Message Notes for June 22, 2025

Series: Mountaintop Moments

Title: Mount Quarantania – A View of Temptation

Mountains are a destination place for people all over the world.  Mountains are places to engage in the awe, the pristine, the beautiful.  They are places to rejuvenate our souls, challenge our resolves and re-awaken the possible. 

Mountains are the places God met with His people and elevated their view to see more clearly His love, His direction and His presence.  This summer let’s meet God on the mountain.  He is waiting!  Prepare your soul! 

Matthew 4:1-11 “A View of Temptation”

Three main temptations that encompass all temptations.  (Personal Notes)

∙ Lust of the flesh

∙ Pride of life

∙ Lust of the eyes

What we learn about God on this mountain:

-God understands the deception of temptation.

Hebrews 4:15-16 ESV For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

– God helps us in temptation.

∙ Through His power

John 16:33

∙ Through His holy angels

Hebrews 1:13-14

∙ Through His people

1 Peter 5:8-9

∙ Through His armor

Ephesians 6:10-18

Family/Group Study Notes for the week of June 22, 2025

Series: Mountaintop Moments

Title: Mount Quarantania – A View of Temptation

• Share with your family/group ways in which you find yourself the most tempted.  How can your family/group help in this area? 
• Read Matthew 4:1-11. Discuss the three main temptations categories: lust of the flesh, pride of life, lust of the eyes.
• How did Jesus combat these temptations?  Share with each other what kinds of temptations fall under these three temptation categories. How can Satan make these temptations so deceptive?  How can you help each other withstand these kinds of temptations?
• Read Ephesians 6:10-18. Discuss each of these protections against temptation.  How can they work?  What do you need to understand about them to put them to use? If all of this is available for us, why do we still fall to temptation so often? 
• Read Hebrews 4:14-16. What does the writer want us to understand?  What does he want us to do? How does this passage help you understand the character of God? 
• Read Matthew 3:13-4:1. Why does temptation often come after our “high” moments with God?  Share with your family/group a time when you felt really close to God and then temptation and difficulty began soon after. What does this say about our need to remain close to mentor men and/or women in our walk with Jesus? 
• How can you become more familiar with Scripture and Jesus’ promises to be more prepared for temptation?  Make a plan as a family/group. 
• Gather as a group and share areas of temptation and pray for each other’s strength.