Bible Study Questions

1. Ken states that "one of the indications that you are a counterfeit Christian is that you don't take sin seriously." What does it mean to take sin seriously? How can we examine our own hearts to see if we're treating sin lightly?
2. How does understanding Jesus' mission as both "deliverer" and "destroyer" change your perspective on the Christmas story? What aspects of Christ's invasion against sin are we prone to overlook or sanitize?
3. Read 1 John 3:5 and 3:8 together. Why was it necessary for Jesus to appear in human flesh to destroy the devil's work? What would have been impossible without the incarnation?
4. Ken distinguishes between Jesus destroying "the penalty of sin" versus "the practice of sin." Why do many Christians embrace the first but struggle with the second? Which one do you find harder to believe is possible in your own life?
5. Discuss the "cobwebs and spider" illustration. In what areas of your life have you fallen into "sin maintenance" rather than pursuing true transformation? What would it look like to "kill the spider" in those areas?
6. How does the comparison of sin to cancer help us understand both its destructiveness and God's dilemma in dealing with it? What does this reveal about God's character and His love for His creation?
7. Read 1 John 3:9. What does it mean that "God's seed remains" in believers? How does having a new nature affect our relationship with sin, even when we still struggle?
8. Ken uses the pig and sheep illustration to explain different natures. Can you share a time when your new nature in Christ caused you to respond differently to temptation than you would have before being born again?
9. The sermon emphasizes that "external pressure can't defeat sin" but only the Holy Spirit working from within. How does this truth challenge our approaches to personal holiness and helping others grow spiritually?
10. Read Galatians 5:16-17 and Ezekiel 36:26-27. How do these passages help us understand the ongoing tension between the flesh and the Spirit? What practical steps can we take to "feed" our new nature?
11. Ken concludes by saying the devil's only power over us now is deception—making us believe we can't escape. Using the Houdini illustration, what "unlocked doors" in your life have you been treating as if they're still locked? What freedom is Christ offering that you haven't walked into?
12. What does it mean practically to invite Jesus on a "search and destroy mission" in your life? What areas of your heart might God be calling you to surrender for His cleansing work right now?

Discussion Questions

1. In verse 4, John defines sin as "lawlessness." How does this definition challenge our tendency to rank sins or dismiss certain behaviors as "not that bad"? What does it mean that all sin is essentially rebellion against God's authority?
2. Ken describes Christmas as "D-Day"—the beginning of an invasion. How does viewing the nativity through the lens of spiritual warfare change how you understand Jesus' birth? What enemy territory was Jesus invading?
3. The sermon mentions that Jesus didn't hide from the devil but actively sought him out (Luke 4, Luke 8). What does Christ's offensive posture toward evil teach us about how we should approach spiritual battles in our own lives?
4. Read Matthew 1:21 and John 1:29. Both passages emphasize Jesus came to save people from their sins, not just from sin's consequences. What's the difference, and why does it matter for how we understand salvation?
5. The false teachers in John's church were saying "it doesn't matter what you do with your body." How do we see this same lie manifesting in Christian culture today? Where are we tempted to separate spiritual life from physical behavior?
6. Ken asks, "How can a real Christian enjoy what God sent Jesus to destroy?" This is a challenging question. How would you answer someone who says they love Jesus but also loves their sin?
7. The sermon emphasizes we need "a new life, not a new leaf." What's the danger of approaching Christianity as self-improvement rather than death and resurrection? How have you experienced this distinction personally?
8. Read Hebrews 2:14-15 and Colossians 2:13-15. How did Jesus' death specifically destroy the devil's power? What does it mean that we're no longer held in slavery by fear of death?
9. Ken states that "the flesh just can't say no to the devil." Before you were born again, what sins felt absolutely impossible to resist? How has the Holy Spirit's presence changed your capacity to resist temptation?
10. According to verse 10, love for other believers is presented as evidence of being born of God, right alongside doing what is right. Why do you think John connects these two things? How does our treatment of fellow Christians reveal our spiritual condition?
11. The sermon teaches we should claim "the power of the Holy Spirit to sin less" rather than claiming to be sinless. What does healthy spiritual progress look like? How can we pursue holiness without falling into either license or legalism?
12. Ken ends with an invitation to let Christ "search you with a fine tooth comb" and expose areas infected with sin. What makes us resist this kind of examination? What would need to be true about God's character for you to trust Him with this level of vulnerability?