What Leads to Our Brokenness and Shame

Devotional

Day 1: The Subtlety of Temptation and the Importance of God’s Word

Temptation often comes not as an obvious evil, but as a subtle distortion of God’s truth, sowing seeds of doubt and mistrust in our hearts. The serpent’s question to Eve, “Did God actually say…?” is the same question that echoes in our minds today, tempting us to question the goodness and sufficiency of God’s Word. The battleground for our hearts is whether we will trust what God has spoken or allow the enemy to twist, add to, or subtract from it. True freedom and life are found in trusting God’s Word, not in seeking liberation outside of His boundaries. [16:06]

Genesis 3:1-5 (ESV)
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Reflection: Where in your life are you tempted to question or reinterpret God’s Word to fit your desires, and how can you intentionally choose to trust what He has spoken today?

Day 2: God’s Generosity and the Danger of Distrust

God’s commands are not meant to restrict us, but to provide for our flourishing and joy; yet, the enemy’s lie is that God is stingy and holding back what is best. Adam and Eve were given abundance and freedom, but the serpent painted God as withholding, leading them to distrust His goodness. When we forget God’s generosity and focus on what we think we lack, we become vulnerable to sin’s deception. Remembering and trusting in God’s abundant provision is the antidote to the lie that He is not enough. [19:08]

Genesis 2:16-17 (ESV)
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are tempted to believe God is holding out on you, and how can you practice gratitude for His generosity today?

Day 3: The Reality and Consequences of Sin

Sin is not merely a mistake or ignorance, but a willful choice to distrust and disobey God, resulting in shame, brokenness, and separation from Him and from one another. Adam and Eve’s eyes were opened not to freedom, but to their own nakedness and shame, and their first instinct was to hide and blame rather than confess and seek God’s mercy. The destructive power of sin is seen in the immediate breakdown of relationships—with God and with each other—and in the ongoing brokenness we experience in our own lives. [26:40]

Genesis 3:6-13 (ESV)
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Reflection: When you feel shame or conviction over sin, do you tend to hide, blame, or run to God for mercy? What would it look like to come honestly before Him today?

Day 4: God’s Pursuit and the Call to Return

Even in our hiding and shame, God graciously seeks us out, calling, “Where are you?” and offering the hope of restoration through His promise. God’s response to our sin is not abandonment, but pursuit—He draws near, inviting us to step out of hiding and receive His forgiveness and grace. The ultimate expression of His generosity is found in Jesus Christ, who was lifted up for our salvation, so that we might be restored to fellowship with God. Today, the invitation remains open: to trust in His promise and return to Him. [38:21]

Luke 19:10 (ESV)
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

Reflection: Is there any area of your life where you are hiding from God or avoiding His presence? How can you respond to His gracious call to “Where are you?” today?

Day 5: Living by God’s Word and Trusting His Faithfulness

Lasting hope, joy, and true life are found not in chasing after empty promises, but in taking God at His Word and living in daily trust of His faithfulness. The story of Genesis 3 is not just about Adam and Eve, but about each of us—our ongoing battle to trust God’s Word amidst a world of competing voices and false promises. God’s Word is life, and as we build our lives upon it, we experience the blessedness and rest that come from His generosity and goodness. The call is to respond in faith, to live by His Word, and to trust in the One who gave His Son for us. [40:11]

Psalm 119:105 (ESV)
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can prioritize God’s Word in your life this week, so that you are equipped to recognize and resist the lies that come your way?

Sermon Summary

Genesis 3 reveals the deep reality of brokenness in our world—not just in the headlines or distant lands, but in our own hearts and relationships. While God’s creation was declared “very good,” something has gone terribly wrong. Each of us carries scars from the world’s brokenness, but we must also recognize our own part in the problem. The story of Adam and Eve is not just ancient history; it is a mirror for our own lives, showing how we, too, are tempted to doubt God’s goodness, twist His words, and seek fulfillment outside of His boundaries.

The serpent’s subtle question, “Did God actually say?” is the battleground for every human heart. God’s commands are not arbitrary restrictions but loving boundaries meant for our flourishing, like water is for a fish. Yet, the lie persists that God is stingy, holding back something good from us. When we believe this, we step outside His will, seeking wisdom and happiness on our own terms, only to find shame and separation instead.

Adam and Eve’s response to their sin—hiding and blaming—reflects our own tendencies. Instead of running to God in our shame, we often try to cover ourselves or shift responsibility. But God, in His mercy, comes searching for us, calling, “Where are you?” Even in our rebellion, He draws near, offering forgiveness and restoration through His Son, Jesus Christ. The generosity of God is not just in His words but in His actions—most profoundly in the cross.

True liberation and lasting happiness are found not in casting off God’s boundaries, but in trusting His Word and living in relationship with Him. The answer to our brokenness has always been the same: take God at His Word, believe in His goodness, and respond to His call. Today, the invitation remains open—God calls each of us out of hiding, into the light of His grace, to live by faith in His promises.

Key Takeaways

1. The root of our brokenness is not just external but deeply personal. We are not only victims of a fallen world but also contributors to its pain, as we each struggle to trust God’s goodness and obey His Word. Recognizing our own role in the world’s brokenness is the first step toward healing and humility. [11:53]
2. The enemy’s primary tactic is to sow doubt about God’s character and generosity. The question, “Did God actually say?” is designed to make us question whether God’s boundaries are for our good. When we forget God’s generosity and believe He is withholding from us, we become vulnerable to deception and disobedience. [14:50]
3. God’s commands are not meant to restrict us, but to give us life. Like a fish is made for water, we are made to thrive within the boundaries God sets. True freedom is not found in doing whatever we want, but in living according to God’s design, where His Word is enough and His presence is our joy. [16:53]
4. Shame and hiding are natural responses to sin, but they only deepen our separation from God. Instead of running from God or blaming others, we are invited to come honestly before Him, trusting that He seeks us out in grace and offers forgiveness through Christ. God’s persistent question, “Where are you?” is an invitation to return, not a condemnation. [28:02]
5. The cure for our brokenness is consistent from Genesis to Revelation: take God at His Word. Lasting happiness and true humanity are byproducts of trusting in God’s promises and living in relationship with Him. The cross of Christ is the ultimate proof of God’s generosity, calling us out of hiding and into abundant life. [35:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[10:06] - Prayer for Illumination
[10:44] - The Reality of Brokenness
[11:53] - Brokenness: Personal and Universal
[13:11] - The Challenge of Genesis 3
[14:16] - The Serpent’s Subtlety
[14:50] - Sowing Doubt: “Did God Actually Say?”
[16:06] - God’s Generosity and Boundaries
[16:53] - True Liberation in God
[18:30] - The Lie of God’s Stinginess
[19:42] - The Temptation to Be Like God
[22:43] - The Generosity of God in Christ
[24:40] - Willful Disobedience and Its Consequences
[26:40] - The Entrance of Shame
[28:02] - Hiding from God
[30:16] - Blame and Broken Relationships
[33:06] - The Wages of Sin
[35:16] - The Cure: Trusting God’s Word
[36:52] - God’s Persistent Call
[38:21] - The Promise of Restoration
[40:11] - Life in God’s Word
[41:11] - Closing Prayer
[53:16] - Benediction and Sending

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Genesis 3:1-13 (ESV) — 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden,
3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.
5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”
10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”
11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”
12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”
13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Observation Questions

What question does the serpent ask Eve, and how does this question set the tone for the rest of the story? ([14:50])
How does Eve respond to the serpent’s question, and in what way does she change or add to God’s original command? ([19:08])
What are the immediate effects on Adam and Eve after they eat the fruit? What do they do in response to their new awareness? ([26:40])
When God calls out, “Where are you?” how do Adam and Eve respond, and what does this reveal about their relationship with God at this point? ([28:02])

Interpretation Questions

The serpent’s question, “Did God actually say?” is described as the battleground for every human heart. Why is doubting God’s word so central to the story, and how does it affect our own lives today? ([14:50])
The sermon points out that God’s boundaries are for our good, like water is for a fish. What does this analogy teach us about the purpose of God’s commands? ([16:53])
Adam and Eve’s first response to their sin is to hide and blame. Why do people often respond to guilt and shame by hiding or shifting blame, rather than coming to God? ([28:02])
The sermon says that the answer to our brokenness is to “take God at His Word.” What does it look like, practically, to trust God’s word in the face of temptation or doubt? ([35:16])

Application Questions

The sermon says that brokenness is not just “out there” in the world, but also in our own hearts and relationships. Can you think of a recent situation where you contributed to brokenness, either by words or actions? What would it look like to respond differently next time? ([11:53])
The enemy’s tactic is to make us doubt God’s goodness and generosity. Are there areas in your life where you are tempted to believe that God is holding out on you or not giving you what you need? How do you usually respond to those doubts? ([14:50])
God’s commands are described as loving boundaries for our flourishing. Is there a specific boundary or command from God that you find difficult to accept or obey? What makes it hard, and how might trusting God’s goodness change your perspective? ([16:53])
When you feel shame or guilt, what is your natural response—do you tend to hide, blame others, or run to God? What would it look like to come honestly before God instead? ([28:02])
The sermon says that God’s question, “Where are you?” is an invitation to return, not a condemnation. How do you sense God calling you out of hiding right now? What would it mean for you to step into the light of His grace this week? ([28:02])
The cross of Christ is described as the ultimate proof of God’s generosity. How does remembering the generosity of God in Jesus help you face your own failures and brokenness? ([22:43])
The sermon challenges us to not just say we love God’s word, but to actually read it and live by it. What is one practical step you can take this week to spend more time in God’s word and let it shape your decisions? ([35:16])

Sermon Clips

Here's the question. Is God's word enough for Adam and Eve? Is it enough? And that same battleground for Adam and Eve is the same battleground for us today. Is God's word enough for you? Or, similarly here to Satan, we can deny it, change it, or add to it. Genesis 3 is about realizing that true liberation is found in God, and that there's a liberation promise that can't be found outside of God. [00:16:31] (44 seconds) #IsGodsWordEnough

Boundaries are actually good for us. Think of it this way. I could liberate a fish by setting it free from the sea. What happens to the fish? It dies. It's found freedom, but it's come at incredible cost. Well, for us, coming out of God's presence is like a fish out of the sea. Yes, we can say we're liberated. We can indeed do whatever we like, but it's leading us to death. [00:17:18] (37 seconds) #FreedomWithinBoundaries

They found their true humanity, their humanness was found in relationship with God. Like a fish that breaks from the water, as we break from God, we actually become less like God and less human in our humanity than we were when God made us. Don't believe the lie. Don't believe it for a moment. [00:21:53] (26 seconds) #EvidenceInJesus

The life-changing generosity of God stands as his son, Jesus Christ, died on the cross. You might not be able to understand talking serpents, but surely you can understand God's own son. Investigate it for yourself and you see that the evidence is, I think, irrefutable. That Jesus lived. That he taught what he taught as recorded in the gospels. That he taught that he would die on the cross for our sins and then went to that very death as he predicted. [00:22:20] (41 seconds) #LivingInGodsGenerosity

Don't believe a lie that tells you God is not generous. And don't believe a lie that doesn't tell you that it's by God's word, by believing, by looking to him and living in his word, that you will find what it means to live in all the abundance of living. You find those lies ten a penny. That God stands not just by his word, but by his actions. I am generous, says God. Look to my son to prove it. [00:23:01] (38 seconds) #WillfulDisobedienceAndSilence

Sin enters the world that very day. And the first thing they felt was shame. Just like today, they experienced the ultimate shame of a broken relationship with God. And the sad thing is, they're not going to be able to get out of it. The sad thing is that shame can do two things in our lives. When we experience shame in our lives, there are two ways that we can respond to this. The first thing that we can do we can come to God in our shame. We can say, Lord, I've messed up. I've made a mistake. I've done what I know I shouldn't have done. And I ask you to forgive me. And the second option is you can hide. Or let's say, try to hide. [00:26:46] (49 seconds) #HidingFromGodIsFutile

And in God's mercy, no matter how many times we hide from him and run from him, God comes to us, as he does in verse 9, and calls out, are you? Where are you? [00:29:13] (28 seconds) #TrustGodForLastingHappiness

And finally, I want to ask the question, are you hiding from God? That seems a really stupid question to ask in the church, but it's very possible for us to come into the church building and still be hiding from God. Sometimes it's easier just not to think about it, and you have that opportunity, to leave this morning and think nothing about this sermon afterward. Sometimes it's easier just to deny it. Didn't like the look of that preacher. He had a weird beard. Not listening to anything he said. But it's not my beard that makes this word stand or fall. It's the reality of the resurrection. It's the reality of who God is in His generosity, in His goodness, in what He has declared. [00:36:16] (59 seconds) #Genesis3LifeOrDeathChoice

Genesis 3. It's not a weird passage. It might be filled with things that are hard to at first take seriously appreciate why, but it's a profound passage that hits at the very heart of what it means to live or not live. God's Word is life. Life is found in taking God's Word seriously. Life is found in living by God's Word in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. Started in Genesis 3. It continues to be the battleground today. Respond to Him and live in the faithfulness of taking God at His Word and trusting Him. [00:40:03] (50 seconds)

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