Recap:

As we step into the second week of Advent, I want to begin with a story that doesn’t seem very “Christmasy” at first glance, but trust me, it will connect us to the heart of the Christmas message. It’s a story of embarrassment—my own, in fact—and how shame can leave a lasting mark.

Let me take you back to 1983. I was in the third grade, about nine years old, and I had the incredible opportunity to go to a Kansas City Royals game. If you remember the 80s, the Chiefs were terrible, but the Royals were the thing to do. This particular night was a special promotion night, and my school organized buses to take us all to the game. I was so excited.

Somewhere in the middle of the game, I needed to use the restroom. So, I headed to the bathroom by myself—because, well, it was 1983, and that’s just how things were. Now, if you’ve been to Royals Stadium back in the day, you might remember that the restrooms didn’t have individual urinals. They had these long, metal troughs.

I walked in, and for some reason, I got confused. I don’t know what I was thinking, but instead of heading to the trough, I walked up to what I thought was the right place. I was standing on my tiptoes, doing my business, when halfway through, it dawned on me: I was peeing in the sink.

My nine-year-old self froze in horror. I couldn’t believe what I had just done. I quickly finished, pulled up my pants, and walked out of that restroom as fast as I could, my face burning with embarrassment. I didn’t tell anyone. I just buried that shame deep inside me.

But the story didn’t end there. The next day at school, a fourth-grade boy spotted me and yelled, “Hey! That’s the kid who was peeing in the sink!” My heart sank. The shame was unbearable. I didn’t talk about that moment for years, hiding it away, convinced it was one of the most humiliating things that had ever happened to me.

That story—though silly now—reminds me of how shame works. We make mistakes, we feel exposed, and we bury those moments deep inside, hoping no one will ever know. And while my embarrassing moment at the Royals game was minor in the grand scheme of things, the feeling of shame is something many of us know all too well.

But the Bible is full of stories of shame and redemption. In fact, the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel doesn’t shy away from these messy moments. It brings them front and center. One of the most striking examples is the story of King David and Bathsheba.

Matthew mentions David as the father of Solomon, but not just in a straightforward way. He includes a painful detail: Solomon’s mother was “the wife of Uriah.” That phrase alone brings back a flood of shameful memories. David, Israel’s greatest king, had committed adultery with Bathsheba and then orchestrated the murder of her husband, Uriah, one of his most loyal soldiers.

David’s rebellion led to overwhelming shame. He tried to cover it up, hide it, bury it. And Bathsheba, caught in the web of David’s power, carried her own silent shame. Yet, from this brokenness, God brought redemption. Their son Solomon continued the lineage that would eventually lead to Jesus, the Redeemer of the world.

Shame isn’t just David’s story. It goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. Eve, in a moment of rebellion, doubted God’s goodness and took the forbidden fruit. The instant she did, shame entered the world. She and Adam hid themselves, covering their nakedness.

But thousands of years later, another woman stood in a similar place. Mary, a young virgin, was visited by an angel and faced a choice: Could she trust that God was good? Her decision to say, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true,” opened the door for redemption. Where Eve’s rebellion brought shame, Mary’s trust brought salvation.

Rebellion produces shame, but God’s plan is always to redeem. Maybe you’ve buried moments of shame like I did. Maybe your story involves deeper wounds and greater regrets. But the message of Advent is clear: God enters our mess, walks with us, and redeems the broken parts of our lives.

If you’ve experienced that redemption, share your story. Your testimony could plant a seed of hope in someone else’s life. And if you’re still in the middle of the mess, know this: Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. He walks with you, and He will lead you into wholeness.

This Advent season, let’s celebrate the fact that Jesus has come. In our shame, in our mess, He is with us, redeeming even the messiest parts of our story.

Group Q’s:

Icebreakers:

  1. What’s your favorite childhood memory from the holiday season?
  2. Share a funny or embarrassing moment from your childhood. What makes you laugh about it now?
  3. If you could go back to one moment in your childhood and give yourself advice, what would it be?

Discussion Questions:

Exploring the Message of Shame and Redemption:

  1. Reflecting on the story shared at the beginning, what emotions did you feel as you heard about Pastor Andy’s embarrassing moment? Can you relate to a time when you felt a similar kind of shame?
  2. Why do you think shame has such a powerful hold on us, even when the event itself seems small or insignificant later?
  3. David and Bathsheba’s story is one of both sin and redemption. How does God’s willingness to redeem even the messiest situations bring you hope?
  4. Read Matthew 1:6. Why do you think Matthew included the detail “the wife of Uriah” in Jesus’ genealogy? How does this reflect God’s willingness to work through brokenness?
  5. Rebellion in the Garden of Eden brought shame, but Mary’s trust brought redemption. How does Mary’s response to the angel in Luke 1:38 inspire you in your own walk of faith?
  6. In what ways does shame cause us to hide from God and others? How can we remind ourselves of God’s redemptive love during those times?

Personal Reflection:

  1. Are there any moments of shame or regret in your life that you’ve buried or tried to hide? How might sharing that with someone you trust lead to healing?
  2. How does the message of Advent—God with us—help you confront your own feelings of shame or inadequacy?
  3. Think of a time when you experienced God’s redemption in your life. How did that experience change your perspective on God’s grace?

Living It Out:

  1. How can you create a culture of grace and redemption within your small group or community, especially for those carrying shame or regret?
  2. This week, how can you embody the hope of Advent to someone who may be struggling with shame?

Prayer Focus:

Spend time praying for each other, specifically asking God to bring healing where shame lingers and to help everyone experience the freedom of His redemption. Thank God for being Emmanuel—God with us—even in the messiest parts of our lives.