Confirmation '11/'12
On February 5th, we talked about Jesus' time in the wilderness and his temptations. We took this opportunity to talk about our own temptations and how they affect us.
Download this week's Parent's Page
Homework
- Temptation can be a difficult topic to talk about. Use confirmation as an excuse to bring up the conversation.
- Complete at least one of the activities on this page or the web.
- Find time to do at least 4 Faith Form cards.
- Don’t forget to work on the Confirmation Project.
Thoughts, Ideas and more suggestions:
- Temptation in Film. Temptation is a popular theme in videos. Nearly every movies has it on one level or another. Why do you think it is so popular? Could it be because we struggle with it so much? The next time you watch a movie or TV show, try to identify the theme of Temptation. Below are several clips from movies you may know. Can you think of others? Share them in the comments.
- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Flin has created a machine that makes it rain down food. It's huge for his struggling town and everybody loves it. But the machine is starting to go haywire, his dad wants him to shut it off, but the mayor wants it to keep going.
- What do you think Flin should do?
- Who's being the tempter in this story? What's the temptation
- Why is it hard for Flin to do the right thing?
- What would you do?
- Fireproof. Caleb and Catherine have been married for seven years, but their marriage has spiraled down to the place where it seems divorce is inevitable. Caleb’s father, John, brought Caleb a 40 Day Marriage Restoration book that he hopes will help. Caleb is trying, but is still struggling when he is tempted by an ad for pornography on the Internet.
- What do you think about the description of addiction or temptation as a parasite? What characteristics to parasites have in common with addiction or temptation?
- What do you think about Caleb's decision to smash his computer? Was that the right way to get rid of the temptation?
- 3:10 to Yuma. When the notorious outlaw Ben Wade is captured in the small town of Bisbee, an impoverished rancher, Daniel Evans, offers to assist in escorting the cold-blooded killer to the city of Contention for $200. Daniel tries to convince Ben to let him go for $1000.
- Daniel knows that Ben could really use the money. Why do you think he chooses that temptation?
- Why do you think Ben is able to resist the temptation to take the money?
- Imagine that with that much money, Ben could save his range, help his family, pay his debts. Should he take it? Think of all the good he could do with that money. Why shouldn't he?
- Put yourself into the situation as Ben, what would you do? Is there anything you can imagine that would make you take the money? If you took it and set Daniel free, how would you feel? How might that decision not work out the way you hoped?
- A Simple Plan. Two brothers, one a mild-mannered hardware store manager, the other an unemployed slob and a friend stumble onto $4.4 million cash in stolen money.
- Do you think any of the reasons to keep the money are good ones? Does it make a difference whether the money is clean or dirty?
- What do you think of the reason not to keep it, "because we'd get into trouble", is that a good reason? Can you think of other reasons why the money shouldn't be kept?
- What do you think the decided to do? Why?
- What would the best thing to do be?
- Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. The Chronicals of Narnia tell the story of four children - Edmund, Lucy, Susan and Peter - who travel to a make-believe world of Narnia. In this clip from the third film, Lucy, jelous of her sisters beauty and popularity, is tempted to say a spell that will give her what she wishes.
- Have you ever wished you were someone else?
- When Lucy caves to temptation and wishes to be her sister, she's given a gimpse of a world where she doesn't exist. What are some of the things that her siblings loose when she doesn't exist?
- What do you think Lucy learns from her run in with temptation?
- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Flin has created a machine that makes it rain down food. It's huge for his struggling town and everybody loves it. But the machine is starting to go haywire, his dad wants him to shut it off, but the mayor wants it to keep going.
- Jesus and the Israelites. The gospels make intentional parallels between Jesus' temptation and the Israelites in the wilderness. The purpose of those parallels is to show us how Jesus is fully human, he's tempted just like us, and how Jesus succeeds where humanity often doesn't, he resists temptation.
- See how many parallels you can find. Here is a list:
- Wilderness - both stories happen in the wilderness. In the Bible, the wilderness is a place of trial and one where evil is very present. How is the world we live in like a wilderness?
- 40 - Jesus is in the wilderness 40 days and the Israelites are in it for 40 years. 40 in the Bible often represents a long time. 40 years represented a lifetime.
- No food or water - In the wilderness Jesus didn't eat or drink and the Israelites cried out for food and water. How are the two different?
- Bread - The Israelites complain about hunger and are given mana, bread from heaven. Jesus is tempted by the devil to turn stones into bread. In the Old Testament, the story of mana is often told to illustrate God's protection and people's lack of trust (they store up extra, even though God told them they would have enough). In response to the devils temptation for food Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 8:3. Read Deuteronomy 8:2-3 in which Moses is talking to the Israelites, how does this sound similar to Jesus' experience?
- Idols - The Israelites are tempted to worship Idols in Exodus 32 and Jesus is tempted to worship the devil. Both are idols because to worship them is to turn away from God.
- Testing God - The Israelites test God's faithfulness in Exodus 17:1-7 and Jesus is tempted by the devil to do the same by throwing himself off the temple.
- Water - this is sort of a trick one because it happens a bit before our story. The Israelites begin their wilderness experience after going through the Red Sea. Jesus begins his wilderness experience after getting baptized. These two water experiences help tie the two stories together, but they also remind us that Just because we're baptized and know we are Christian, doesn't mean that we won't be tempted.
- The three temptations. In both Matthew and Luke, Jesus is tempted in three ways. Each one is significant.
- Temptation of Food, Matthew 4:3-4 & Luke 4:3-4. Jesus had fasted, not eaten, for forty days. The Bible says he was famished. The first temptation is to fill his hungry belly with food. Hunger is often a temptation and by itself is not wrong - we all need food to survive. But sometimes we use food to distract us from other problems - eating when we're depressed or angry. Jesus has fasted for spiritual reasons, to help him focus, to eat now would be to break that fast for the wrong reasons. It would also be to use his special power as the Son of God to fill his own desire rather than care for others. Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 8:3 to reinforce why he doesn't eat. Can you think of times in your life where food has been a temptation that distracts you from what is important? Have you ever tried a Spiritual fast - giving up food for a period of time as a way of praying?
- Temptation of Power, Matthew 4:8-11 & Luke 4:5-8. Jesus is tempted with earthly power if he will just worship the Devil. The temptation here is to become the new Ceasar. Ceasar in Jesus' day was the ruler of the known world. He had all sorts of power, but didn't always use it wisely. Had Jesus taken this temptation, he would have replaced Ceasar. Power is always a big temptation. The power to control others (through bulling or manipulation) can be very tempting. Can you think of times where you have seen this temptation at work? Jesus knows that this kind of power rarely works out for good because you're relying on your own abilities instead of God's. Jesus' quote from Deuteronomy 6:13 (but changes the word "serve" to "worship") in response. How do you think the temptation for power is a turning away from God? How is it like idol worship?
- Temptation to Test God, Matthew 4:5-7 & Luke 4:9-13. Jesus is tempted to throw himself off a high ledge. In doing so he would both show the world how God would protect him, and also convince himself that God is there. Often times in our lives, this temptation comes in the form of "If you're real, God, then . . . ." When we say something like that, we're putting God to the test. We're trying to manipulate God to do something we want. Jesus, knowing this is a bad idea and quotes Deuteronomy 6:16 to show it. We are not to test God because when we do that, we're not trusting God. When have you been tempted to test God? What are some examples of testing God that you can think of?
- See how many parallels you can find. Here is a list:
- 40 Days of Temptation - Lent is the perfect opportunity to "practice" temptation. Traditionally during Lent, Christians give up something as a way of drawing closer to God. As we are reminded of what we gave up, we're also reminded to pray and trust in God. But this can also be an opportunity to experiment with how we responds to temptation. Here are some suggestions:
- As a family discuss what each individual is to give up. Allow others to make suggestions. It should be something moderately difficult. Something you typically do or use every day. Some suggestions might be video games, tv, cell phone, texting, sweets, one meal a day.
- Make a lenten covenant among your family. Each person should write on it what they are giving up and sign their name. You may want to add a preface to the covenant like, "In an effort to grow in faith and draw closer to God, we the __________ family covenant together to hold one another accountable in giving up the following things during the 40 days of Lent. As a way of holding each other accountable, we will pray for each other daily and (include other actions here)."
- Something to try. For the first half of Lent, pray for each other, but don't discuss what you have given up or check in with each other. For the Second half of Lent, make a point each day to check in with each other family member about how they are doing keeping their covenant. Which half was it easier to keep the covenant by not doing what you gave up? Why?
- Reflect:
- When did you feel tempted most? What did you do to avoid caving in?
- How did you feel when you caved to temptation? What made you feel worse or better?
- Were you ever tempted to lie about how it was going in keeping the covenant?
- Using Scripture. The Bible can be used to help us through temptation or to lead us into it. So one must be careful, we can use the Bible to justify bad actions if we take things out of context or misquote something. In times past, people have used the Bible to justify slavery, not letting women vote, making children work in factories, and even murdering people. Notice that in the temptation story, the Devil even quotes scripture to try and get Jesus to do something he shouldn't. It's not that the Bible is tempting us, but that others can use it to tempt us. It's using the right thing for the wrong reasons.
- What are some ways that you could test if someone is quoting the Bible in the right way?
- Use Luther's method of letting Scripture interpret Scripture. Can you think of other passages in the Bible that say about the same thing? Are there other passages in the the Bible that would suggest the opposite? How does your understanding of what the whole Bible says compare to what you think this one passage instructs?
- Use the Sin test. Sin is anything that harms our relationship with God, with others, or with ourselves. Will following what you think this Bible passage says lead you to harm your relationship with God, others, or yourself? If so, it's not likely a proper interpretation of the Bible.
- Get help from others. Share what you're being told or what you are thinking with others whom you trust. Ask people you think are spiritual leaders in your life. What do they think the Bible Passage says?
- Helpful Scriptures about temptation. Here is a list of Bible Passages that may be helpful to remember when you are tempted:
- What are some ways that you could test if someone is quoting the Bible in the right way?
- Cross in my pocket. Sometimes the best help for temptation is a little reminder. Putting a cross in your pocket can help you remember what God wants you to do and who you are as a Christian. Here is a simple origami cross you can make. You start with a square piece of paper. You'll only use half of the square, so one square will make two crosses.
- Before you start you may want to write James 1:12 & 17 on the paper. If you do, work from this side when you start folding so that the words end up inside the cross.
Picture from www.en.origami-club.com - Here's a video that helps show how to fold it.
- Carry the cross in your pocket for at least a week.
- Did it change how you felt?
- Did it make you feel guilty during the day? Did it make you feel free?
- Did it help you make better decisions?
- Before you start you may want to write James 1:12 & 17 on the paper. If you do, work from this side when you start folding so that the words end up inside the cross.
