Fear Into Freedom | Week 3: Rejection To Acceptance
TODAY’S CORE TRUTH: You can’t blame your way to freedom.
Why do we play the blame game?
The tendency to blame others is deeply
from the beginning. Lord walking in the garden in the cool of the day toward them. —Genesis 3:9 (NIV)
But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” —Genesis 3:10 (NIV)
And he (God) said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” —Genesis 3:11 (NIV)
We will do anything to avoid taking personal responsibility for our
. “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” —Genesis 3:12 (NIV)
“What is this you have done?” “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” —Genesis 3:13 (NIV)
Blaming others is often nothing more than subtly twisting the
to take the heat off us. Without a deep work of God’s Grace within us, we continue to pass blame on to the next
. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” —Genesis 4:9 (NIV)
The only way to freedom is “owning up” to our
.
Propitiation: The act of soothing hostility or wrath that satisfies our need for payment or revenge.
“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.” —Romans 5:6 (NLT)
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” —1 John 4:10 (NIV)
Atonement: Satisfying the payment for our sin.
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” —2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
Are you ready to claim and own your part?
Theme: The Blame Game
Reflect Together: What impacted you the most from Sunday’s Message that you can apply to your life today?
Share Together: Growing up, were you ever blamed for something you didn’t do at home or school? What happened, and how did you feel?
Read Together: Genesis 3:1-24
Discuss Together:
- What was the core lie the serpent used to tempt Eve with her eventually giving in? Why and how is this the core lie we all struggle with?
- How do Adam and Eve’s responses to God’s questioning reflect our tendencies to shift blame when faced with our mistakes or wrongdoings?
- What were Adam and Eve’s eyes opened to when they had sinned? What was their initial response, and what was God’s?
- Who did they blame to justify their sinful actions when confronted by God?
- Reflecting on your own experiences, when have you found yourself blaming someone or something else for your choices or actions? What motivated you to do so?
- How does the concept of blame affect relationships with others and God? How does blaming others hinder personal growth and reconciliation?
- In what ways does taking responsibility for our actions align and contribute to personal spiritual maturity and reconciliation with others?
- In verse 21, it says God provided a covering for Adam and Eve; how is this a foreshadowing of the atonement Jesus did for us to cover our sin and blame in bringing reconciliation between God and us?
- God provides forgiveness in the context of blame; how does extending forgiveness impact both the person who blames and the one who is blamed?
- How could you use prayer to overcome blame in your life?
Pray Together: Take time to share the good things God is doing in your life and to pray for one another for the needs that you have in your group.