Teaching Notes

  • May 11, 2025

    Are you hiding from God or hiding in God? 

     

    In Part 3 of our sermon series in Genesis, we focus on how Adam and Eve hid from God in the garden because they were afraid and ashamed. Yet, God calls out to them, initiates, pursues, and cares for them. We don’t need to hide from God because He knows everything about us (Psalm 139) and still loves us. So, we can hide IN God because our identity is secure in Christ. 

     

    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.” 

    Genesis 3:8-10

     

    Guilt v. Shame: I did a bad thing versus I am bad 

     

    Conviction v. Condemnation 

    • What are you trying to hide from God? 
    • Why are you hiding? 

     

    “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

    Romans 8:1-2

     

    Respond to God’s invitation to stop hiding and accept His unconditional love and amazing grace: 

    1. Confess and repent (Psalm 139: 23-24 , 1John 1:9) 
    2. Receive forgiveness and step into God’s light (1John 1:7) 
    3. Hide yourself in Christ (Psalm 32:7-8) 

     

    Make God your hiding place! 

     

    “For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.” 

    Colossians 3:3 

     

    This week: meditate on Psalm 139.