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Summit Church
Not Good Pt 2 | Naked and Unashamed | Jim Ladd
Locations & Times
Summit Church
7200 S Clinton St, Centennial, CO 80112, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
God’s Vision for Relational Safety
The Big Idea: The superpower of great relationships is transparency without fear.
Genesis 2:25 - 3:13
“Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame."
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.””
“Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame."
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.””
Trust is the currency and foundation of any long-lasting and fruitful relationship. Once it is lost, it's over. Lose it quickly, and restore it painfully slowly, if at all.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO GRASP:
The serpent doesn’t start with rebellion. He starts with distrust.
“Did God really say…?” (can you trust Adam?)
"You won't really die..." (Can you trust God?)
He desires to create a culture of distrust in every direction: We don't trust God, He can't trust us, and we cannot trust each other.
An explosion of distrust is satan's basic strategy.
The serpent doesn’t start with rebellion. He starts with distrust.
“Did God really say…?” (can you trust Adam?)
"You won't really die..." (Can you trust God?)
He desires to create a culture of distrust in every direction: We don't trust God, He can't trust us, and we cannot trust each other.
An explosion of distrust is satan's basic strategy.
Sin enters — and immediately:
Eyes are opened
Shame is introduced
Fear is activated
Relationships fracture
Eyes are opened
Shame is introduced
Fear is activated
Relationships fracture
* Transparency without fear was the original human condition.
* Shame is not original—it is introduced later.
* Safety precedes intimacy; intimacy collapses without safety.
* Shame is not original—it is introduced later.
* Safety precedes intimacy; intimacy collapses without safety.
The Natural State of Humans:
Our Core Emotion is Fear
Our Core Threat is Exposure
Our Core Strategy is to Hide
Our Core Dysfunction is to Blame
Our Core Emotion is Fear
Our Core Threat is Exposure
Our Core Strategy is to Hide
Our Core Dysfunction is to Blame
We Share Three Human Problems with Three Divine Solutions:
- Personal Shame / Finished work of Jesus
- Fear of exposure / Perfect love
- Hide and Blame / Personal Responsibility and Redemptive Community
- Personal Shame / Finished work of Jesus
- Fear of exposure / Perfect love
- Hide and Blame / Personal Responsibility and Redemptive Community
Problem #1: Personal Guilt and Shame
Because I am ashamed of myself, I'm fearfully certain that you will be too.
Romans 3:10-18
“As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.””
Because I am ashamed of myself, I'm fearfully certain that you will be too.
Romans 3:10-18
“As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.””
Solution #1: The Finished work of Jesus
We receive cleansing from our guilt and shame - we do not earn it or remove it ourselves
We receive cleansing from our guilt and shame - we do not earn it or remove it ourselves
Isaiah 6:1-8
“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!””
“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!””
Colossians 2:8-15
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
We do not remove guilt —
We receive cleansing.
When shame is removed, fear loses its foundation.
We receive cleansing.
When shame is removed, fear loses its foundation.
PROBLEM #2 — Fear of Exposure
Genesis 3:10 “I was afraid… so I hid.”
Fear reframes everything:
God becomes unsafe
People become threats
Vulnerability becomes dangerous
Genesis 3:10 “I was afraid… so I hid.”
Fear reframes everything:
God becomes unsafe
People become threats
Vulnerability becomes dangerous
Fear says exposure will destroy me.
Fear says:
“If you knew, you’d reject me”
“If I’m honest, I’ll be punished”
“If this is my fault, I’m done”
Fear says:
“If you knew, you’d reject me”
“If I’m honest, I’ll be punished”
“If this is my fault, I’m done”
SOLUTION #2 — Perfect Love
1 John 4:9-18
“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
1 John 4:9-18
“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
The cross settles punishment forever.
No condemnation
Jesus was: Exposed, Stripped, Shamed publicly
So we don’t have to be afraid anymore.
No condemnation
Jesus was: Exposed, Stripped, Shamed publicly
So we don’t have to be afraid anymore.
Perfect love says I am fully known and fully safe.
When fear is gone, we no longer have to hide.
When fear is gone, we no longer have to hide.
PROBLEM #3 — Hiding and Blaming
Hiding protects image — not healing.
Adam hides.
Adam blames.
Eve deflects.
Hiding protects image — not healing.
Adam hides.
Adam blames.
Eve deflects.
Blame always:
Avoids responsibility
Destroys trust
Fractures communityWhat we hide keeps us stuck.
Avoids responsibility
Destroys trust
Fractures communityWhat we hide keeps us stuck.
SOLUTION #3 — Personal Responsibility and Redemptive Community
James 5:13-16
“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
James 5:13-16
“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Forgiveness comes from God.
Healing happens in community.
Healing happens in community.
Contrast Transparency with Vulnerability - Anyone can see inside, but not everyone gets to come inside. Look through the window vs an invitation to come inside.
Transparent with everyone, vulnerable with safe ones. Table for Two!!
Some think they are being vulnerable but are only transparent. (I can relate cuz..., but I'm not in a space where you can get to me)
Transparent with everyone, vulnerable with safe ones. Table for Two!!
Some think they are being vulnerable but are only transparent. (I can relate cuz..., but I'm not in a space where you can get to me)
Philippians 2:12–13
“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
We work it out —
Because God is already working it in.
Because God is already working it in.
Ephesians 2:4-10
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Healing flows where responsibility meets grace-filled community.
So Return to the Garden:
God still asks the same question:
“Where are you?”
Not to shame.
Not to punish.
But to restore.
God still asks the same question:
“Where are you?”
Not to shame.
Not to punish.
But to restore.
The gospel doesn’t call us to hide better — it invites us to be known again.
Response:
- Receive freedom thru Christ
- Refuse to hide and blame
- Offer fearless community
- Receive freedom thru Christ
- Refuse to hide and blame
- Offer fearless community
TAKE COMMUNION TOGETHER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS!!
Discussion Guide
Naked and Unashamed
God’s Vision for Relational Safety
Big Idea: The superpower of great relationships is transparency without fear.
ICEBREAKER QUESTION (pick one)
1. What’s something mildly embarrassing that you can laugh about now, even if it wasn’t funny at the time?
2. On a scale of 1–10, how much do you want to be fully known… and how much do you fear being fully known? Why do you think those two exist at the same time?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Genesis 2:25 describes being “naked and unashamed.” What do you think that kind of relational safety would actually feel like?
2. The serpent begins not with rebellion, but with distrust (“Did God really say…?”). Why do you think distrust is such a powerful strategy for destroying intimacy and community?
3. How have you seen fear “reframe reality” in your own life—especially how you view God or people?
4. When you feel exposed or threatened, what does hiding usually look like for you? (Withdrawal, humor, anger, silence, over-spiritualizing, perfectionism, etc.)
5. “Because I am ashamed of myself, I’m fearfully certain that you will be too.” How have you seen this play out in relationships?
6. Isaiah’s guilt was removed by God—not by his own effort. Why is it hard for us to receive cleansing instead of trying to fix ourselves?
7. How can the truth of Colossians 2 (debt canceled, charges nailed to the cross) reshape how we deal with regret and shame today?
8. Which fear statement resonates most with you, and why?
* “If you knew, you’d reject me.
* “If I’m honest, I’ll be punished.”
* “If this is my fault, I don't think I can handle that”
9. Transparency says, "look through this window and see inside me" while vulnerability says, "Come on in and be in here with me." How can you know when you should be transparent without being vulnerable.
10. James 5 says healing happens through confession and prayer with others. What makes this difficult—and what makes it powerful when it works?
11. What is one small, practical step you could take this week to refuse hiding and move toward being known—either with God or with trusted people?
Group Challenge This Week:
* Receive God’s forgiveness
* Refuse to hide and blame
* Offer fearless community
God’s Vision for Relational Safety
Big Idea: The superpower of great relationships is transparency without fear.
ICEBREAKER QUESTION (pick one)
1. What’s something mildly embarrassing that you can laugh about now, even if it wasn’t funny at the time?
2. On a scale of 1–10, how much do you want to be fully known… and how much do you fear being fully known? Why do you think those two exist at the same time?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Genesis 2:25 describes being “naked and unashamed.” What do you think that kind of relational safety would actually feel like?
2. The serpent begins not with rebellion, but with distrust (“Did God really say…?”). Why do you think distrust is such a powerful strategy for destroying intimacy and community?
3. How have you seen fear “reframe reality” in your own life—especially how you view God or people?
4. When you feel exposed or threatened, what does hiding usually look like for you? (Withdrawal, humor, anger, silence, over-spiritualizing, perfectionism, etc.)
5. “Because I am ashamed of myself, I’m fearfully certain that you will be too.” How have you seen this play out in relationships?
6. Isaiah’s guilt was removed by God—not by his own effort. Why is it hard for us to receive cleansing instead of trying to fix ourselves?
7. How can the truth of Colossians 2 (debt canceled, charges nailed to the cross) reshape how we deal with regret and shame today?
8. Which fear statement resonates most with you, and why?
* “If you knew, you’d reject me.
* “If I’m honest, I’ll be punished.”
* “If this is my fault, I don't think I can handle that”
9. Transparency says, "look through this window and see inside me" while vulnerability says, "Come on in and be in here with me." How can you know when you should be transparent without being vulnerable.
10. James 5 says healing happens through confession and prayer with others. What makes this difficult—and what makes it powerful when it works?
11. What is one small, practical step you could take this week to refuse hiding and move toward being known—either with God or with trusted people?
Group Challenge This Week:
* Receive God’s forgiveness
* Refuse to hide and blame
* Offer fearless community