The 8th Day Inward Journey Mission Group invites you to its Lenten Series: Create in Me a Clean Heart. We will meet on ZOOM. Link is below the text. Feel free to share with others.
When: Wednesday: March 1
Time and Duration: 7 - 7:45 p.m.
Session 1 Topic: Tempted
Scripture: Matthew 4: 1 - 11 (The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness)
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ’
Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,“He will command his angels concerning you”, and “On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test'.”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him'.” Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
Reflection Questions
1. Many things in our world are good; the issue for our faith journey is where they rank in our priority list. How do you experience temptation? Which of these block or inhibit your closer union with God/Jesus? Temptation to:
*live by bread alone (spend almost all your time on earning a living, accumulating financial security or wealth);
*use your God-given talents and resources for the wrong purposes, to focus attention on oneself or to test God's goodness;
*seek worldly power, fame, fortune/wealth;
*prioritize information, data, and knowledge separate from God's wisdom which provides the values structure for how to use these to benefit others/the common good as well as self;
*prize people and relationships above God;
*prioritize pleasure, "experiences" and entertainment:
*prioritize comfort, safety and avoidance of risk and pain:
*live your life independent from God: to control your own life.
2. Jesus used God's words to resist the tempter. What tools do you use? What new ones can you envision using?
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The link for each session is below.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5320553902
Meeting ID: 532 055 3902
On your smartphone:
+19292056099,,5320553902# US (New York)
+13017158592,,5320553902# US (Germantown)
On your regular phone:
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
Meeting ID: 532 055 3902