Fear of Overwhelming Challenges

EXAMINING FEAR.

1. "It is in storms that Jesus does his finest work, for it is in storms that he has our keenest attention."

A. What storms have you encountered in life?

B. Describe how you have seen Jesus in a storm.

2. "Had Christ strolled across a lake that was as smooth as mica, Peter would have applauded, but I doubt he would have stepped out of the boat. Storms prompt us to take unprecedented journeys."

A. Do you think Peter would have stepped out of the boat had the water been as smooth as mica? Explain.

B. What unprecedented journey has some storm prompted you to take?

3. "We aren't to be oblivious to the overwhelming challenges that life brings. We're to counterbalance them with long looks at G.o.d's accomplishments. . . . Do whatever it takes to keep your gaze on Jesus."

A. What overwhelming challenges face you at this moment?

B. Describe some of G.o.d's greatest accomplishments in your life during the past year.

C. What does it take for you to keep your gaze on Jesus?

4. "Feed your fears, and your faith will starve. Feed your faith, and your fears will."

A. How do you tend to feed your fears? What does this do to your faith?

B. How do you feed your faith? What happens when you do?

C. What keeps you from feeding your faith?

5. "Jesus could have calmed your storm long ago too. But he hasn't. Does he also want to teach you a lesson? Could that lesson read something like this: 'Storms are not an option, but fear is'?"

A. How has a life-storm deepened your walk with Christ?

B. What is the purpose of these storms?

EXPOSING FEAR.

1. Read Matthew 14:2233.

A. How many times is some form of fear mentioned in this pa.s.sage?

B. How did Jesus respond to each of these fears?

2. Read Matthew 28:1820.

A. How does Jesus describe his position in verse 18? How should this help us battle our fear?

B. What promise does Jesus give in verse 20? How should this help us battle our fear?

3. Read Romans 8:3539.

A. What about the love of Christ is meant to help us battle our fears?

B. How can we become victorious, "more than conquerors," even when facing overwhelming circ.u.mstances?

BATTLING FEAR.

Choose one action to take this week to help arm you in the battle against fear.

Memorize scripture.

Read biographies of great lives.

Ponder the testimonies of faithful Christians.

Make the deliberate decision to set your hope on Christ.

CHAPTER 7.

There's a Dragon in My Closet

Fear of Worst-Case Scenarios

EXAMINING FEAR.

1. "What's your worst fear? A fear of public failure, unemployment, or heights? The fear that you'll never find the right spouse or enjoy good health? The fear of being trapped, abandoned, or forgotten?"

A. Answer the question above.

B. Describe your physical and emotional response to this fear.

2. "How many people spend life on the edge of the pool? Consulting caution. Ignoring faith. Never taking the plunge. . . . For fear of the worst, they never enjoy life at its best."

A. In what areas of life have you been staying on the edge of the pool? Why?

B. What good things in life has your fear prevented you from enjoying?

C. Name one area of life in which you would like to take the plunge.

3. "G.o.d would unleash his sin-hating wrath on the sin-covered Son. And Jesus was afraid. Deathly afraid. And what he did with his fear shows us what to do with ours. He prayed."

A. Why does G.o.d hate sin so much? Why did G.o.d unleash his wrath on the sin-covered Son? How did Jesus become sin-covered?

B. What kind of praying best battles fear? How did Jesus exemplify this kind of praying?

4. "Why a.s.sume the worst? As followers of G.o.d, you and I have a huge a.s.set. We know everything is going to turn out all right."

A. What worst-case scenario have you encountered in your life so far? How did it turn out? In what ways did you see G.o.d act in the middle of it?

B. How do followers of Jesus know that everything is going to turn out all right? How does that knowledge help us in the here and now?

5. "Dare we believe what the Bible teaches? That no disaster is ultimately fatal?"

A. What Bible pa.s.sages best say to you that no disaster is ultimately fatal? List a few.

B. Does your behavior match your belief? Explain.

EXPOSING FEAR.

1. Read Mark 14:3242.

A. What was the worst-case scenario facing Christ? What made him so troubled and distressed?

B. How did he respond to it?

2. Read Hebrews 5:59.

A. How does verse 7 describe Jesus' experience on earth?

B. Why did even Jesus have to learn obedience (v. 8)? What does this suggest about our battling fear?

3. Read 2 Timothy 4:1418.

A. What adverse circ.u.mstances caused Paul some real trouble? How did he respond to them?

B. How did the Lord himself respond to Paul's troubles? What does this suggest about the way he will respond to your troubles?

BATTLING FEAR.

1. Although it will be uncomfortable, pull back the curtains and expose your fears, each and every one. When you examine them in the sunlight, what happens?

2. Seriously evaluate your connection to and involvement with a healthy local church. Recognize that "a healthy church is where our fears go to die. We pierce them through with Scripture, psalms of celebration and lament. We melt them in the sunlight of confession. We extinguish them with the waterfall of worship, choosing to gaze at G.o.d, not our dreads."

CHAPTER 8.

This Brutal Planet Fear of Violence EXAMINING FEAR.

1. "Contrary to what we'd hope, good people aren't exempt from violence."

A. What kind of violence have you experienced in this world?

B. Why do you think good people have no exemption from violence?

2. "He who sustains the worlds with a word directs demonic traffic with the same."

A. Why is it important to know that G.o.d sustains the worlds with a word?

B. How does G.o.d direct demonic traffic without partic.i.p.ating in their evil deeds?

3. "Courage emerges, not from increased police security, but from enhanced spiritual maturity."

A. How does enhanced spiritual maturity develop courage?

B. How much courage do you think you have? What does this say about your level of spiritual maturity?

4. "Satan cannot reach you without pa.s.sing through G.o.d."

A. Does it comfort you to know that Satan cannot reach you without pa.s.sing through G.o.d? Explain.

B. Why do you think G.o.d sometimes allows Satan to reach you? What is G.o.d's purpose?

5. "Heaven's best took h.e.l.l's worst and turned it into hope."

A. Describe "heaven's best" and "h.e.l.l's worst." Why was it inevitable that heaven's best would triumph?

B. How did heaven's best turn h.e.l.l's worst into hope? How does this hope affect you personally? Explain.

EXPOSING FEAR.

1. Read Genesis 50:1521.