INTRODUCE: Today our children attended “big church” with their parents. Did that have an impact on your worship? Describe.

READ: Gensis 2:25-3:10, James 5:16, Ephesians 5:13, John 3:20, John 8:12

Begin by praying together. Ask specifically for help as a group and as individuals to be able to experience God’s love.

DISCUSS
1. Think about your closest relationships.This could include God, but it doesn’t have to. Do you allow yourself to be fully known? If not, can you name things you do to avoid being fully known for who you are?
2. Pastor Jesse frequently distinguishes guilt (for what one does) from shame (for who one is). Reread the Genesis passages in bold above out loud. Why do you think Adam and Eve jumped straight from guilt (for eating fruit when God had told them not to) to shame (for their very bodies)?
3. Pastor Jesse presents possible reasons we might have shame: something done, left undone, a secret, inadequacy, or a wound. Does one of these reasons resonate more than others for you? Which one?
4. Pastor Jesse suggests that strategies like “Pray more!” and “Read your Bible more!” are inadequate strategies to combat shame. Share any experiences you have had with the bootstrap method of combating shame.
5. Read the passage from James 5. Why does he suggest that this approach is inadequate? What is missing?
6. Read the passages from Ephesians and John regarding light. How do we go from darkness to step into “light” through confession?
7. How do you incorporate confession into your walk with God? Do you have a regular time of confession or do it as needed? Have you developed any strategies? Does this sermon challenge you to change anything?

As leaders in a small group safe place, you might want to explore public confession. Here are some suggestions: You could lead this with participants responding quietly and individually. You could ask participants to choose pairs or small groups. You might also want to invite pairs to meet up during the week on the phone or in person. Please leave the option for anyone uncomfortable with this to opt out for now. Jesse’s script follows:
- “How have you sinned? What darkness are you encountering? What temptation are you facing? What are you angry about? What wounds are you carrying?”
- Response. Confession.
- “As a representative of Christ, I love you and I forgive you.”

PRAY: Here we are God. We are right here hiding from you even though it is You who made us and know us. We confess this. Help us as Your family to step into Your light. We really want to experience the fullness of Your love for us. Amen.

SHARE AND PRAY:
- Invite the Holy Spirit to guide your time
- Listen to the Lord for guidance in how to pray for one another
- Take time to pray for one person at a time.