When sin entered the world when Adam and Eve ate the fruit that God had instructed them not to eat, shame entered along with it. Suddenly Adam and Eve's eyes were opened, and the first emotion they felt was shame, and they immediately tried to cover up the shame they felt. Human beings have been doing the same thing ever since. The truth is, however, that God never intended us to live in shame. He sent Jesus to take care of our sin and shame so that we would not have to carry it anymore if we turn to Him.
BREAK THE ICE
What embarrassing moment have you had that you can laugh about now?
SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
Bible Study Questions
1. How do most people respond when they feel shame?
WATCH SERMON RECAP
2. Read Genesis 3:6-7. What happened when Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? What did Adam and Eve do when they felt shame?
Genesis 3:6-7
"The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves."
3. Read Genesis 3:9-13. How did Adam and Eve respond to God when He asked about them eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?
Genesis 3:9-13
"Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” 11 “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” 13 Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”
"Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
10 He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”
11 “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”
12 The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”
13 Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?”
“The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”
4. Read Genesis 3:20-24. How did God do something to address Adam and Eve's shame?
Genesis 3:20-24.
20 Then the man—Adam—named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all who live. 21 And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife. 22 "Then the Lord God said, "Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!" 23 So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. 24 After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life."
Application
1. How do you usually respond when you feel shame?
2. Do you find it easy to admit when you make a mistake, or do you tend to blame someone else? Why?
3. How do you find hope in God's response to clothing Adam and Eve?
MOVING FORWARD
We get to be a part of spreading the good news that Jesus has erased our shame and sin for those who turn to Him. First, take a few moments to review the Bridge Diagram, a beneficial tool for sharing your faith with people far from Christ. Then, pair up into groups of two or three and practice sharing it. Look for opportunities throughout the next week to share the hope and peace of Jesus with the people around you.
GOING DEEPER
When God covered Adam and Eve's shame by giving them animal clothing to wear, He was giving them a picture of what was to come. You see, centuries later, Jesus would come and conquer sin and death and cover our shame. Let's take a few minutes to see what Scripture teaches about how followers of Christ do not need to live in shame anymore because of Jesus' death on the cross.
Re-Read Genesis 3:20-21
Look back at Genesis 3:20-21. These verses show us how God addressed Adam and Eve's shame and what was required to cover up their shame due to their nakedness.
Genesis 3:20-21
"Then the man—Adam—named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all who live. 21 And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife."
1. What sacrifice was required in order to provide the clothing that God gave Adam and Eve?
2. What does this gracious act of kindness teach us about God when it comes to our shame?
Read Hebrews 10:1-4
When sin entered the world, the sacrificial system was set in place. People throughout the Old Testament were required to offer sacrifices to God to receive forgiveness for their sins. This was the system that people used for years and years to return for their sins.
Hebrews 10:1-4
"The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. 2 If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared. 3 But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. 4 For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."
1. According to these verses, describe how often people offered sacrifices for their sins.
2. How would these sacrifices have impacted the shame people felt for the sins they were atoning for?
3. According to these verses, what was the problem with these animal sacrifices being offered?
Read Hebrews 10:11-22
The sacrificial system used in the Old Testament could not last forever. Humanity needed a more permanent solution. We needed a more permanent solution to be free from sin and shame. This, my friend, is why Jesus came. He took on our sin and shame and paid the price once and for all.
Hebrews 10:11-22
"Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. 12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. 14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy. 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says, 16 “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” 17 Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” 18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices. 19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water."
1. How was Jesus' sacrifice better than the Old Testament sacrificial system?
2. How does Jesus' sacrifice impact our shame we feel for our sins?
3. Look back at verse 22. How can we approach God because of the blood of Jesus? How does this attitude impact any shame we may be tempted to feel?
Reflect:
This news that Jesus came and His sacrifice covers sin and shame we may feel is too good to keep to ourselves. Earlier in this Bible study, we were challenged to practice the Bridge Diagram. Think of one person with whom you can share this diagram with this week and share that person with your group. After everyone has shared, pray together for these people who you will share with. Pray that God would capture their hearts and attention and that they will come to know Him and have a relationship with Him.
MONTHLY MEMORY VERSE (Available for download on Sagebrush App)
For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him! Isaiah 64:4
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