[1]NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the MasterWork curriculum.
Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Discussion Questions: Why am I tempted? Why can’t I seem to grow beyond this temptation? Am I really a Christian since I keep facing the same temptation over and over again? Where is God when I am struggling with temptation? Why should I keep resisting these urges when they never seem to go away or to weaken? Does anyone else struggle like this, or am I just not as spiritual as everybody else?
Food for Thought:
Flip Wilson’s career included stand-up comedy, actor, and weekly television variety show host, for which he earned a Golden Globe and two Emmy Awards. Time magazine put his picture on a 1972 cover and dubbed him “TV’s first black superstar.” His most enduring recognition comes from his oft-repeated line, “The devil made me do it!”
[2]Oscar Wilde grew up in Ireland, the son of wealthy and influential Dublin intellectuals. Taking after his mother, Wilde was drawn to various literary endeavors ranging from journalist to essayist to poet to novelist. But perhaps he is best known for his work as a playwright. A character in one of his plays confesses, “I can resist everything except temptation.”
Were they right? Are we but puppets in the devil’s hands, destined to do his bidding whenever he pulls our strings? Is temptation really so overwhelmingly powerful that resistance is futile? Is it all out of our hands and beyond our control?
The final MasterWork session from author Russell D. Moore’s book, “Tempted and Tried: Temptation and the Triumph of Christ,” examines 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 for answers to questions like these. God never promised that His followers would reach the point where temptation was not an issue. We will not reach the point this side of eternity that our maturity has grown beyond the enticements of the flesh. And the pull of those lures can prove quite strong and uncomfortable. But God did say He would provide a way of escape for every temptation His followers encounter.
MasterWork
MasterWork is an ongoing Bible study curriculum based on works from a variety of renowned authors and offers pertinent, practical messages that adults will find uplifting and enriching. The list of authors and their books to be studied in upcoming months can be found at www.lifeway.com/masterwork [3].
Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool [4].