In ,

Jesus is tempted in the desert

Fast and Pray

Jesus went into the desert for 40 days to fast and pray.

Resources:

  • Table
  • Chairs
  • Jar of Sand (optional)
  • Cacti (optional)
  • Desert Winds through a speaker (optional)

Instructions:

Create a desert space: put the chairs around the table. Put the jar of sand and the cacti on the table. Play the desert winds music through a speaker.

Ask the congregation: Have you ever tried a fast? A Daniel fast (not eating meat and only drinking water) can be a way to ease yourself in to fasting. Would you consider doing a Daniel fast to help you focus on God?

Being a Christian is about a relationship with God. Get your group to spend some time listening to God’s voice in the ‘desert’. Has God been speaking to them in any of these ways:

  1. Through signs in your life
  2. Through Christians
  3. Through the Bible
  4. Through The Holy Spirit
  5. Through your Common sense

How do they need to respond to Jesus now?

 

Turn Back to Jesus

Lent is a time to turn from evil and towards Jesus.

Resources:

  • Trays/ containers of sand
  • Table

Instructions:

Put the tray of sand onto a table where all can reach.

Ask the group to spend a moment thinking of what you want to say sorry to God for. They should keep it in mind, then either write the sin in the sand or write ‘sorry’ with their finger. They should then wipe the sand word out to symbolise Jesus taking away their sin.

Ask them to meditate on this verse: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

 

Read the Bible and Use It

The Word of God is our best weapon against the devil.

Resources:

  • Image of fire, sword, hammer, gold, light bulb
  • Cards with lies written on them

Instructions:

Choose a card and read out the lie on it that we sometimes believe. Look around the room. Can you find the weapon of God that is the truth that destroys the lie? Read the truth out loud.

Spend some time praying if any of these lies are things that you or anyone you know have been struggling with.

What is the Bible/ word of the Lord described as?

  • Double edged sword

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword’ Hebrews 4:12

  • Purified gold

The words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times. Psalm 12:6

 

  • A light (bulb)

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

  • Hammer

‘Is not my word […] declares the Lord like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?’ Jeremiah 23:29

 

  • Fire

‘Is not my word like fire’ declares the Lord. Jeremiah 23:29

 

Lies and the Biblical Truth:

 

Lie 1: God doesn’t love me.

Truth 1: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him

will not die but have eternal life. John 3:16

 

Lie 2: I am too bad to be loved.

Truth 2: There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1-2

 

Lie 3: If God knew me then He wouldn’t want to be my friend.

Truth 3: God created my inmost being; knit me together, I am fearfully and wonderfully made
Psalm 139:13-14

 

Lie 4: I am useless.

Truth 4: I can do all things through Jesus who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

 

Lie 5: I don’t belong in God’s family.

Truth 5: Jesus gives us the right to become children of God. John 1:12