Just after his baptism, Jesus goes into the wilderness to be tested. At stake in these tests is what kind of Messiah will Jesus be?

He faces three temptations:

1. Use his power to turn stones into bread.
2. Throw himself from the pinnacle of the temple and force God to save him, while claiming a promise from a proof text suppled by the devil himself.
3. Become the king of the world the easy way–by making a deal with the devil.

Even though Jesus responds to each test decisively, he’ll continue to face them in a variety of forms throughout the rest of his ministry. Crowds will beg for a miracle. Skeptics will demand a sign. Followers will do their best to make him into a conventional king. Jesus resists these temptations and instead charts his own path all the way to cross and out of the tomb.

The church faces similar temptations. As we face each temptation, we’re answering the question: What kind of church will we be?

We are tempted to:

1. Resort to gimmicks to try and draw a crowd.
2. Manipulate God with superstitious faith.
3. Employ quick-fixes to solve complex problems.

Can we say no to these temptations and yes to the way of Jesus?