(MS) Week 3: The Fall

Scripture: Genesis 3

Main Theme: Sin, Shame, and God’s Promise

Big Idea: Sin breaks our relationship with God and each other, but God promises hope and rescue.

Introduction:

Have you ever broken something really important—maybe a phone, a friendship, or a promise?

How did it feel? What did you do next?

We all know what it’s like to mess up and want to hide. Today, we’ll see the very first time people messed up—and what God did about it.

Tension:

We all do things that are bad. When we get caught we want to hide. It is that feeling of wanting to crawl under a rock and never think about it again.

I know my go to response when I am caught is not confession but rather denial or blame shifting. This is because when I have done something wrong I do not want to be known for that thing or I do not want that sin to be known.

That response is rooted in pride which is defined by putting myself above all else. We are really good at doing this as humans. It is at the core of our sin nature. We think we are the best of the best deep down and that drives our sins.

Genesis 3 shows us where sin and shame come from, but also where hope begins.

Big Idea:

Sin breaks our relationship with God and each other, but God promises hope and rescue.

Truth:

Recap of Last Week (Genesis 2:4–25)

God made people on purpose, called them “very good,” and gave them work, relationships, and trust.

Adam and Eve lived in the garden with no shame, walking with God in perfect relationship.

Historical & Context Notes

The Garden of Eden was a real place, filled with beauty and purpose.

Adam and Eve had one rule: don’t eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Walk Through Genesis 3

The Serpent’s Trick (v.1–5)

Read Genesis 3:1-5

Genesis 3:1–5 ESV

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.”

The serpent (Satan) is crafty and makes Eve question God’s word.

He twists the truth: “Did God really say…?”

He promises something better—but it’s a lie.

The Temptation and the Fall (v.6–7)

Read Genesis 3:6-7

Genesis 3:6–7 ESV

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.

Eve sees the fruit, wants it, and eats. Adam is with her and eats too.

Immediately, they realize they’re naked—they feel shame for the first time.

They try to cover up with leaves and hide from God.

Hiding and Blame (v.8–13)

Read Genesis 3:8-13

Genesis 3:8–13 ESV

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.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

God comes looking for them, even though they’re hiding.

Adam blames Eve (and God!), Eve blames the serpent.

Sin leads to hiding, fear, and blaming others.

God’s Judgment and Promise (v.14–19)

Read Genesis 3:14-19

Genesis 3:14–19 ESV

14 The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” 16 To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” 17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

God gives consequences: pain, brokenness, hard work, and death enter the world.

BUT—God promises that one day, someone from Eve’s family will crush the serpent’s head (first hint of Jesus!).

Hope and Covering (v.20–24)

Read Genesis 3:20-24

Genesis 3:20–24 ESV

20 The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. 21 And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. 22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” 23 therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

God makes clothes for Adam and Eve—He covers their shame.

They have to leave the garden, but God goes with them and promises hope.

Key Points:

Sin Always Breaks Things

Sin brings shame, hiding, and blame.

Our relationship with God and others gets hurt.

God Still Seeks Us

Even when we hide, God comes looking for us.

He asks, “Where are you?”—not because He doesn’t know, but because He wants us to come to Him.

God Promises Rescue

God’s first promise of a Rescuer (Jesus) comes right after the first sin.

God covers their shame, showing His love and mercy.

Application:

When you mess up, don’t hide from God—He wants you to come to Him.

Everyone faces temptation, but God always provides hope and help.

Jesus is the Rescuer God promised—He forgives and restores us.

Landing:

God loves us even when we fail.

Sin brings shame and brokenness, but God’s grace is greater.

There’s always hope because God promises rescue.

Big Idea (Repeat):

Sin breaks our relationship with God and each other, but God promises hope and rescue.

Pray:

Ask God to help students:

Be honest about their mistakes instead of hiding.

Trust that God still loves them, no matter what.

Believe that Jesus is the Rescuer who forgives and restores.