Key Takeaways

The choice is yours: Go hide or get honest.

Every one of us has made choices we wish we could undo. But what happens next matters. In Genesis 3, we witness humanity’s first act of disobedience and the questions that follow. One of God’s questions still speaks to us today, revealing his heart and inviting us to take our next step toward him.

• Genesis 3 – Adam and Eve chose to disobey God after being tempted by the serpent. Filled with shame, they hid from God, setting the stage for a question that still challenges how we respond after we’ve chosen incorrectly.
• Guard what you listen to – The enemy often begins by causing us to question what God has already said. While we can’t control every temptation, we can choose whether we’ll listen to the enemy’s voice or trust God’s truth.
• Go hide or get honest – Shame tempts us to cover up our failures, manage the damage, or pretend everything is okay. But hiding misdeeds keeps us stuck, while honesty opens the door to healing, forgiveness, and freedom.
• God is calling, not condemning – When God asked, “Where are you?” he wasn’t seeking information—he was inviting Adam and Eve to come out of hiding. His question reminds us that God meets us with grace and calls us back into a relationship with him.
• Choose freedom over secrecy – The longer we hide, the heavier our burdens become. As we bring our struggles into the light with God and trusted people, shame loses its grip and we begin to experience the freedom found in Christ.

Want a printable version of this Message Guide? Download it through the link below!

Pray

This week during your slot and spot, pray that God makes clear any sin in your heart or areas of disobedience in your life in which you need to repent.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your mercy that is new every morning and for your infinite grace that you have for us. I ask for forgiveness for any sin or disobedience in my life.

Please help me see what I need to let go of and release to you so that I can truly live a life of freedom in you; a life free from shame, guilt, or condemnation.

Thank you for the transformation that will happen when I turn away from all sin and truly repent. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Worship

Bring the worship set from this weekend into your Slot and Spot and praise him for setting us free.

Thank God I’m Free – Elevation Rhythm

That’s my King – CeCe Winans

King of My Heart – Bethel Music

Learn

This week, read through the scripture shared in the message and dive deeper into God’s word.

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… and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness.  – Genesis 3:6-7

• Scripture – Genesis 3:1-10
• Read – Where are you?– a 5 day devotional
• Watch – Genesis 1-11 from Bible Project
• Listen –Genesis 3 from Through the Word

Reflect

Reflect on these questions during your slot and spot/discussions with others.

We all make bad choices. Consider a bad choice you know you have made in the past.

• What influenced your decision making?
• What is your typical reaction when you’ve made a mistake? What did you do in this scenario?

Read Genesis Chapter 3. What are your initial takeaways about Eve’s interactions with the serpent, her mistake, and follow up interactions with God?

• The serpent begins by twisting God’s words. Eve’s first mistake was replying to his lies.
  • How has the enemy twisted God’s word to cause you to doubt his love/grace/goodness/justice?
  • What are you choosing to respond to that is actually distracting you from what you know is true?
• Eve so easily believed the serpent’s lies because she wanted what he was talking about. Her desire overwhelmed her judgement and what she knew to be true about God.
  • What do you want right now that you know God does not intend for you to have? Can you pinpoint lies you have convinced yourself are true so that you can get what you want?
• God asks Adam and Eve “Where are you?”, not because he can’t find them, but as an invitation for them to come to him honestly with their mistake.
  • Has the shame of a mistake ever kept you in hiding? In what ways have you tried to hide your mistakes from God, other people, or even yourself? How has that hiding impacted your life, relationship, and faith?
  • Have you ever bravely gotten honest about a mistake? Who did you talk to? How did it feel? What freedom do you now feel because of your honesty?
  • Is there anything in your life right now that you wish you could be free from? Who is one person you can get honest with this week?

Next Steps

• If you’ve never gone public with your faith in Jesus and been baptized, sign up today! It’s a moment you’ll never forget.
• Summer can get busy, but God wants to meet with you every day so remember to spend time with him. Learn more about how to get started practicing a slot and spot here: Slot and Spot Resources

What’s one thing you learned from this message that you want to apply to your life this week? Share it in the comment section below.