Sermon Summary

In Poway, California, we gathered as a community to worship, to pray for the persecuted church, and to reflect deeply on the nature of sin, shame, and the transforming power of the cross. We began by anchoring ourselves in the holiness and majesty of God, recognizing that He is our refuge and strength even as the world around us is filled with suffering and injustice. Our prayers were especially directed toward our brothers and sisters in East Africa—Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia—where persecution, displacement, and hardship are daily realities. The message began with corporate intercession or their deliverance, for justice, and for the sustaining grace of God to uphold them in the midst of unimaginable trials.

Turning our attention to our own spiritual journeys, our guest speaker, the founder of Flourish San Diego, Geoff Tsu, began the sermon by raising an honest question: Why does real change in our lives seem so slow, even after years of following Jesus? He explained how the answer lies in understanding of sin not merely as isolated actions or behaviors, but as a deeper condition—a broken relationship with God that gives rise to shame and alienation. Using the image of an iceberg, Geoff explored how most of our struggles and failures are symptoms of what lies beneath the surface: a fundamental independence from God, a failure to live as His image-bearers, and a deep-seated shame that drives us to hide, blame, or perform.

Shame, as we see in the Genesis narrative, is not just an emotion but a powerful force that shapes our coping mechanisms and keeps us from true transformation. It is weaponized by the enemy to keep us isolated and self-deceived, perpetuating cycles of sin and brokenness. Yet, the good news is that Jesus came not only to forgive our sins above the waterline, but to heal the deeper disease of sin and shame below it. The cross is God’s answer to both our guilt and our shame. Through Christ, we are invited into a relationship where we are fully known, fully loved, and never forsaken—even in our failures.

As we approach Advent, we are reminded that Jesus’s story is marked by shame from the beginning to the end, and yet He bore it all so that we might be set free. Born in a shameful setting (Matt 1) and hung naked on the cross, Rome’s way of creating the most shame ridden scene for any victims who hung on a cross.

The sermon’s final invitation is to do the courageous work of looking beneath the waterline, to bring our hidden wounds and coping strategies into the light of God’s love, and to experience the holistic transformation that the gospel offers. This is not just for our own sake, but so that we might become a redemptive presence in a world desperate for hope and healing.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Sin is a deeper condition, not just actions: Sin is more than the wrong things we do; it is a fundamental brokenness in our relationship with God—a condition of living without reference to Him. This deeper disease is what gives rise to the visible sins in our lives. True transformation begins when we address the root, not just the symptoms. [39:16]
• 2. Shame drives our coping and sin patterns: Shame is a powerful force that shapes how we respond to our failures and inadequacies. It leads us to hide, blame, or perform, often without our conscious awareness. Recognizing and naming shame is essential to breaking its hold and allowing God’s grace to heal us at the deepest level. [50:04]
• 3. The cross heals both guilt and shame: Jesus’s work on the cross is not limited to forgiving our outward sins; it also addresses the shame and alienation that lie beneath. In Christ, we are not only pardoned but also welcomed, embraced, and restored to relationship with God. This holistic salvation is the foundation for lasting change. [62:25]
• 4. Transformation requires honest self-examination: Lasting spiritual growth comes when we courageously look beneath the surface of our lives, bringing our hidden wounds and patterns into the light. This emotional and spiritual work, done in the context of God’s love and community, is where the gospel’s power is most fully experienced. [69:22]
• 5. Our healing is for the sake of the world: As we are healed and transformed by God’s love, we are called to be a redemptive presence in our city and beyond. Our freedom from shame and sin enables us to love, serve, and intercede for others—especially those who suffer and are marginalized. [78:35]