Counterfeit | Wk 2: Resist Temptation, Embrace Forgiveness
Love and temptation often look alike at first glance. Both promise excitement, connection, and satisfaction—but one leads to life, the other to regret. This series helps students recognize what’s real and what’s fake by anchoring their understanding of love in God’s truth. Our prayer is that students would learn to guard their hearts, resist temptation, and experience a love that isn’t counterfeit but rooted in who Jesus is.
BOTTOM LINE
Resist Temptation, Embrace Forgiveness
SCRIPTURE
1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. // Matthew 26:14: Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. // Proverbs 4:23: Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
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JUST FOR FUN
Take some time to catch up. Ask your students – ‘What is your absolute favorite thing to do in your free time?’
DISCUSS THIS
1. We talked about how the most dangerous counterfeits look almost identical to the real thing. In your life, what is one "shortcut" (like cheating for a grade or gossip for popularity) that looks like a good idea at first but ends up being fake?
2. Think about the "Saltwater" illustration. Have you ever gotten what you wanted through a temptation (the "rush") only to find it left you feeling "saltier" or more empty afterward? Why do you think the "high" of a mistake never lasts?
3. The lesson says temptation is often a good desire (like wanting to be loved or successful) offered in the wrong way. If you’re comfortable sharing, what is a "good desire" you have that sometimes gets twisted into a temptation?
4. We looked at James 1:19 and the "5-Second Rule" for anger. Why is it so hard to be "slow to speak" when someone comes at you online or at home? How would your week look different if you actually paused before hitting "send"?
5. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says God always provides a "way out." When you feel tempted—whether it's on your phone or with friends—what is your typical "Exit Sign"? Do you find it easier to stay and fight, or to "change your environment" like the lesson suggested?
6. Looking at 1 John 1:9 earlier, how does it change your view of God to know He forgives you because of a promise He kept (Jesus' payment), rather than just because He’s "feeling nice" that day?
7. What does "purifying" (scrubbing clean) look like to you? When you confess something to God, do you usually still feel "guilty" (salty), or do you truly believe He has flushed it out of your system?
PRAY / FOLLOW -UP