The Enemy
Read other parts of this study:
Overview - Lesson 1 - Lesson 2 - Lesson 3 - Lesson 4 - Lesson 5 - Lesson 6 - Lesson 7 - Bonus
Read the Minecraft Version of Lesson 1
Reminder: This is intended to be a small group discussion. Ask the leading questions to the group and invite discussion. For questions with Bible verses, read the verses to help answer the question. Potential answers and key takeaways are provided as a leader’s guide.
Imagine being a soldier in the middle of enemy territory. How do you know who is an enemy and who is a civilian? Or imagine being a police officer in the inner city. You raid a drug house. How do you know who is the target and who is the victim? Before you go, you have to study your enemy. Recognize their faces and their tactics. That’s what we want to do in today’s lesson - establish who the enemy is in our spiritual lives.
Characteristics of Sin
What are some things you know about sin?
It’s easier to sin when it is dark and people can’t see what you are doing (or when your sin is hidden from others).
Satan will keep on tempting you with sin until you are destroyed (spiritually, physically, mentally).
Different sins can hurt you in different ways.
Sins often lose their power when exposed to the light.
To avoid sin, you should flee from it.
Using the armor of God helps you defeat sin in your life.
Biblical Foundation for Characteristics of Sin
What does the Bible say about sin and darkness?
Ephesians 6:12: Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
John 3:19-20: This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
Proverbs 4:19: But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
Key takeaway: Sin prefers the dark, and our struggle with sin is a struggle against Satan and his forces of evil.
What does the Bible say about sin and death?
Romans 5:12: Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Peter 5:8: Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
James 1:14-15: Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Key takeaway: Sin leads to death, both physical and spiritual death.
What does the Bible say about sin and the light?
John 3:19-21: This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
1 John 1:5-7: This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Ephesians 5:8-13: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.
Key takeaway: Evil deeds do not like being exposed to light; if we walk in the light of God’s truth, he will purify us from sin.
Who is the True Light?
John 1:1-5: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 8:12: When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Key takeaway: Jesus is the True Light.
How can we conquer sin?
James 4:7: Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1 Timothy 6:9-11: Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
Ephesians 6:10-18: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all of the Lord’s people.
Key takeaway: When it comes to sin, run or fight! If you choose to fight, you will be much more successful at conquering sin if you put on the armor of God.
Final Application
What are some sins that you struggle with?
How can you use what you learned today to think about those sins differently?
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