Fighting Temptation with the New Birth
October 11, 2026 | Pastor Ryan Gilbert
Q&A: submit questions via Pew Tags
Text: James 1:12-18
Five Steps in Fighting Temptation
- Remember the goal: Love God and PERSEVERE.
- Understand the process of temptation: desire leads to SIN and SIN leads to death.
- Remember the GOODNESS of God: Every GOOD gift comes from Him.
- Remember the GREATEST gift: God has given us the new BIRTH.
- Trust in God’s NATURE and ACTIONS, and walk in your new IDENTITY.
Relevant Quotes
“To be born again is, as it were, to enter upon a new existence, to have a new mind, a new heart, new principles, new tastes, new affections.” -J.C. Ryle
“The moment the Spirit has quickened us to life in regeneration our whole being senses its kinship to God and leaps us in joyous recognition. That is the heavenly birth without which we cannot see the Kingdom of God.” -A.W. Tozier
FBC 101
FBC 101 is the perfect way to learn more about who we are as a church, and about the church membership process. It is led by our Lead Pastor and Spiritual Formation Pastor, as well as several long-time members of our church.
Next Class: October 18, 3-4:45 pm in Peace Auditorium. Childcare provided for birth thru kinder. More info: FBC101
Discussion Questions
- Why is it so easy to blame our circumstances, other people, or even Satan instead of taking responsibility for what is happening in our own hearts?
- Can you think of ways that seemingly small compromises can gradually lead us farther into sin? What kinds of compromises are you most tempted to minimize?
- How can intentionally remembering God’s goodness help us fight temptation?
- How should our identity as people who have been “born again” change the way we respond when we are tempted?
- The goal is that we move from just “I know this is bad” to “This is not who I am.” What would it look like for you to actually practice this in a specific area of temptation this week?
Click HERE to submit a question for the Q&A