Sermon: The Purpose of Trials

Everyone is encouraged to bring a Bible (Phone apps are good for reading together in the same translation. Study Bibles help with interpretation.)

1. Icebreaker question: Share about training you went through that was especially difficult (school, athletics, work, etc.). What was the end result of the training?

2. The sermon looked at how God uses difficult times in our lives. What do you remember about each of the main points? What stood out to you or impacted you?

3. Read Matthew 4:1-11

a) Who led Jesus into the wilderness? Why?

b) What three names are given to Jesus’ adversary in the desert? (4:3, 5, 10)

c) What types of temptations did Satan through at Jesus? (Compare to Genesis 3:1-6)

d) What role does the Word of God play in resisting temptation?

e) What happened after Jesus had resisted Satan three times?

f) Who came and ministered to Jesus when all was said and done?

g) What happened as a result of the trial Jesus went through? (see Luke 4:13-14)

4. Read Romans 8:28-29

a) What trials have you been experiencing in your own life lately?

b) How have you seen God working for your good through your trials?

c) What did God predestine His people to be?

d) How does this process happen in our lives?

e) What do you think our role is in the process?

5. Spend some time praying for each other. As you ask God to help your group members through their trials, ask Him to bring appropriate Scriptures to mind that you can declare for each other (“It is written…”).