Covered by the Blood

Introduction:

The Gospel in the Garden: Three Foundations of Faith (Genesis 3:20-24):

1. Believe God's Promise . (Gen 3:20)
2. Receive God's Provision . (Gen 3:21)
3. Trust God's Path . (Gen 3:22-24)

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Small Group Discussion
Read Genesis 3:20-24

1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?
   

2. What is a curse? What does it mean that disobedience to God results in a curse from God? What does this have to do with Jesus? See Galatians 3:10-13
   

3. What is faith? How did Adam demonstrate faith (Gen 3:20)?
   

4. Explain the significance of God clothing Adam and Eve with skins (Gen 3:21).
   

5. Why did God drive Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:22)? How was this actually a blessing for them?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Under a Curse

Introduction:

Cursed By God: The Consequences of Sin (Genesis 3:14-19):

1. To the serpent: Defeat . (Gen 3:14-15)
2. To the woman: pain at Home . (Gen 3:16)

   Genesis 4:7 - And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.

3. To the man: pain at Work . (Gen 3:17-19)

What does this have to do with Good Friday?

Galatians 3:10-13 - For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith." But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"

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Small Group Discussion
Read Genesis 3:14-19

1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?
   

2. What is a curse? What does it mean that disobedience to God results in a curse from God? What does this have to do with Jesus? See Galatians 3:10-13
   

3. What is faith? How did Adam demonstrate faith (Gen 3:20)?
   

4. Explain the significance of God clothing Adam and Eve with skins (Gen 3:21).
   

5. Why did God drive Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:22)? How was this actually a blessing for them?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

The Fall of Man

Introduction:

The Origin and the Pattern of Sin (Genesis 3:1-13):

1. Sin starts when we Disregard God's Word. (Gen 3:1-6)
   1. You Doubt the Authenticity of God's Word. (Gen 3:1-3)
   2. You Deny the Accuracy of God's Word. (Gen 3:1)
   3. You Disobey the Authority of God's Word. (Gen 3:4-6)

2. Sin brings shame when we try to Disguise . (Gen 3:7)
3. Sin causes us to Disengage from God. (Gen 3:8-10)
4. Sin makes us want to Deflect guilt. (Gen 3:11-13)

   Romans 5:12 - Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned...

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Small Group Discussion
Read Genesis 3:1-13

1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?
   

2. Define sin, in your own words, how you would to an unbeliever.
   

3. In Gen 3:5, what did the serpent tell Eve God was withholding from her? In other words, “why was God restricting them”?
   

4. Why do you think we tend to blame others for our sin (Gen 3:12)?
   

5. Why did Satan first cast doubt on God’s Word (Gen 3:1), instead of just flat-out denying God’s Word from the beginning (Gen 3:4)?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Grace in the Garden

Introduction / Context:

Romans 1:21-22 - "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools..."

Ephesians 5:25 - "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her..."

5 Examples of Grace Displayed at the Fall (Genesis 3):

1. Grace is Exclusively for Humans. (Gen 3:14)
2. Grace promises Ultimate Victory. (Gen 3:15)

1 Corinthians 15:57 - "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

3. Grace permits Continued Creation. (Gen 3:16)
4. Grace leaves us Frustratingly Fallen. (Gen 3:17-19)
5. Grace gives Accessible Life. (Gen 3:22-24)

2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Revelation 22:14 - "Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates."

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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Genesis 3

1. The Fall is possibly one of the most basic and well known stories in the Bible, and yet there's so much depth here. Discuss some of the complex concepts you've learned from this story.

2. It has been said before that most people suffer from two problems: failing to see how big their sin is and failing to see how big God's grace is. Do you believe this? Why or why not?

3. Describe a time where you have experienced God's grace in your failures.

Breakout Questions:

What is causing you to be distant from God right now? How are you going to respond to His grace?

The War on Sin

Why I Must Fight My Sin:

1. Because my sin Dishonors God. (Col 3:5)



Review: Psalm 16



2. Because my sin Brings serious consequences. (Col 3:6)



Review: Romans 6:1-2



3. Because my sin Belongs in the past. (Col 3:7-10)



4. Because my sin Ruins relationships. (Col 3:8-11)

Review: 1 Cor 10:13

Guest Speaker - Taylor Brown

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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Colossians 3:5-11

1. When you sin, what are you telling God with your actions? Why do we at times

   believe that sin is more satisfying than God? Why can sin never compare to a

   relationship with Christ?

2. Even though we are new in Jesus, why do we choose to go back to our old ways

   of living? How can we fight against the temptation to go back to the old self?

3. Does sin only ever affect us? How does it hurt other people? How can we help each other to fight against sin?

Breakout Questions:

1. Confess the recurring sin(s) in your life that you struggle with. Pray for one another and develop an accountability plan to grow in your support among each other.