Perry’s Scope: Christian sermons, lessons, and resources for teachers

This small group lesson is in harmony with Richard May’s sermon by the same title for June 1, 2008.

It is interesting how we tend to fail to learn from the past. We tend to repeat even the most basic things as we see in the account in Genesis 3. We fail to take personal responsibility when we make wrong choices. We want to blame others for our sins and mistakes. We shy away from accountability, yet that is what we need to help our spiritual walk.

I hope this lesson is useful to you.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Open

Please share your response to one of the following:

• When you were a child, what games did you enjoy playing? (Monopoly; Hide ‘n Seek; etc.)
• If you could capture a special moment from the last week which one would you frame? Why?

Study

Read Genesis 3.1-13 and discuss the following:

• What do you think the serpent’s role is in this story?
• Who do you think is really at fault in this story?
  •   Adam
  •   Eve
  •   Serpent
  •   God
  •   A Combination
• Why do you think Adam and Eve were so quick to “pass the buck”? Why do we?
• What role does choice play in this story? Why does God restrict their choices with the one tree?
• Why do you think they hid from God?
• Why did God judge them so harshly?

Apply

• Where are you most vulnerable to the serpent? When has he caused you to doubt God’s words? <”Did God really say __________?”
• What do you tend to do when you see your own sins?
  • Beat myself up
  • Shrug it off
  • Blame someone else
  • Ignore it and hope it goes away
  • Deal with it in a healthy way
• In what ways do you need to take responsibility for yourself?
• What can this group do to help you be accountable?