GODLY SORROW
Godly sorrow leads to repentance and life.
Understanding Godly Sorrow
Introduction
Welcome to this workbook designed to help you grow in your Christian faith through scripture readings, reflections, and actionable steps. This session focuses on the concept of godly sorrow, exploring its significance in leading us to repentance and life.
Session Outline (30 Minutes)
Scripture Readings (15 minutes)
Genesis 2:7-9, 15-18
Genesis 3:1-19
2 Corinthians 7:10
Reflection Questions (10 minutes)
Personal insights on godly vs. worldly sorrow.
How can understanding our purpose change our actions?
Action Points (5 minutes)
Practical steps to cultivate godly sorrow in your life.
1. Scripture Readings (15 Minutes)
Genesis 2:7-9, 15-18 (NIV)
Read slowly and meditate on each verse:
7 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.
9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;
17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Genesis 3:1-19 (NIV)
Continue your meditation:
1 Now the serpent was more cunning 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’?”
2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,
3 but God said, ‘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.’”
4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.
5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 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.
7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
8 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.
9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
“The serpent deceived me,” she said, “and I ate.”
14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
you are cursed more than all the livestock and wild animals; you will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
16 To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV)
Reflect on this verse: “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
2. Reflection Questions (10 Minutes)
Consider these questions as you reflect on the readings:
Contrast Worldly and Godly Sorrow:
How do you differentiate between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow in your own life?
In what ways has godly sorrow led you to repentance?
Understanding Purpose:
How does understanding your purpose in God’s plan influence your actions and decisions?
What roles do you feel God has given you in tending and keeping your own “garden”?
Impact of Sin:
What lessons can you draw from the story of Adam, Eve, and the serpent regarding the nature of temptation and sin?
How does recognizing the consequences of sin impact your view of godly sorrow?
3. Action Points (5 Minutes)
Take a moment to write down specific actions you can take this week:
Prayer of Sorrow:
Set aside time to pray and ask God to reveal any areas of worldly sorrow in your life. Ask for the grace to embrace godly sorrow instead.
Accountability:
Find a trusted friend or mentor to share your reflections with. Discuss how you can support one another in growing through godly sorrow.
Scripture Memorization:
Choose one of the verses from this session to memorize. Let it guide your thoughts and actions throughout the week.
Practical Application:
Identify one area in your life where you can practice humility and service as Adam was called to do in the garden.
Closing Prayer
Take a moment to pray, inviting the Holy Spirit to help you live out the truths learned today. Ask for His guidance in cultivating a heart that embraces godly sorrow and seeks repentance.
Heavenly Father, thank you for your presence and guidance. Help us to grow in our understanding of godly sorrow and to apply these truths in our lives. Amen.