Fear and Worry #1: Our Fears ….. #2: Our Worries ….. #3: Our Discouragements

#4: Fear and Faith …..#5: Stand Firm

Each Study will include: *Questions for sharing & discussion.

*Examples and Instruction from the Bible.

*Memory Verse

*Assignment

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#1- Our Fears “When I am afraid, I will trust in God.”

*Questions for Sharing and Discussion:

What are we afraid of?

What experience of fear from the past do you remember?

What are you afraid of now?

Why are we afraid?

Why are you afraid?

*Examples and Instruction from the Bible:

Examples: Moses – Ex. 3 & 4,

Gideon – Judges 6:22-23,

Joseph, Mary’s husband – Matt. 1:20-21,

Peter – Matt. 14:25-31.

What were they afraid of?

How were their fears overcome?

Instruction: Psalm 56:10-13, John 14:1 - 16:33.

*Memory Verse:

Isaiah 12:2 or Psalm 56:3-4

*Assignment:

Read about fear in God’s Word.

Scripture Things we should not fear:

Num. 14:9

Deut. 1:17

Deut. 1:21

Deut. 20:1 & 3

Josh. 1:8

Josh. 10:25

2 Chron. 20:15

2 Chron. 32:7

Is. 51:7

Is. 54:4

Jer. 51:46

Luke 12:4

John 5:20

Acts 18:9

1 Peter 3:14

Scripture: Things we should fear:

Ex. 20:20

Lev. 25:17, 36, 43

Num. 12:8

Deut. 10:12

Luke 12:4

Rom. 13:4

1 Peter 2:17

Scripture: Reason not to fear:

Gen. 15:1

Gen. 21:17

Gen. 26:24

Gen. 46:3

Deut. 3:22

Deut. 31:8

Josh. 1:9

1 Chron. 28:20

2 Chron. 10:15

Is. 41:14

Is. 43:5

Dan. 10:12

Luke 12:32

#2 - Our Worries “Cast all your care on him because he cares for you.”

*Questions for Sharing and Discussion:

How are worry and fear the same?

How are worry and fear different?

What is something you have worried about in the past?

Why do we worry?

What are things we worry about as opposed to being afraid of?

What attitudes or thoughts keep us worrying?

What are you worried about now?

*Examples and Instruction from the Bible:

Examples: Mary: Luke 2:41-52

Hannah: 1 Samuel 1:1-20

Martha: Luke 10:38-42

What were these women worried about?

What action did they take concerning their worries?

How did they overcome their worry?

Instruction: Luke 12:22-34 & Matthew 6:25-34

Philippians 4:4-9

*Memory Verse: Choose one or a part of one.

Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer

and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which

transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Matthew 6:34 “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each

day has enough trouble of its own.”

Luke 12:22, 23 & 31 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will

eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than

clothes. …But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”

1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

*Assignment:

Read about worry in God’s Word and apply it to your life.

In this study about worries, what thought from God’s Word did you find especially helpful?

Why?

Additional reading:

Scripture What is God teaching you about anxiety and worry through this scripture?

Deut. 28:64-66

Ps. 38:18

Ps. 139:23

Prov. 12:25

Ecc. 2:22-23

Is. 35:4

Is. 44:3

Jer. 17:8

Matt. 10:19

Matt. 13:22

Mark. 13:11

Luke 12:11

Luke 21:14

Phil. 2:28

Apply God’s Word to your life.

A specific worry you

have.

Some direction from the Bible concerning this worry. Pray about each

worry and

God’s direction

to you.

#3 – Our Discouragements “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Put your hope in God…”

*Questions for Sharing and Discussion:

What makes us discouraged, depressed, lose heart?

How is discouragement different from fear or worry?

Are discouragement, depression & despair the same thing? Are there differences?

What is the relationship between fear, worry and discouragement?

In the natural progression from fear to discouragement, what comes next?

What are you discouraged about right now?

*Examples and Instruction from the Bible:

Examples: Sarah: Gen. 16:1-4, 18:1-15.

Elijah: 1 Kings 19.

Jonah: Jonah 3 & 4.

Judas: John 12:1-8; Matt.26:16; John 13:26-30; Matt. 27:1-10.

Why were these people discouraged?

What was the result of their discouragement?

Biblical Instruction – Psalms 42 & 43

Isaiah 40:28-31

*Memory Verse: Choose one or a part of one.

Psalm 43:5

“Why, my soul, are you downcast?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God.

Hebrews 12:2-3

“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before

him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of

the throne of God. 3

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so

that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Jeremiah 31:25

“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

Matthew 11:28

Jesus said,

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

*Assignment :

Read about discouragement in God’s Word and apply it to your life.

Read the verses surrounding the key verse if needed for full understanding.

Scripture What is God teaching you about discouragement through this scripture? Num. 21:4

Deut. 1:21 & 28

Deut.28:15 & 65

Deut. 31:8

Josh. 1:9

1 Chron. 28:20

2 Chron. 20:15

Neh. 2:1-3

Ps. 119:25-28

Prov. 25:25

Is. 7:1-4, 9

Luke 18:1

2 Cor. 4:1, 16

Gal. 6:9

Col. 3:21

Heb. 12:3-5

Rev. 2:2-3

Pray for an opportunity to encourage someone who is suffering with fear or worry.

Pray for the right words to say if given the opportunity.

#4 - “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

*Questions for Sharing and Discussion:

What’s the relationship between Faith and Fear?

What dampens faith?

What ignites faith?

How does faith defeat fear?

Can you think of a time from your own past when faith helped you overcome a fear?

What are the characteristics of a fear-defeating faith?

*Examples and Instruction from the Bible:

Examples: Ruth & Orpha – Ruth 1:1-19, 4:20-21.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – Daniel 1:1-21, 2:17-23, 3:13-30

David – 1 Sam. 17:1-58

Jairus & woman with bleeding – Mark 5:21-43

Centurian – Matthew 8:5-13

What fearful thing was each person confronted with?

What truth did they believe that defeated fear?

What action did each one take to demonstrate their belief in that truth?

Instruction: Matt. 17:20

Hebrews 11

*Memory verse: Choose one or a part of one.

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your

God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

1 John 4:18 (NASB) “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear,

because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.”

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV) “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of

love, and of a sound mind.”

Mark 5:36 (NIV) “ Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

Romans 10: 17 (NIV) “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the

message is heard through the word about Christ.”

*Assignment:

Read God’s Word and apply it to your life.

~Review Bible passages we have studied concerning fear, worry and discouragement.

~What fear, worry or discouragement are you being tempted by now? Articulate as clearly as

you can to God in prayer. Ask for God’s guidance and help.

~Find a truth in Scripture that will help you with this fear, worry or discouragement. What is it?

~What truth do you need to believe to defeat this fear, worry or discouragement?

~What action can you take to build your trust in God’s truth?

~Pray for an opportunity to encourage someone who is in the middle of fear, worry or

discouragement.

~Pray for the right words to say when you see an opportunity.

#5 – Stand Firm.

“Stand firm. Let nothing move you.”

*Questions for Sharing and Discussion:

Is it possible to live without fear, worry or discouragement?

What derails our stand?

What are some of the symptoms that show

we might be falling into fear, worry or discouragement?

What will increase our ability to stand firm without fear?

What practices or strategies will improve our stand?

*Examples and Instruction from the Bible:

Examples: Jehoshaphat – 2 Chronicles 20:1-30

Daniel – Daniel 1:8 & Daniel 6

Paul – 2 Corinthians 11:23-30; Philippians 3:17-4:9.

What habits and/or strategies did these people practice

to enable them to stand firm?

Instruction: Matthew 7:24-29

Ephesians 6:10-18.

A Process or Strategy for Overcoming Fear and Standing Firm

Recognize ►Name the Fear ►Read God’s Word ►Believe ►Pray ►Act ►Stand Firm

*Memory Verse – Chose one or a part of one.

1 Cor. 15:57

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give

yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in

vain.

1 Corinthians 16: 13

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

Ephesians 6:13

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil

comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to

stand. 14

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of

righteousness in place, 15

and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel

of peace. 16

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all

the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the

Spirit, which is the word of God. 18

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of

prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s

people.

*Assignment:

Read God’s Word and Apply it to your life.

Scripture: What is the Holy Spirit teaching you through this scripture about standing

firm?

Ex. 14:12-14

Ps. 20:6-9

Ps. 40:1-2

Ps. 89:2

Ps. 119:89

Prov. 10:25

1 Cor. 10:12-13

1 Cor. 16:13-14

2 Cor. 1:21-24

James 5:8

1 Pet. 5:8-11

Practice the process and be prepared to share a bit next week about your practice experience.