Opening Prayer (2 minutes)

Begin by asking God to create a safe space for vulnerability and transparency. Pray that the Holy Spirit would help each person see where they need God’s covering in their lives.

Ice Breaker (5-7 minutes)

Question: What’s something you tried to hide as a kid that eventually got discovered?

This light-hearted question helps ease into the deeper topic of hiding and shame while building community.

Watch or Recap the Sermon (5 minutes)

If you didn’t watch together, briefly summarize the main points:

• God has been covering and protecting His people from the very beginning
• Adam and Eve tried to cover their shame with fig leaves after eating the forbidden fruit
• God provided them with animal skins—a better covering than they could make themselves
• We still try to cover our shame and hide from God today
• Only God’s covering (through Jesus) makes us fit to serve Him

Discussion Questions

1. The Reality of Hiding (10-12 minutes)

Question: The pastor mentioned that when Adam and Eve heard God walking in the garden, they hid for the first time. What are some ways we hide from God today, even while appearing to be “fine” on the outside?

Context from Sermon: The pastor pointed out that Adam and Eve’s response to sin was immediate—they felt shame, covered themselves with fig leaves, and hid among the trees when they heard the Lord God walking in the garden. He emphasized that “half truths of a misstep is still trying to conceal things” and that “half confession is not confession.” The pastor also noted how young people throughout generations have been turned off by “facade church” where people appear one way at church but live differently at home.

Leader Notes:

• Create safety by sharing first if appropriate
• Acknowledge that hiding is a natural human response to shame
• Examples might include: busyness, religious activity without heart engagement, surface-level prayers, avoiding certain Bible passages, staying distracted
• Gently remind the group that God asks “Where are you?” not because He doesn’t know, but because He wants us to come out of hiding

2. Our Inadequate Coverings (10-12 minutes)

Question: The pastor said our attempts to cover our shame are “about as effective as fig leaves covering the body.” What are some “fig leaves” people use today to try to cover their brokenness or shame?

Context from Sermon: The pastor explained that Adam and Eve’s immediate response was to sew fig leaves together to cover their nakedness. He noted that “all of that is humanity’s attempt at providing a covering by their own means” and that “God just doesn’t really stomach well humanity’s self sufficiency.” He gave personal examples like using humor to deflect shame or using busyness to avoid dealing with what’s really going on in our hearts.

Leader Notes:

• Common “fig leaves” might include: achievement, perfectionism, humor/sarcasm, anger, control, people-pleasing, substance use, social media validation, religious performance
• Help the group see that these aren’t necessarily bad things in themselves, but when used to hide shame rather than bring it to God, they become inadequate coverings
• Emphasize that God sees through our fig leaves and wants to provide something better

3. God’s Better Covering (10-12 minutes)

Question: Genesis 3:21 says “the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.” What does this tell us about God’s character and how He responds to our brokenness?

Context from Sermon: The pastor emphasized the shift from “God made” (used throughout Genesis 1-2) to “the Lord God made” after the fall. He explained: “The Lord God sees your brokenness and my brokenness and responds by making a covering for us.” He noted that God didn’t respond with a fist to destroy them and start over, but “keeps what he created, and in their brokenness, he provides.” The covering had both practical implications (protection from thorns and thistles) and spiritual implications (a perpetual reminder that they need God’s covering).

Leader Notes:

• Key characteristics to draw out: God is personal (“Lord God”), compassionate, protective, providing
• The covering was better than what they made themselves
• God covered them before sending them out into a harder world
• This foreshadows Jesus as our ultimate covering
• The pastor noted: “Only by his covering are we rendered fit to serve Him”

4. Living Without the Leaves (12-15 minutes)

Question: The pastor said we’re called to bring ourselves before God “without the leaves.” What would it look like practically for you to live more transparently before God and others this week?

Context from Sermon: The pastor described how the early church “lived in covenant community with one another. They expressed their brokenness and they expressed their need for Jesus to be their Savior.” He shared about his men’s group where after a Christmas break, they spent nearly two hours just expressing their struggles and “how things began to get shaky in our heart when we weren’t meeting together.” He said, “There was no desire to live in hiddenness, to mask anything. It was like, here’s the blah. And all of us walked out from that space with rest in our heart. That’s community. That’s living in relationship with the Lord God.”

Leader Notes:

• This is the most vulnerable question—model transparency if appropriate
• Remind the group of the safety and confidentiality of small group
• Practical steps might include: honest prayer, confessing to a trusted friend, bringing specific struggles to God daily, practicing the weekly exercise from the sermon
• The goal isn’t perfection but authenticity
• Emphasize that transparency leads to rest, not more burden

5. The Weekly Practice (8-10 minutes)

Question: The pastor gave us a practice for this week: Find two minutes to sit still, pray “God, this is where I feel exposed. This is where I feel ashamed,” name it specifically, then pray “I receive your covering over that.” What’s one area of shame or exposure you need to bring to God this week?

Context from Sermon: The pastor emphasized that the church won’t “merely hear the word, but we are going to put some things in practice.” He encouraged finding a quiet space—even a pantry or closet—to un-busy your mind and space for just two minutes. The practice involves naming specific areas of shame or exposure and then receiving God’s covering over them.

Leader Notes:

• You might do this practice together as a group (in silence or in pairs)
• Encourage everyone to set a specific time this week to do this
• Remind them this is between them and God—they don’t have to share specifics if they’re not ready
• Consider doing a brief version right now: 2 minutes of silence for people to pray this prayer
• Ask for accountability: “Will you commit to doing this practice at least once this week?”

Closing (5 minutes)

Reflection Question: How has God covered you? (This was one of the GrowCard questions)

Give each person 30-60 seconds to share one way they’ve experienced God’s covering, protection, or provision—either recently or in the past.

Closing Prayer: Pray the prayer from the sermon together, or have someone close in prayer:

“Dear Heavenly Father, this morning we say yes, and we put on your covering. We give our hearts and this life to Jesus. Help us by the power of your spirit to live in a way that pleases you. In Jesus name, Amen.”

Leader Preparation Tips

1. Create Safety: The topic of shame requires extra care. Remind the group of confidentiality and model appropriate vulnerability.
2. Don’t Rush: If the conversation is going deep, it’s okay to skip a question. Quality over quantity.
3. Watch for Hurting People: Some may be carrying deep shame. Be prepared to pray with individuals after group or connect them with pastoral care.
4. Follow Up: Check in with group members during the week about their practice of bringing shame to God.
5. Remember the Gospel: Keep pointing back to Jesus as our ultimate covering. We’re not just trying harder to be transparent—we’re resting in what He’s already done.

Additional Resources

• Encourage group members to review their GrowCard responses
• Remind them to watch for additional content throughout the week
• Consider sharing testimonies next week of how the practice went