Children’s Sermon on Temptation (Lord’s Prayer Part 7)

by
Kristin Highley teaching the children's sermon on temptation for Lord's Prayer Part 7

When Temptation Strikes: children’s sermon on temptation

Greet children, and invite them to hold or look at something tempting…

Hello, children of God!
So I have something here that I’m going to pass around…I want you to hold it, but whatever you do, DON’T eat it yet. Hand students an item that might be tempting. The example here features a cookie. You could also place something in front of kids that they should look at, but not touch or get close to. You can put it in your hand, look at it, even smell it, if you want. But do not take a bite! Mmm, look at all of those chocolate chips. This cookie would probably be wonderful to eat. Do you want to eat it? If you want to do something that you know you shouldn’t do, it’s called temptation. Being tempted means we want to do something wrong. Now, there’s nothing wrong with eating a cookie, at certain times. But I specifically instructed you not to eat it, so it would be wrong to do that now and disobey your directions. There are lots of things that might come up in our lives that could be tempting, and being tempted isn’t sinful. It only becomes a sin when we give in and do the wrong thing that we shouldn’t do.

The Bible contains many accounts of people who faced temptation. One of the most infamous of these features the very first people on Earth, Adam and Eve. In Genesis, we read about how God placed them in the Garden of Eden, where the only rule He gave them was that they were not to eat the fruit of a certain tree. They could do and eat anything else except for one tree. Now, Satan came along, and he tempted Adam and Eve. He said that eating that fruit would make them very wise and knowing, and they should go ahead and do it. So even though God had said not to, they went ahead and ate. They were guilty because they knew they went against God’s instructions. And, unfortunately, because they did that, everyone else since then has been cursed with the stain of sin. We are naturally inclined to do the wrong thing, and destined to suffer because of it. We often give in when temptation comes along.

Teacher note: Genesis calls the tempter “the serpent.” Later Scripture names him: “that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan” (Revelation 12:9).

But there’s another Biblical account that gives us great hope and comfort. In the Gospels, we read about how Satan tempted Jesus. Jesus was in the wilderness, where He fasted for 40 days. Satan came and tried to get Him to bow to Him, and to go against what He was supposed to do. And guess what? Jesus did not give in. He did not listen to Satan. In fact, He used Scripture to refute everything that Satan said. After three tries, Satan gave up and left, knowing that he’d been defeated.

This is a powerful story for us to remember. It shows us how important it is to know the Bible and stand up to Satan using God’s word. It also encourages us to know that Jesus was tempted. He knows what it feels like to be tempted, so He can understand what we go through when we experience temptation. We can ask Him for help when tempting things come our way.

In the Lord’s Prayer, we say “Lead us not into temptation…” Now, God isn’t the one who tempts us to do evil, but He might allow it to happen. When we are tempted, we can ask Him to lead us through it and help us fight it so that we don’t give in. We can stay in His Word and in prayer so that we are ready when temptation comes!

Let’s pray now and ask God to help us when we face temptation. And then you can eat the cookies!

Prayer

(Have kids repeat each line)

Dear God,
Thank you for helping us when we call to you.
Please guide us when temptations come our way.
Help us to face them and fight them
And to remember your Word.
Thank you for your love.
We love you, God!
In Jesus’ name, Amen!

About This Children’s Message

Main Objective: In the Lord’s Prayer, we ask that we would not be led into temptation. While temptation does not come from God Himself, He does allow us to face tempting situations. He also helps us to overcome them. This message opens with an example of something that might be tempting, to illustrate what temptation is. Two parallel Biblical accounts are described in juxtaposition: the great Fall in Genesis 3, when temptation won; and Jesus, who resisted Satan’s temptation and overcame, and is now able to help us overcome temptation.

Law/Gospel Theme: Jesus not only resisted Satan’s temptations in the wilderness. He also overcame the temptation to deny the cross, instead enduring it for our sake. Because of that, and because of His atoning death and resurrection, we have eternal hope, and a savior who knows what it’s like to be human and to be tempted. Although we inherit the sin of Adam and Eve (very sad news), our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus (very glad news!).

Note: This lesson is the seventh in a series on the Lord’s Prayer. Each lesson will consider another part of the Lord’s Prayer, examining what it means and how we can use it in personal prayer. Each lesson will also include a story from the Bible that illustrates the point.

Optional Materials: Some kind of item that might be tempting to have (a small treat of some sort).

Bible Passage: Genesis 3:1-15; Matthew 4:1-11

Note: As with most messages, the details of how you choose to communicate this one are adaptable and should cater to timing as well as to your audience and student needs.

Bible Verses to Reference

Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” The woman answered the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You must not eat of it or touch it, or you will die.’” “You will not surely die,” the serpent told the woman. “For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it. And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed together fig leaves and made coverings for themselves.

Then the man and his wife heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the breeze of the day, and they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called out to the man, “Where are you?” “I heard Your voice in the garden,” he replied, “and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” “Who told you that you were naked?” asked the LORD God. “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” And the man answered, “The woman whom You gave me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied, “and I ate.”

So the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and every beast of the field! On your belly will you go, and dust you will eat, all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” —Genesis 3:1-15

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’” Jesus replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.” “Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’” Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him. —Matthew 4:1-11

This children’s message goes with our Temptation of Jesus Sunday School Lesson for Kids (Lord’s Prayer Part 7), which adds five opening activities and review questions, and with our temptation crafts for kids: a Flip-Side Plate and a Dark and Light Collage.

More Lord’s Prayer Resources

The Lord’s Prayer Series for Kids

Related Sunday School Activities:

Leave a Comment