Temptation isn't new. From the apple in the garden, to the wink from the girl at work, to the slightly illegitimate business deal, we all face temptation. But why is it that we just can't walk away? 

As we continue through Luke, in this mini-series, we will take a closer look at the temptations Jesus faced in the desert to identify the driving forces behind the temptations we face every day and the deeper issues involved. Once we realize what is behind temptation, and what is ultimately at stake every time we're tempted, we can better understand how Jesus fought temptation – and therefore how we can too through a PAUSE!

Part 1: The Big Picture

Passage: Luke 4:1-2; Romans 6:14; 1 Corinthians 10:13

Date: January 29, 2012

Overview : Have you ever wondered why it is so hard to turn away from temptation? What is it that leads you to keep making the same poor choices? Could it be that the reason you find temptation so, well, tempting, is that you've never paused to think about what is at stake? In this session we will discuss the big picture and what really hangs in the balance when you are faced with temptation.

Part 2: Soul Provider

Passage: Luke 4:3-4

Date: February 5, 2012

Overview : It is tempting to feel that God is in no hurry to take care of your needs--like the direction your marriage is headed, the fact that you are still single, or the speed at which your career is advancing. Jesus, too, was tempted to take things into His own hands and His response reveals a lot about what is really at stake when we are tempted to act independently from God.

Part 3: Shortcut

Passage: Luke 4:5-8

Date: February 12, 2012

Overview : Somewhere along the way you will be presented with an opportunity to jump ahead, to take a shortcut, to move closer to that goal you are chasing. And the only catch is that you will have to temporarily abandon your values. So what do you do? It turns out that Jesus was made just such an offer in His second temptation. Examining His response will prepare you for when your moment of truth comes.

Part 4: Proving Ground

Passage: Luke 4:9-13

Date: February 19, 2012

Overview : Every day people fall into the temptation of presuming on God. You see it in the young couple that spends irresponsibly and then asks God to bail them out financially. The young single who says, "I'll marry him, then pray for him." But what's wrong with that? Hasn't God promised to take care of us? In this message we will explore the third of Jesus' three temptations in the desert and what it teaches us about presuming on God.