Saints & Scoundrels: Who Really Broke Eden?

What if one of the Bible's most misunderstood people isn't who you've always been told she was? For centuries, Eve has been portrayed as the woman who ruined everything, but what if we've been reading more into the story than Scripture actually says? In this message from Robyn Elliott, we begin our Saints & Scoundrels series by taking a fresh look at Eve, uncovering how cultural assumptions have shaped our understanding of her story, and discovering what Genesis really reveals about equality, shame, blame, and the God who still calls us out of hiding. Discussion Questions: 1. Before this message, what words or ideas immediately came to mind when you thought of Eve? Where do you think those impressions came from? 2. Why do you think people naturally gravitate toward heroes and villains? How has that shaped the way we read Scripture? 3. What challenged you most about looking at Genesis with "fresh eyes" instead of relying on assumptions or traditions? 4. If Adam and Eve were given the same calling to rule together, what implications does that have for how we understand relationships, leadership, and the image of God? 5. Have you ever discovered that something you always believed the Bible taught wasn't actually in the text? How did that affect your faith? 6. We spend so much time asking why Eve listened to the serpent that we rarely stop to ask why Adam stayed silent. What was happening in him? Was it fear? Passivity? Curiosity? Had he already made up his mind? Genesis doesn't answer every question, but it certainly refuses to let Adam off the hook. 7. Shame caused Adam and Eve to hide, but God still came looking for them. How have you experienced shame causing you to hide from God or others? 8. Where do you see blame replacing responsibility in today's culture? How do Adam and Eve each respond differently when confronted by God? 9. Are there labels or stories that other people have placed on you that you've begun to believe? What does God's voice say that's different?