Temptations Children Face Series

(adapted from messages by Mark Jones and Dan Webb)

SERIES: “FATAL TEMPTATIONS”

TEXT: JAMES 1:14-15; EPHESIANS 6:1-4

TITLE: “TEMPTATIONS THAT CHILDREN FACE”

INTRODUCTION: A. Last week I started a new series called “Fatal Temptations”

1. It’s based on James 1:14-15 – “Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire,

he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to

sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

2. You see that I hold before you several things:

--Bug spray and roach motels; I really wanted to use a bug zapper, too, but I didn’t

have one and didn’t know anyone that would loan me theirs

a. I mention each one of these things because bugs are all tempted by different

things: some by taste, some by scent, and some by that fascinating light in the

bug zapper

b. All bugs are not drawn by the same things

3. Human beings are the same way

a. We’re not all tempted by the same things but we are all tempted

b. And as James reminds us, if we give in to those temptations, it will lead us to

places we don’t want to go

--like the bugs, we can be lured to our death

c. Prov. 14:12 – “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads

to death.”

4. Last week, the message was “Temptations Women Face”

--a fitting message for Mother’s Day

5. Other messages in this series are “Temptations Senior Citizens Face”

“Temptations Teenagers Face” and “Temptations Men Face”

B. Today’s message is very important

--It’s “Temptations Children Face”

1. Since a lot of this message is for you, we’ve dismissed children’s church today

--Let’s have all of our kids from kindergarten through sixth grade stand and wave

your hands (Please be seated)

2. Young people, I have high expectations for you this morning

a. I want you to do your best to pay attention

b. Stay awake and stay with me

c. Try not to go out of the auditorium

d. If you’ll look at the bulletin insert, it’s made so that you can follow along and fill

in the blanks.

e. Ask the adults around you to help out

--If you need something to write with, ask an adult or come up front right now

and get a pen or pencil

f. When we’re finished this morning, if you’ll show me a completed sheet with all

of the blanks filled in, I’ll give you a treat for being attentive

2. Adults, don’t zone out on me either

a. There are some important instructions for you, too

b. You set the example for attentiveness and for good manners

C. God, our Creator, loves little children

--But He also has high expectations for them

1. Prov. 20:11 – “Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure

and right.”

2. There are several occasions in the Bible where God used children to play important

roles in accomplishing His will

a. Isaac was probably about twelve years old when he willingly allowed his father to

offer him as a sacrifice to God on Mount Moriah.

--Thankfully God provided a ram for sacrifice!

b. Samuel was a very young boy serving in the tabernacle when God called his name

in the middle of the night and gave him a message for Eli, the High Priest.

c. Josiah was just eight years old when he became king, and he honored God for

thirty-one years in that important position.

d. Prov. 22:6 – “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not

turn from it.”

e. Jesus welcomed children into his lap and used a young boys lunch to feed 5000

people.

--Mk. 10:14 – “"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the

kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

E. Because Satan also knows the importance of children, he stalks children early and

cleverly to seek to drag them down to his level.

1. It’s important that both adults and children recognize those temptations and work

together to counter them.

2. 2 Cor. 2:11 counsels us not to let Satan “…outwit us. For we are not unaware of

his schemes.”

3. Let’s talk about three very common temptations that Satan uses to try to separate

children from God.

--And if not corrected they can be fatal in the end.

I. SELFISHNESS

--Kids, write “selfishness” in the blank next to Temptation #1

A. Children are born with a tendency toward selfishness

1. What is most important to a child?

--Their needs!

a. A hungry baby doesn’t wake up at 2:00 a.m. and think, “My mom had a long day. She’s probably