Temptation - part I

For scripture this morning i was going to do a lesson on the problem of suffering, but since i was backed into doing a party for the end of term, i figured it would be poor form to chat about poverty as you were eating chocolate.

Instead we looked at temptation.

The reason i asked is because my initial list of questions had a lot of... Is it wrong to... statements.

I ripped off the start of a really good sermon that my old youth minister did which began with a number of common tempting situations (a good teacher is a good thief... right?).

I then asked them... What exactly is SIN?

To help you get the answer i suggested three things from the Fall...

• Does God clearly say not to do it? Or... What does the bible say? At worst, is there a principal in the scriptures that may apply?

And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." Genesis 2:17

• Does it draw you out of the presence of God? Or... Could you sing your favourite Christian song and do it?

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" Genesis 3:7-8

• If you did it would you feel guilt or shame afterwards? Or... Would you still do it if your Mother was watching?

He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." Genesis 3:10

If you honestly ask most teens these three questions about the action in question (masturbation, porn, drinking, smoking, sex, gossipping, swearing, stealing music... whatever!), they usually have a fair idea, what's on the not-to-do list...

Tomorrow, The four examples of avoiding temptation from the Bible...