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BIBLE STUDY #3

TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS
The Christian life is not always a bed of roses. Like everyone else, the Christian has difficulties and hardships. However, the Christian has God with him, giving him strength to endure it and understanding to know what is taking place.

Trials are tests that God allows to happen to us to show whether we are really loving and trusting Him, or to cause us to grow spiritually.

1. How important is the trial of our faith? (1 Peter 1:6,7)

2. Jesus gave an illustration in Matthew 7:24-27. Who is like a wise man that built on a rock? (Verse 24)

What happened when the trials came his way? (Verse 25)

Who is like a foolish man that built on sand? (Verse 26)

What happened when the trials came his way? (Verse 27)

3. Read James 1:2-4. What good do these tests produce?

Many times when our faith is on trial, we also experience temptation to sin. We may find ourselves feeling bad, or having bad thoughts, or bad circumstances. We will be trying to believe what God has said about His love and faithfulness, and we will get a thought or impulse to lose faith and do something wrong. This is a temptation, and can come anytime, even when we aren't in a trial.

4. Who is our enemy? (1 Peter 5:8)

5. What are three areas that we are tempted in? (1 John 2:16)

6. Look at 1 Corinthians 10:13. Is your temptation unique?

Is it more that you can take?

Are you trapped in it without help?

7. Who gives us strength to meet temptation? (Philippians 4:13)

8. Why is He able to make us victorious? (1 John 4:4)

The devil did not just appear after you became a Christian. He has been around all this time, but you may not have been aware of his activity.

9. According to Ephesians 2:1,2, who was influencing your life before you were a child of God?

If you asked a cloud about the wind, he would say; "What wind? I just move." He goes wherever the wind blows. But, if you asked a tree about the wind, he would know about it because he fights against it everyday. This is a picture of our past and present relationship with the devil and temptation.

10. What are two things we should do in temptation? (James 4:7)

It is not a sin to be tempted. It is only a sin when we give in to temptation. Even Jesus Christ, himself, experienced temptation.

11. Read Matthew 4:1-11. In Verses 4,7 and 10, what did Jesus use to meet Satan's attacks?

12. What has God promised to the one who endures trials and temptations? (James 1:12)


** WHAT IF I BLOW IT? **
13. Even if we fall and sin, we should not give up on being a Christian. Realize that God knows we aren't perfect and still loves us. What does 1 John 1:9 say we should do?

What will God do in response?

14. Overcoming sin and responding correctly when we have sinned are both part of our life with God. What does 1 John 3:5 say that Jesus was manifested for?


After you have completed this Bible study, please send it back to us. We will check it and return it to you as fast as we can. Make sure you check in tommorow for the next study.


Mail your completed study to:
Calvary Chapel Golden Springs
ATT: N/B
22324 Golden Springs Dr.
Diamond Bar, CA 91765-2449

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