http://bible.com/events/7052310
Afraid Not: Brave

There at least 21 different times in the Gospels alone where Jesus encourages us not to fear. 

-Matthew 10:31 – So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows
-Luke 8:50 – Don’t be afraid, just believe
-John 14:1 – Don’t let your hearts be troubled
-Others examples: Matthew 6:25, Matthew 14:27, Matthew 10:28, Luke 12:32, Luke 24:18, Matthew 24:6

Throughout Scripture the command not to fear often includes the command to “be strong and courageous”.  

-Joshua 1:9 – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
-Deuteronomy 31:6 – Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.
-1 Chronicles 28:20 – David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.
-Daniel 10:19 – And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”
-1 Corinthians 16:13 – Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong

We conclude our series on fear by leaning into this topic of courage:

-Courage does not mean you’re not afraid (all the fearless people are dead!)
-Courage does not mean you’re an impenetrable robot.
-Courage does not mean you pretend to be unfazed by the hardships in your life

We witness one of the most important struggles of courage in history in today’s passage:  

Matthew 26:36-46
As Jesus prepares to go to the cross, He clearly experienced fear (Luke’s account speaks of Jesus’ sweat like drops of blood).
Despite the fear that he was experiencing, Jesus’ response was ultimately one of surrender to the will of the Father.

What does courage mean?
-Obedient action in the face of fear and uncertainty
-Courage cannot be the absence of fear.  The one thing you must have to have courage is fear, because courage isn’t overcoming nothing. Courage is overcoming fear.

In the moment of uncertainty, it is not fear that determines the outcome, but rather obedience. 

There are three different pictures of Jesus’ obedience
1. Verse 39 “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
2. Verse 42 “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
3. Verse 46 “Rise! Let us go!”

A closer look at Matthew 26:46 “Let Us Go” 
1. Jesus was saying yes to God’s calling  
    a. The felt real fear and anxiety, but ultimately he chose obedience
    b. Jesus was saying yes to the cross of suffering
2. Jesus was inviting his disciples to say yes to God’s calling  
    a. Jesus’ response was also an invitation to others
    b. The road ahead would be marked with difficulty, pain, and heartache
    c. Jesus is challenging them to model their obedience after his own
3. Jesus was acknowledging that we walk in obedience together  
    a. The power of presence of God would be undeniable in the days ahead
    b.  The presence of God allows us to obey in spite of fear

Bottom Line:
Without courage, your calling is crippled.

At the end of our lives, what we will regret most is not the risks we took,
instead the times when we played it safe.

Other Texts for Study & Reflection:

Isaiah 41:13 For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

http://bible.com/events/7047267
Afraid Not: Anxious for Nothing

“Anxiety and fear are cousins but not twins. Fear sees a threat. Anxiety imagines one. Fear screams, Get out! Anxiety ponders, What if?”
Max Lucado

The United States is considered by many the most anxious nation in the world.

While many of us can identify with anxiety in so many ways, God’s Word gives us a clear command and a clear promise:

The command:
 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6

-The command is not to be anxious, but rather to pursue relationship!
-We overcome anxiety by turning to God in relationship, which is what prayer is really all about.

The promise:
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7

-For some, there is an incredible peace that comes instantly.  -For others, this is a peace that comes one step at a time, one moment at a time.  As they pursue relationship, as they turn to God, moment by moment they walk in peace.  
Bottom line: 
Our circumstances never have the power to give us peace

What is your role in regards to the anxiety and fear you face?

Our Focus
-our focus becomes distracted, distorted, or clouded by so many others things

-our expectations
-we fill our hearts and minds with so many things that create faulty expectations for ourselves and for others around us
-we embrace “bad theology” where we expect that we wont face opposition

-our thoughts
-we entertain a toxic mindset about our circumstances and the people around us
-we replay negative thoughts about ourselves repeatedly, which leads to shame  

-our words
-a distorted focus will ultimately come out in our words and in our actions
-we give voice to things that are not of God, creating storms of destruction  

Psalms‬ ‭16:8‬ ‭ESV
 1 Peter 5:7

Other Texts For Study & Reflection:

Lamentations 3:17-26

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17:7-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Chris Holcomb is the Executive Pastor of Age Group Ministries at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene in Oklahoma. Pastor Chris was the guest speaker for the 2020 Virginia District Teen Winter Retreat. Friday Night of Retreat he ask the question How do we see God? Saturday Night he ask How do we see ourselves? Sunday Morning he ask How do we see others? He preached from Mark 11:12-25.

http://bible.com/events/7039028

Afraid Not, Part 2 – Love Conquers

“I believe fear is the number one barrier that keeps us from experiencing God’s best for our life.”
Pastor Adrian Mills
January 5, 2020

Today’s message is in two parts:

Part 1: A look at fear, worry and anxiety in our world and at HFCN – exposing our enemy.

To consider: When you hear how others are experiencing fear, worry or anxiety, how does it impact that way you feel about your own?

What’s one important takeaway for you personally as it relates to the state of fear in our culture/community?

Part 2: Fear from a biblical perspective (Romans 8:14-15 and 1 John 4:16-18)

Key Texts

The Bible fights the idea of fear, the concept of anxiety, with two fear-overpowering concepts:

Romans 8:14-15

Fear Fighter #1: If you are in Christ you are a child of God Himself.
You no longer have to return to the prison of fear that once held you – “so that you live in fear again.”

1 John 4:16-18

Fear Fighter #2: The love found in God obliterates fear. Drives it out.

We mostly think about fear from our own perspective. We consider how WE process anxiety…how it makes US feel.
But what about fear from God’s perspective? The One who loves you. How does God feel when you worry?

How will you respond today?

Supplemental Texts

2 Timothy 1:7

Romans 8:11-17

Mark 14:32-36

Hebrews 2:14-15

Lamentations 3:22-23

http://bible.com/events/7017982
Afraid Not: Fear and Faith

The first example of fear in Scripture is from Adam in the garden:
He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3:10‬ ‭

* When sin enters the world (in Genesis 3), fear is rampant.
* While it began at the fall of creation, in 2020 we are being tormented by fear, anxiety and worry like never before.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

* Spirit of fear – pneuma deilos – fearfulness, torment, dread, cowardice
* The term gives the sense of being tormented or haunted by something that begins outside of oneself but, once entertained, enters in.
* Paul contrasts the idea of this spirit with three things:
    * Power
    * Love
    * A sound mind
* The term “sound mind” doesn’t really mean “peace” or “calm” but rather self-control or self-discipline.
    * Freedom from fear means it doesn’t control you anymore.

Romans 8:15

Fear is the perversion of faith.
* Fear is faith that God can’t be trusted
* Fear is faith that God will abandon you
* Fear is faith that God is not in your future

Matthew 8:23-27

* Jesus presents two ideas that are deeply connected: Faith & Fear
* Consider Jesus’ response to fear in John 14:1, “Do not LET your hearts be troubled…”
    * Jesus is saying “Don’t allow it!”
    * The battle against fear is not passive.
Bottom Line:
Passive faith cannot defeat pervasive fear.
* Fear loves the passive soul.
* You can build your faith or build your fear but you can’t build both

How to Build Faith: 
Immerse yourself in the word 
Focus your thoughts on your faith 
Linger on the promises of God 
Surround yourself with hopeful people 
Listen diligently to words of Truth.

How to Build Fear:Immerse yourself in the worldFocus your thoughts on your fearsLinger on the pains of lifeSurround yourself with doubtful peopleListen lazily to words of Truth
Other verses for reflection:
Proverbs 12:25
Isaiah 41:10
Joshua 1:9