The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”
4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees. 9 Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”
10 He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”
11 “Who told you that you were naked?” the LORD God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”
12 The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” 13 Then the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.” GENESIS 3:1-13 NLT

Barriers

Reaching for things I don’t need

Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. ECCLESIASTES 1:8 NLT

Blaming others for what I did

In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God. JOB 1:22 NLT

Tools

Contentment with what I have

Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. PHILIPPIANS 4:11-13 NLT

Taking responsibility for what I have done

Responsibility requires:
• Courage
• Admitting you were wrong
• Saying I’m sorry
• Receiving grace from Jesus
• Moving on
No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, PHILIPPIANS 3:13 NLT

Community Group Discussion Guide

1. What stood out most to you in the story of the fall in Genesis 3? Does your group have a potential question for The Debrief about this chapter?
2. When have you really messed up relationally in the past?
3. Is it hard for you to take responsibility for your mistakes?
4. Do you tend to blame people for your mistakes? Give an example.
5. All relationships require apologies. When is the last time you told someone you were sorry?
6. Is it hard for you to forgive yourself when you make mistakes?

Personal Reflection Guide

Find a place where you can be alone with God. Begin by closing your eyes and taking some deep breaths. Next, open your head and heart to God to have a conversation with him about some of your relationships where there needs to be forgiveness and reconciliation. Ask God to reveal your responsibility for the break in relationship. Now, ask him how he would want you to employ these tools to pursue forgiveness and reconciliation. When you’re done, put a plan of action in place and share it with your community group.