Children’s Ministry Message on the Temptation of Jesus. How can we withstand the temptation to sin? What do we turn to when faced with Satan’s lies? The Bible is our greatest tool and weapon against temptation. On our own, we may fall, but with the help of Christ, we can stand up to evil forces. God’s Word will back us up! This message uses paper and a Bible to represent the reliable strength of Scripture. Like a piece of paper by itself, we are easily torn on our own power. When we lean on God, like a paper bolstered by a hard Bible, nothing can overcome!.
Law/Gospel Theme: The story of Christ’s temptation is both inspiring and comforting. Through it, we see the power of God’s Word to help us stand against temptation. However, we also realize that Jesus faced temptation, too. He went through the same trials that we face (and then some!) and overcame them. Our savior can truly empathize with our struggles and support us, because He endured challenges in His earthly life. He is with us always, and protects us with His love.
Optional Materials: Papers, pencils, scissors (optional), Bible
Bible Story Reference: Luke 4:1-13
More Bible Story Teaching Activities
- See teaching example of this children’s sermon lesson and overcoming temptation crafts
- Download all our Temptation of Christ Sunday School Lessons in PDF
- See our new Craft Ideas on Overcoming Temptation from Luke 4:1-13
- Compare Temptation of Christ Sunday School Lessons from Matthew 4:1-11
- Compare Satan Tempts Jesus in the Desert (Luke 4:1-13) Sunday School Lesson
- Compare the Children’s Ministry Bible Lesson (Luke 4:1-13) What We Love the Most
- Compare Jesus was Tempted (Mark 1:12-13) Preschool Lesson
- Compare Temptation of Christ Children’s Sermon from Matthew 4:1-11
- Compare the Jesus is Tempted in the Wilderness Bible Story Lesson and Activities
- Download Bible Crafts on the Temptation of Christ from Ministry-To-Children
- Download Jesus Overcomes Temptation coloring pages and worksheet activities
Children’s Sermon Object Lesson Message (Luke 4:1-13)
Jesus Overcame Temptation in the Desert
Greet children, with a sheet of paper and some “poking” implements handy.
Hello, children of God! I have a little challenge for you today. I have here a piece of paper, and I want you to see if you can poke a hole in this piece of paper. Are you ready to give it a try? (Invite students to pierce the paper, first using a finger, and then a slightly sharper instrument like a pencil or brad fastener.) Well, that was pretty easy, right? If it’s just this single sheet of paper, it doesn’t take much to pass right through and break it down. Well, we are going to try poking through a piece of paper again, only this time, I’m going to add something. (Use a fresh piece, and place a Bible behind the paper). Okay, now can you poke through the paper? (Allow students to try again. Perhaps even use something sharper to try it yourself). Wow, it’s a whole lot harder to tear through when something strong and solid is behind this paper, isn’t it? I can’t seem to pierce through it!
Well, in case you hadn’t noticed, I had my Bible behind that piece of paper. Scripture is quite powerful! It can help us, too. When we face challenges or struggles, the Bible provides us with a strong weapon to defeat them. God has given us His words as a reminder that He is always with us. We can lean on those words for hope and help.
Did you know that Jesus used Scripture to defeat Satan? In the Bible, we read about a time when Jesus went into the wilderness and was tempted by the Devil. Do you know what it means to be tempted? It means you want to do something that you know you shouldn’t do. Wanting to do something bad is not a sin, but we don’t want to give in to those temptations. When Satan came to Jesus, he tried to make the Lord do things He knew He was not supposed to do. Jesus quoted Bible verses to combat the lies that the Devil was saying. He used God’s Word as a weapon against temptation and against the father of falsehood. Even Satan couldn’t stand up against Scripture! He tried three times to tempt Jesus, and finally gave up.
This story reminds us of some very important and comforting truths. For one thing, it assures us that Jesus is with us, and knows what we are going through. When challenging times or tough temptations come our way, we can recall that Jesus has been through all of it Himself. He faced trials and overcame them, so that He could understand our struggles and help us through them. Jesus assures us that nothing will come our way that will be too tough to handle, if we lean on Him. We also see here how essential it is to rely on the truth of God’s Word. The Bible is not just a book of stories. It’s a weapon against evil. If we try to endure all of our challenges on our own, we might be like that single piece of paper, easy to poke through and defeat. But with Scripture backing us up, nothing can get through! If God is for us, no one can be against us. He is our strength and shield, supporting us and loving us at all times. Prayer and Bible reading will get us through a lot! Why don’t we pray right now?
Let’s pray to thank God for Jesus and His strong Word:
Children’s Prayer Moment:
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
Thank you for helping us stand firm against temptation
Thank you for your solid Word
Please help us to read it and trust it
And lean on your Son for strength
Thank you for loving us
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!
Bible Verses/story to Reference: Luke 4:1-13 ESV
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” 5 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6 and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written,
“‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”
9 And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written,
“‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’11 and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. –Luke 4:1-13
Thank you so much, it can help this to teach child.