Ryan Ahlgrim, pastor of First Mennonite Church, Richmond, Virginia, begins by listing several temptations he faces ... eating potato chips while watching TV, ordering a steak at a restaurant, buying a new sport coat or dress shirt, buying new gadgets or taking an extravagant vacation. He continues, “There’s another kind of temptation that is more dangerous than any of these. It is when temptation does not look like temptation …Those are the temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness” in Matthew 4:1-11. Listen as Ahlgrim explains how the church faces the same temptations as Jesus did in the wilderness and how we can respond to them.

This sermon is from A Sermon for Every Sunday, a series of lectionary-based video sermons designed for use in worship, Bible study, small groups, Sunday school classes or for individual use.

For more sermon preparation help, check out Pulpit Resource, Will Willimon's weekly lectionary-based sermon resource, available online and through a print subscription.