The Naked Truth
I. The Heavens are Telling… (Ps. 19; Gen. 1-3)
A. The Creator is Powerful and Relational (Gen. 1)
B. Humanity is made to: (Gen. 1-2)
1. Be like God (Imaging) Gen. 1:27
2. Represent God (Ruling) Gen. 1:28
3. Relate to God (Freely Submitting) Gen. 2:16-17
C. A Beautiful Broken World Gen. 2-3
II. The Introduction of Shame (Gen. 2:25-3:10)
A. Receiving as Children or Grasping as Thieves (Gen. 1:27; 2:25; 3:5-6)
B. Multiple Ways of Seeing (Gen. 3:5-7)
C. From Naked and Unashamed to Naked and Afraid (Gen. 2:25; Gen. 3:10)
III. The Fruit of eating the Fruit
A. Severed from God- A loss of Unity (Gen. 3:10-11, 22-24)
B. Severed from Ourselves- A loss of Integrity (Gen. 3:12-13, 16, 23)
C. The Road Back to Eden
1. Breaking the Cycle of Sin and Shame (Gen. 3:1-10)
2. Union with God (John 15:4-11; John 1:16)
3. Integrity of the Soul (Romans 12:1; Matt. 7:24-27)
Questions for Further Reflection:
1. Kid’s Question: Have you ever done something that you felt bad about? Why did it make you feel bad? Did anything happen to make you feel better?
2. Which (if any) part of this origin story do you struggle with- The loving and powerful Creator? Humans reflecting God’s image? Humans ruling on earth? Humans submitting to God?
3. Jeff shared the idea last week that we have 2 chapters in 1 heart. What ways have you seen, in the past week, evidence of chapter 2? What about chapter 3?
4. In Western thought we generally think about things from a guilt/innocence perspective. The Bible originated in a culture that also identified with a shame/honour perspective. When you think of sin, are you more burdened by guilt or shame?
5. Can you remember a moment from your childhood/youth when you knowingly disobeyed? How did that transgression affect you emotionally?
6. Adam and Eve got exactly what they wanted, but it wasn’t what they wanted. Reflect on a time when this was true in your life. What is God saying to you in this story?
7. Both on a theological level and on a practical level, how has sin in your life severed your relationship with God? What role has shame played in that?
8. How have sin and shame disconnected you from yourself or threatened the integrity of your being?
9. What lies of sin and shame most easily take root in your own life?
10.In what area do you need to receive grace to break a cycle of sin and shame?