From Hiding to Healing - Redeeming Shame | Guest Speaker Geoff Hsu, Flourish San Diego

Devotional

Day 1: Sin Is More Than Wrongdoing—It’s a Broken Relationship With God

Sin is not merely a list of wrong actions or behaviors, but a deeper condition of the heart—a fundamental rejection or ignoring of God in the world He created. This condition leads us to live without reference to Him, missing out on the fullness of life He intends for us. When we focus only on our outward sins, we risk reducing faith to mere behavior management, rather than addressing the root: our independence from God and our failure to reflect His image. True transformation begins when we recognize sin as a relational breach, not just a moral failure, and turn our hearts back to God as our loving Creator and Father. [41:53]

Romans 3:23-24 (ESV)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you find yourself living as if God is not present or relevant? How can you intentionally invite Him into that area today?

Day 2: Shame Is the Hidden Force Beneath Our Sinful Patterns

Shame is a powerful, often hidden force that drives many of our outward behaviors and coping mechanisms. It is more than embarrassment; it is a deep sense of inadequacy and unworthiness that leads us to hide, isolate, or blame others. This shame, weaponized by the enemy, keeps us trapped in cycles of sin and prevents us from experiencing the freedom and intimacy with God for which we were created. Recognizing and naming our shame is the first step toward healing, as we bring it into the light of God’s love and truth. [48:48]

Genesis 2:25 (ESV)
And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Reflection: When have you felt the urge to hide or cover up out of shame? What would it look like to bring that feeling honestly before God in prayer today?

Day 3: The Cross of Christ Heals Both Sin and Shame

Jesus’s work on the cross is not only about forgiving our outward sins but also about freeing us from the deeper disease of sin and the grip of shame. Through His sacrifice, we are invited to approach God without fear, knowing that we are fully loved and accepted—even in our failures. The cross means we no longer need to hide or strive for self-righteousness; instead, we can rest in the truth that we are enough because of what Christ has done. This holistic redemption transforms how we see ourselves and empowers us to live boldly and authentically as God’s beloved children. [01:02:25]

Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Reflection: What is one area of shame or failure you have been hiding from God? How might you take a step today to bring it to Him, trusting in His grace?

Day 4: Transformation Requires Looking Beneath the Surface

Lasting change in our lives comes not from simply trying harder to avoid sin, but from courageously examining what lies beneath the surface—our wounds, shame, and learned coping behaviors. God invites us to do the emotional and spiritual work of looking “below the waterline,” allowing His Spirit to heal and transform us at the deepest levels. This journey is not easy, but it is essential if we are to become people who naturally reflect Christ’s love, justice, and goodness in the world. [01:09:22]

Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV)
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Reflection: What is one recurring struggle or reaction in your life that you sense may have deeper roots? Are you willing to ask God to reveal what’s beneath the surface and begin the process of healing?

Day 5: Embracing Our Calling as God’s Image Bearers

We are created in the image of God, called to reflect His character and steward His creation with love and responsibility. When we live in restored relationship with God—freed from sin and shame—we are empowered to be a redemptive presence in our families, communities, and the world. Our mission is not just personal holiness, but joining God in His work of setting things right, loving our neighbors, and making disciples both locally and globally. [44:35]

Genesis 1:27-28 (ESV)
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Reflection: Where is God inviting you to step out as His image bearer this week—at home, at work, or in your community? What is one specific way you can reflect His love and justice today?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered as a community to worship, to pray for the persecuted church, and to reflect deeply on the nature of sin, shame, and the transforming power of the cross. We began by anchoring ourselves in the holiness and majesty of God, recognizing that He is our refuge and strength even as the world around us is filled with suffering and injustice. Our prayers were especially directed toward our brothers and sisters in East Africa—Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia—where persecution, displacement, and hardship are daily realities. We interceded for their deliverance, for justice, and for the sustaining grace of God to uphold them in the midst of unimaginable trials.

Turning our attention to our own spiritual journeys, we considered the persistent question: Why does real change in our lives seem so slow, even after years of following Jesus? The answer, I suggested, lies in understanding sin not merely as isolated actions or behaviors, but as a deeper condition—a broken relationship with God that gives rise to shame and alienation. Using the image of an iceberg, we explored how most of our struggles and failures are symptoms of what lies beneath the surface: a fundamental independence from God, a failure to live as His image-bearers, and a deep-seated shame that drives us to hide, blame, or perform.

Shame, as we saw in the Genesis narrative, is not just an emotion but a powerful force that shapes our coping mechanisms and keeps us from true transformation. It is weaponized by the enemy to keep us isolated and self-deceived, perpetuating cycles of sin and brokenness. Yet, the good news is that Jesus came not only to forgive our sins above the waterline, but to heal the deeper disease of sin and shame below it. The cross is God’s answer to both our guilt and our shame. Through Christ, we are invited into a relationship where we are fully known, fully loved, and never forsaken—even in our failures.

As we approach Advent, we are reminded that Jesus’s story is marked by shame from the beginning to the end, and yet He bore it all so that we might be set free. The invitation is to do the courageous work of looking beneath the waterline, to bring our hidden wounds and coping strategies into the light of God’s love, and to experience the holistic transformation that the gospel offers. This is not just for our own sake, but so that we might become a redemptive presence in a world desperate for hope and healing.

Key Takeaways

1. Sin is a deeper condition, not just actions Sin is more than the wrong things we do; it is a fundamental brokenness in our relationship with God—a condition of living without reference to Him. This deeper disease is what gives rise to the visible sins in our lives. True transformation begins when we address the root, not just the symptoms. [39:16]
2. Shame drives our coping and sin patterns Shame is a powerful force that shapes how we respond to our failures and inadequacies. It leads us to hide, blame, or perform, often without our conscious awareness. Recognizing and naming shame is essential to breaking its hold and allowing God’s grace to heal us at the deepest level. [50:04]
3. The cross heals both guilt and shame Jesus’s work on the cross is not limited to forgiving our outward sins; it also addresses the shame and alienation that lie beneath. In Christ, we are not only pardoned but also welcomed, embraced, and restored to relationship with God. This holistic salvation is the foundation for lasting change. [62:25]
4. Transformation requires honest self-examination Lasting spiritual growth comes when we courageously look beneath the surface of our lives, bringing our hidden wounds and patterns into the light. This emotional and spiritual work, done in the context of God’s love and community, is where the gospel’s power is most fully experienced. [69:22]
5. Our healing is for the sake of the world As we are healed and transformed by God’s love, we are called to be a redemptive presence in our city and beyond. Our freedom from shame and sin enables us to love, serve, and intercede for others—especially those who suffer and are marginalized. [78:35]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:54] - Opening Scripture and Worship
[02:12] - Oceans: Trusting God in Uncertainty
[06:46] - Holy, Holy, Holy: God’s Majesty
[09:31] - God of Wonders: Creation’s Praise
[15:29] - Praying for the Persecuted Church
[16:49] - East Africa: Stories of Suffering
[20:01] - Eritrea: Faith Amid Persecution
[22:10] - Prayer for East Africa
[26:56] - Our Mission: Great Commandment & Commission
[30:13] - Introduction to Jeff Shu
[32:07] - Why Don’t Our Lives Change?
[36:40] - The Iceberg: Sin Above and Below
[39:16] - Sin as Condition, Not Just Action
[45:54] - Genesis: Naked and Unashamed
[50:04] - The Power and Pattern of Shame
[56:39] - Neuroscience, Embodiment, and Transformation
[59:56] - The Cross: Healing Guilt and Shame
[65:11] - Jesus’s Story: Shame and Redemption
[70:41] - Prayer for Deeper Transformation
[72:40] - Closing Worship and Benediction
[77:20] - Flourish San Diego: Loving Our City
[78:35] - Sending and Final Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: Sin, Shame, and the Transforming Power of the Cross

---

### Bible Reading

Genesis 2:25–3:10 (ESV)
> 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
> 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.”

Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)
> Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

---

### Observation Questions

In Genesis 2:25, what is the significance of Adam and Eve being described as “naked and not ashamed”? How does this change after they eat the fruit?
According to the sermon, what is the difference between “sin” as a condition and “sins” as actions? [[39:16]]
What are some of the ways shame shows up in the Genesis story after Adam and Eve disobey God?
How does Hebrews 12:2 describe Jesus’s relationship to shame and the cross?

---

### Interpretation Questions

The sermon describes shame as a powerful force that shapes our coping mechanisms and keeps us from true transformation. Why is recognizing and naming shame so important for spiritual growth? [[50:04]]
The “iceberg” illustration was used to talk about sin above and below the waterline. What does it mean to address the “root” of sin rather than just the “symptoms”? [[39:16]]
How does the cross of Jesus address not only our guilt but also our shame and sense of alienation from God? [[01:02:25]]
The sermon says that transformation requires honest self-examination. What might it look like to “look beneath the waterline” in your own life? [[01:09:22]]

---

### Application Questions

The sermon talked about how shame can lead us to hide, blame, or perform. Which of these coping strategies do you most relate to, and how have you seen it play out in your life? [[50:04]]
Is there an area of your life where you feel “stuck” in old patterns of sin or failure? How might understanding sin as a deeper condition (not just actions) help you approach this differently? [[39:16]]
The cross is described as God’s answer to both our guilt and our shame. What would it look like for you to bring your hidden wounds or coping strategies into the light of God’s love this week? [[01:02:25]]
The Genesis story shows Adam and Eve hiding from God after they sinned. When you feel ashamed or inadequate, do you tend to hide from God or from others? What would it look like to do the opposite?
The sermon challenged us to do the “courageous work” of honest self-examination. Is there a specific area where you sense God inviting you to look beneath the surface? What support or community do you need to do this? [[01:09:22]]
As we are healed and transformed, we are called to be a redemptive presence in the world. Who in your life or community might need hope and healing, and how could your own journey with shame and grace help you serve them? [[01:18:35]]
The persecuted church was lifted up in prayer during the service. How does your own experience of God’s healing and freedom from shame equip you to pray for or support others who are suffering? [[15:29]]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What does it mean to find refuge in God?

How does faith help navigate life's uncertainties?

What is the significance of trusting God's guidance?