Suggestions for leading a study:

• Familiarize yourself with the passage in context, including the book itself.  Who wrote it to whom, and why?
• Read through the study guide a couple times to get the “big idea” as well as the flow of the argument
• Have the group read through the passage in it’s entirety before beginning the study.  One of the goals is to try to get your members to learn how to study Scripture methodically, and this is an important step.
• Be prayed up
• Have fun!
  

Terminating Temptation

⁶Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. ⁷Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry." ⁸We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did--and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. ⁹We should not test the Lord, as some of them did--and were killed by snakes. ¹⁰And do not grumble, as some of them did--and were killed by the destroying angel.
¹¹These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. ¹²So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! ¹³No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
¹⁴Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. ¹⁵I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. ¹⁶Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? ¹⁷Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

Discussion Questions

-Read verses 6-10 and make a list of the sins mentioned: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________

-Verse 11 mentions that “these things” are examples for us.  Do you think it is referring to the sins themselves, the punishments that were received, or both?

-What does verse 11 say about us?

-What do you think that the “fulfillment of the ages” refers to?  How are we in a different situation then the people mentioned in verses 6-10?

-Given the different status we have in an era of grace, why do you think we still need the “warnings” that these stories represent for us?  What are we being warned against?

-Read verse 12.  What kind of attitude is addressed here?  Do you think that a false sense of security makes us more vulnerable to temptations?

-Read verse 13.  How does it help to know that the temptations we go through are “commonplace?” 

-What promises are we given in verse 13? 

-This passage does not specify what the “ways out” are that God will provide.  What kinds of paths away from temptation do you think that he might provide?

-In verses 14-17, Paul concludes three things:

            -v. 14: What do we flee from?
            -v. 16: Who are we part of ?
            -v. 17: What are we a piece of?

Leaders' Guide

This lesson works through this key passage to help us understand the importance of standing firm against temptation and how to do so.

-Read verses 6-10 and make a list of the sins mentioned:

            Idolatry, sexual immorality, testing the Lord, and grumbling are some of the sins mentioned that the people of Israel committed during their time in the desert before entering Canaan.  Obviously, this is not an exhaustive list, but only some examples, as the next verse makes clear.

-Verse 11 mentions that “these things” are examples for us.  Do you think it is referring to the sins themselves, the punishments that were received, or both?

            This is really just a discussion question meant to lead into the next question.  Toss it around, but don’t feel like you have to get to the right answer, because you can’t really tell from the text itself.  The sins themselves were certainly examples of what kinds of things we are tempted to do.  The punishments might be exemplary of the fact that sin has dire consequences, but these things certainly don’t happen anymore.  The reason is what the next question is all about.

-What does verse 11 say about us?

            It says that we are those on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.  The next question explores this further.

-What do you think that the “fulfillment of the ages” refers to?  How are we in a different situation then the people mentioned in verses 6-10?

            This refers to Jesus Christ and the new era of grace that was ushered in by his sacrifice.  This is the age we now live in.  We are in a different situation then the examples that are mentioned because the price for our sin was paid by Christ on the cross.  No more destroying angels and being killed by snakes.  Make sure your group understands that the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23), but that the death of Christ is what pays them once and for all.  This may be an opportunity to ask if everyone in the group has accepted that forgiveness. 

-Given the different status we have in an era of grace, why do you think we still need the “warnings” that these stories represent for us?  What are we being warned against?

            The text doesn’t specify exactly, the in a larger sense the Bible is very clear on this issue.  In spite of the cost of sin being paid, that doesn’t mean that sin doesn’t have consequences.  We still need to be warned against it.  It can harm us physically and harm our relationships with others, but it also compromises our relationship with God and spiritual growth.  Ultimately, dedicating yourself to sin will keep you from becoming who God wants you to be and accomplishing the things that he has for you here. 

-Read verse 12.  What kind of attitude is addressed here?  Do you think that a false sense of security makes us more vulnerable to temptations?

            The attitude is one of thinking that you are standing firm.  In other words, an arrogant and self-confident attitude that doesn’t take seriously enough the nature of sin and temptation. 

The discussion about how that kind of attitude can make us more vulnerable will depend on the make-up of the group, but the bottom line is that it can cause us to lose our sense of total dependency on God in winning spiritual battles.  If we get over confident and think we can handle it on our own, that’s when we fall. 

-Read verse 13.  How does it help to know that the temptations we go through are “commonplace?” 

            It should be an encouragement to us that others go through the same things we do and yet at least some of them are able to stand firm.

-What promises are we given in verse 13? 
            That God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to stand up under it, and that he will provide a way out.

-This passage does not specify what the “ways out” are that God will provide.  What kinds of paths away from temptation do you think that he might provide?

            This is for discussion.  Turning your mind to something else is certainly one of them.  God has provided his Word (hence the importance of memorization), and prayer to help us do this.  If it’s really bad, calling up someone in the group that we consider an accountability partner can be a great help.  Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12 step groups know about this one very well.  Other things might come up.  Getting up and walking our doors is often-times a simple and obvious “way out” from situations that are clearly not healthy for us.

-In verses 14-17, Paul concludes three things:

            -v. 14: What do we flee from?

Idolatry.  This is anything that we worship other than God.  In other words, anything that is more important to us than he is.  Money, watching football, whatever.
-v. 16: Who are we part of ?
This uses the imagery of communion to remind us that we “participate” in the body and blood of Christ.  The question is phrased in such a way as to remind us that this means that we are a part of him. 
-v. 17: What are we a piece of?
We are a piece of the body of Christ, the church.

-How do each of these relate to terminating temptation in our lives? 

            Running away from anything that is more important than God is critical.  You might also bring up the connection this has with worship.  Not being actively involved in the worship life of the church is certainly not going to help stand against the enemy.
            Being a part of Christ is another key.  That means ongoing access through prayer and the Holy Spirit to his power and strength. 
            Being a part of the body of Christ is essential to defeating temptation.  We need each other to help us—we can never do it alone.  God created the church so we can stand together against the works of the enemy in our lives.  You may even want to end the time by asking if the group wants to create accountability partners that will share their most significant tests with each other, promise to pray for each other, and regularly ask each other how that are of their life is going as well as being available to be contacted during times of trial.