're exhausted, don't make major decisions exhausted.
If you're vulnerable when you're angry, don't send the text while you're angry.
If you're vulnerable when you're lonely, don't __________ yourself.
4. GOD ALWAYS PROVIDES A WAY OUT
1 Corinthians 10:13
God provides: “the way of __________.”
God doesn't promise you will never be __________.
He promises you will not be tempted beyond what you can bear and that He provides a __________ out.
Sometimes the way out is:
Leave.
Call somebody.
Turn it off.
Confess it.
Walk away.
Pray.
Think About This:
The way out often appears __________ the temptation becomes the fall.
Sometimes we want God to remove the temptation while we're standing right next to it.
Wisdom asks: “If I know this is dangerous, why am I still ____________ here?”
DISCUSSION
1. What's the difference between temptation and sin?____________________________________________________________________
2. Why do you think temptation often begins with something small?____________________________________________________________________
3. What emotions tend to make people more vulnerable to temptation?____________________________________________________________________
4. What might a “way of escape” look like in real life?____________________________________________________________________
5. What is one boundary you could establish that would help you avoid unnecessary temptation?____________________________________________________________________
MY BATTLE PLAN
1. MY TRIGGERS
What situations make me vulnerable?____________________________________________________________________
2. MY WARNING SIGNS
How do I know I'm moving toward a bad decision?____________________________________________________________________
3. MY WAY OUT
What can I do when temptation appears?____________________________________________________________________
4. MY PEOPLE
Who can I call when I need help?____________________________________________________________________
A battle plan isn't pessimism. It's ____________. You don't plan for temptation because you expect to fail. You plan because you intend to __________.
PRAYER
Take a moment to open your hands and surrender your vulnerabilities to God.
Father,
You know our ______________. You know where we're _____________. Give us wisdom
before temptation comes. Give us ____________ when temptation comes. Give us courage to
take the way __________. Give us people who will help us stay __________. Lead us not into
temptation. Jesus, help us __________. Help us __________. Help us __________. Amen.
WEEK 8 TAKE-HOME CHALLENGE
THE “WATCH AND PRAY” CHALLENGE
Every morning this week, pray: “Father, show me where I am vulnerable today, and give me wisdom before I get there.”
My practical boundary for this week:
