Rewriting Shame

1. Shame often becomes the “script” we quietly live by. Read John 9:1–3, Jesus completely rejects the assumption that this man’s condition defined his worth or was proof of failure. What are some false narratives shame tries to write about our identity? Have you ever believed something about yourself that felt true because of shame, but wasn’t actually what God says about you?

2. The disciples immediately asked, “Who sinned?” Read John 9:2, their first instinct was to explain suffering through blame. Why do you think we often try to assign blame when we experience pain or hardship? How has shame ever caused you to believe your struggles were proof that God was disappointed in you?

3. Jesus says this man’s story would display the works of God. Read John 9:3-7, Jesus reframed what looked like brokenness into a place where God’s glory would be revealed. Is there an area of pain, insecurity, or weakness in your life that you’ve only seen as a limitation? What would it look like to believe God could use that very place for something meaningful?

4. The woman in Mark 5 carried hidden suffering for twelve years. Read Mark 5:25–29, She had learned to live with pain no one else fully understood. Why is hidden shame often harder to bring to Jesus than visible struggles? What shame have you quietly been hiding? What keeps us silent about the things we most need healing from?

5. Jesus stopped and made space for her story. Read Mark 5:30–34, He didn’t let her remain anonymous. Why do you think Jesus wanted her to come forward instead of quietly healing her and moving on? What does that teach us about how Jesus responds to the parts of ourselves we want to hide?

6. Read Mark 5:34. This wasn’t just physical healing, it was personal restoration. Why do you think Jesus chose such intimate language here? How would your relationship with God change if you truly believed He looked at you with affection instead of disappointment?

7. Shame usually makes us want to hide, but faith moves us toward Jesus. Both the blind man and the woman encountered healing through obedience and faith. What does shame usually cause you to do? Withdraw, perform, pretend, isolate, overcompensate? What would it look like to move toward Jesus instead of away from Him in those moments?

8. In the video James said: “God wants to rewrite the script.” Jesus saw beauty, dignity, and purpose where others saw brokenness. If Jesus rewrote the script shame has written over your life, what would it say instead? What would need to change in how you think, pray, or live if you actually believed His version of your story?