Kernan Community Groups
Sermon Discussion Guide
November 16, 2025
Judges // Grace for the Sinner
1. Idolatry (sin) is illogical, addictive, and reproducing.
Judges 10:6
[6] Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord. They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites and the gods of the Philistines. And because the Israelites forsook the Lord and no longer served him,
a. illogical
The people of Israel did “what was evil in the sight of the LORD.” Why is it illogical to disregard God’s definition of good or evil?
b. addictive
Why is sin so addictive?
“Particularly strong habits… produce addiction-like reactions so that wanting evolves into obsessive craving that can force our brains into autopilot, even in the face of strong disincentives, including loss of reputation, job, home, and family.”
- Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit
c. reproducing
2. God is not okay with our sin.
Judges 10:7-9
[7] he became angry with them. He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites, [8] who that year shattered and crushed them. For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites. [9] The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin and Ephraim; Israel was in great distress.
Why should we want God to be angry and wrathful toward sin?
3. We can’t play games with God about our sin.
Judges 10:10-14
[10] Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord, “We have sinned against you, forsaking our God and serving the Baals.”
[11] The Lord replied, “When the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, [12] the Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you and you cried to me for help, did I not save you from their hands? [13] But you have forsaken me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. 14 Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!”
These verses show us that God is not okay with fake repentance. How would you define fake repentance?
4. Repentance and grace are always available.
Judges 10:15-16
[15] But the Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now.” [16] Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer.
What does real repentance look like?
This story today shows a tension between God’s wrath and his grace. How is this tension resolved on the cross of Christ?
2 Corinthians 5:21
[21] God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
What are some practical things we can do to continually fight against our stubborn sinful addiction to sin?
