SermonStudy | Tenth & Broad Church of Christ

Deep Dive into Ken's Message from June 1, 2025

Below you will find Bible study questions, discussion questions and a full small group discussion guide (pdf download)

Fear of Death: Ken mentions that we fear death because it’s unknown, final, and involves separation. Which of these aspects of death do you find most troubling, and why? How does your faith help you process these fears?
Death as Enemy: Read 1 Corinthians 15:26 and Romans 6:23. How does understanding death as “the last enemy” and “wages of sin” change your perspective on mortality? What does it mean that we “were not created to die”?

Sheol vs. Hell: The sermon distinguishes between Sheol/Hades (place of the dead) and Gehenna (hell/place of torment). Read Psalm 16:10 and Acts 2:31. How does this distinction help you better understand what happened when Christ died?
Christ’s Humanity: According to Hebrews 2:14-15, why was it necessary for Jesus to “become flesh and blood” and experience death like all humans? How does this impact your understanding of the incarnation?

Victory Through Death: The sermon describes Jesus defeating “death by death.” Read the ancient Christian sermon quote: “Death took a body, but met God face to face.” What does this paradox teach us about how God works in seemingly impossible situations?
Scriptural Imagery: Ken uses several passages (Psalm 139, Matthew 27:50-51, Psalm 24:7-10) to paint a picture of Christ’s descent. Which of these images resonates most with you, and how does it help you visualize Christ’s victory?

Tangible Markers: The sermon emphasizes having a “marker” for Christ’s defeat of death, just as the cross marks our forgiveness. Why might it be helpful to have specific moments or events to point to in our faith journey? What are some markers in your own spiritual life?
Gates of Hades: Jesus told Peter in Matthew 16:18 that “the gates of Hades will not overcome” the church. How should this promise impact the way we approach spiritual warfare and the challenges facing the church today?

Depth of Love: Ephesians 3:18 speaks of grasping “how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” How does Christ’s willingness to descend to “the deepest of the deeps” demonstrate the extent of His love for you personally?
Passing Through Death: The sermon concludes that for believers, death becomes “just a place I pass through into Paradise.” How does this perspective change the way you think about your own mortality or the death of loved ones?

Faith in Action: Ken connects belief in Christ’s victory over death with baptism and ongoing obedience. How do the sacraments and spiritual disciplines serve as reminders of Christ’s completed work? What practices help you remember His victory?
Evangelistic Implications: If Christ truly “desires that everyone will be saved” and went to such lengths to defeat death, how should this motivate our witness to others? What would change in your evangelistic efforts if you truly believed Christ “went to Hades and back” for every person you encounter?

Personal Fear: Ken says death terrifies us because it’s unknown, final, and involves separation. Share about a time when you were afraid of something unknown. How did facing it change your perspective?
Cultural Views: How do you think our culture today views death differently than people in biblical times? What messages about death do we get from movies, social media, or popular culture?

The Apostles’ Creed: Many of us have recited “He descended into hell” countless times. What was your reaction when you first heard Ken explain this phrase? Had you ever thought deeply about what it meant before?
Translation Matters: The sermon explains that “hell” is a poor English translation of the original Latin “inferos” (place of the dead). Can you think of other examples where translation differences have affected your understanding of Scripture or faith?
Jesus as Conqueror: Ken describes Jesus arriving in Hades “not as a victim but as a conqueror.” What does this image mean to you personally? How does it change the way you think about Jesus’ death?

Biblical Imagery: The sermon paints vivid pictures using Psalm 24 (“Open up, ancient gates!”), Matthew 27 (earth shaking, tombs opening), and other passages. Which image from the sermon was most powerful or surprising to you?
Historical Evidence: Matthew 27:52-53 describes dead saints coming back to life and walking around Jerusalem after Jesus’ death. How do you process miraculous events like this? What do you think those resurrected people might have said to their families and friends?
The Great Equalizer: The sermon calls death “the great equalizer” that everyone shares in common. How does knowing that Jesus experienced this universal human reality affect your relationship with Him?

Your Own Markers: Ken emphasizes having “markers” – specific times and places where God acted. What are some spiritual markers in your own life where you can say “that’s when God did something significant”?
Fear vs. Confidence: The sermon aims to replace fear of death with confidence in Christ’s victory. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your current level of peace about death? What would help move you toward greater confidence?
Love’s Depth: The sermon concludes by emphasizing that Christ’s descent shows “there was no depth he was not willing to go down into to save all of mankind.” How does this demonstration of love impact the way you want to respond to Jesus?

Sharing Hope: If someone in your life was facing death or grieving a loss, how would you use the truths from this sermon to bring them comfort? What specific points would be most helpful to share?