When Fear Takes Over Mountain Life Church/Life Pack/January 20, 2013
When Fear Takes Over Sermon Notes January 20, 2013 Write any notes from the week here I. From Deported to Important A. Paul meets Aquilla and Priscilla The couple was forced to leave Rome Now, they are living in a strange city B. Hosts and co-workers with Paul of Tarsus God used a hard situation for great gain Paul got a short reprieve from full time ministry C. Paul s traveling companions arrive Paul goes from part time to full time ministry As the Jews reject the message, Paul turns to the Gentiles II. Fear Not A. Paul s emotional condition B. God s voice at night Do not be afraid any longer! I am with you - no one will harm you! I have many people in this city! 2 19
Table Talk Teens Read Acts 18:1-17!! Question One: Describe the difference between fear and being afraid.! Question Two: Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 and describe Paul s emotions as he came to Corinth. Question Three: Paul s acknowledgement of weakness, fear, and much trembling, may have been due to several factors: He came alone. He had endured severe treatment and persecution in other cities before coming to Corinth. The reputation of Corinth as a place of immorality. Share what causes you to be afraid when it comes to sharing the Gospel of Jesus. III.The silent bedfellow with lots of relatives A. Fear comes to sleep over when we are young B. Fear brings his relatives through different situations Fear of Failure Fear of Rejection Inferiority Insecurity Phobias IV.God and Fear A. The fear of God B. Fear is NOT from God C. Love casts out fear Question Four: In verse 18:9-10, describe how God comforted Paul in Corinth. Describe how Paul responded to God s word. How can God calm your fears? 18 3
Life Group Questions for January 20, 2013 Message =When Fear Takes Over Ice Breaker: Tell about one of the biggest surprises you ever got. Elementary Acts 18:1-17 Table Talk Read Acts 18: 1-17. 1. What do you observe about this passage? 2. If you were Aquilla or Priscilla and were upset that you were banished from Rome, but then by chance became friends and co- workers with Paul of Tarsus, how would that change your perspective? 3. Tell about a time when something bad happened, but something really good came about because of it. 4. Have someone read verses 9-10 again. The Lord speaks to Paul at a time of success among the Gentiles, yet Paul, in his heart, was afraid. What did God say to Paul to alleviate his fears? 5. Has God ever said something to you that alleviated your fears? Tell about it. 6. Has fear, insecurity, inferiority, fear of failure, or fear of acceptance ever affected your life? If you re comfortable to talk about it, please tell the group. 7. Pray for one another. Day 1 - Read this week's passage from Acts, chapter 18 verses 1-17. As you read (with an adult), be sure to ask questions so you understand the story. Paul devoted his life to preaching the good news of Jesus Christ as Savior. Many began to follow Jesus because of Paul's ministry. However, there were many that opposed Paul and even became abusive towards him. How would you feel if you were Paul and people became abusive towards you (perhaps this has happened in your life)? Paul became somewhat discouraged. But one night, the Lord spoke to Paul (read verse 9-10) and encouraged him. Day 2 - Perhaps Paul would have given up preaching the good news were it not for the Lord speaking to Him that night. Paul's agenda (what he wanted to do with his life) matched God's agenda for his life, so he continued to preach. Have you ever been discouraged? Think of a situation where discouragement set in. How did you "snap out of it? With God on our side, it is important that we do not give in to fear or even opposition from others. He gives us faith and courage! Day 3 - I want you to look at a few verses and see what God says about His presence with you, courage, etc. I would encourage you to write these verses on a small index card and place them in random pockets of yours and your families, to serve as a reminder of God's goodness. Matthew 28:20; Deuteronomy 31:6 (words spoken to Moses); Joshua 1:5 (words spoken to Joshua); Hebrews 13:5 (to all of us!); Thank Jesus for always being there for us, for never giving up on us, and for having a plan for our life! 4 17
Table Talk Preschool & Nursery: Day 1: Read Acts 18:1-11 Talk with your children about traveling and what type of things your family does when you travel and visit other places. Share how when Paul went to Corinth he met a man named Aquila and his wife Priscilla. Paul lived with Aquila and Priscilla while he was visiting Corinth. Paul taught them about Jesus and he taught them how to tell others about Jesus. Discuss what happens when you tell others about Jesus. Day 2: Ask your children if they know what a tentmaker does. Talk about how Aquila and Priscilla were tentmakers and so was Paul. Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla making tents and while they worked, Paul would talk to them about Jesus. Discuss how it is easy to think that the only people who can tell others about Jesus are pastors or adults. The Bible tells us that everyone, big or little, who loves Jesus, must tell others about Jesus and how much God loves them. We can do it with courage just like Paul. Memory Verse: 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. - Isaiah 41:13 Day 3: Talk about how God spoke to Paul in a dream. Read Acts 18:9-11. Discuss how Paul must have felt the next day. Explain how Paul was so excited and encouraged to keep telling others about Jesus that he stayed there for a year and a half. Paul was not afraid even when others tried to cause trouble or hurt him. He knew God would keep His promise. Share with your children how God also takes care of us and keeps us safe when we trust in Him. Activity: Drape a sheet over a table, pretending you are in one of Paul s handmade tents, and have a picnic and share bible stories that you know. Practice talking to others about Jesus. Personal Devotion Pages The following pages are designed to help you enjoy a regular time alone with God. We have divided up the curriculum to help us grow wherever we are at in our relationship with God and in our knowledge of His Kingdom. LEVELS: Since we are a Colorado church, we use skiing imagery to communicate the different levels of intensity and time involved in relating to God. BEGINNER: If you are new in your relationship with God, we encourage you to try the exercises under this symbol: INTERMEDIATE: If you have walked with God for some time and would like a little more challenge and more time involvement, try the exercises under this symbol: ADVANCED: These exercises are for people who have walked with God for some time and display maturity in their relationship with Him. These exercises provide a practical way to encounter God and His truth on a regular basis. There are no rules here. Please don t hurry through the process. Slow meditation and memorization seems to soak in better than cramming. Enjoy! 16 5
Day One 1. Take some time to praise the Lord for who He is and enjoy thanking Him for what He has done in your life lately. 2. Read and meditate on Acts 18: 1-17. What stands out to you in this passage? 3. Think about a past situation that seemed really horrible at the time, but God used it for good. Take time to thank Him for working through that difficult time on your behalf! Memorize I Timothy 1: 7 Memorize I Timothy 1: 7 and I John 4: 18 Memorize I Timothy 1: 7, I John 4: 18 and Isaiah 41: 10 Day Five Fear likes to sleep with us. If we let him in the bed, he ll bring his relatives, too. ~Professor Randolph Kroeningski Fear comes to visit when we are very young. As children, this uninvited guest sneaks into our beds at night when the lights are down low. Fear s relatives, such as Fear of Rejection, Insecurity and Inferiority, sneak into our lives as we encounter harsh treatment from others. Fear of Failure, Fear of Abandonment, Fear of Punishment, and Fear of Pain, tend to join the crowd as we age. And many of us don t even know it. One thing is for sure. Fear is not from God. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7, NAS. As I continue to encounter God in an intimate, day to day relationship, He begins to show me my fear. As He shows it to me, it s like an MRI or an X-ray. He s showing me the cancer in my life so He can surgically remove it IN CHRIST. He s showing it to me to get my permission to operate - because He won t do the procedure without my permission. And sometimes the procedure is painful. God may chose to remove my fear from me in the midst of difficult circumstances. He may remove it from me after a trusted friend gently confronts me about it - which is offensive because I m blind to it. Be assured of this. As the Holy Sprit moves into my life, He will squeeze out any other bedfellows. He wants me all for Himself. The Spirit will begin to heal me of my fear the moment He comes into my life and will not stop the eradication process until I am wholly His. Get ready for the ride of your life! 6 15
Day Five 1. Take some time to praise the Lord for who He is and enjoy thanking Him for what He has done in your life lately. 2. Meditate on Psalm 138. Day One Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had been expelled from Italy as a result of Claudius Caesar s order to deport all Jews from Rome. Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was. ~Acts 18:2, 3, NLT Aquila and his wife, Priscilla were kicked out of Italy because of their ethnicity. It had to hurt. The emperor himself had all the Jews expelled from the area. 3. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you today in any way He would like to speak. Give Him permission to say things that you do not want to hear. This is where God goes to work. Imagine yourself getting kicked out of your native land, only to land in a wealthy, though pagan city in Greece. One day, a single Jew with scars all over his body arrives in town. He starts to preach about Jesus at the local synagogue. You also happen to be followers of Jesus! You like this guy! He s smart, humble, yet confident, and he is a tentmaker, just like you are! As time goes by, you discover that your new business partner is no less than Paul of Tarsus, a man who would shape the world more than any other person in history except for his Lord, Jesus of Nazareth. 4. Finish your Bible memorization today. So, what started out as a real bummer - having to leave home, friends and neighbors, and moving to a pagan town where they knew no one - turned out to be the most awesome opportunity in Aquilla and Priscilla s lives! It was not a money making opportunity - it was a kingdom opportunity! Sometimes, what feels like a really bad circumstance in your life is what God will use to do amazing things in you and through you! 14 7
Day Two 1. Take some time to praise the Lord for who He is and enjoy thanking Him for what He has done in your life lately. 2. Read Acts 18: 1-17 again today. 3. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you your greatest fears. Write them in this space below. Then ask the Holy Spirit to heal you. Day Four One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, Don t be afraid! Speak out! Don t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will harm you because many people here in this city belong to me. ~Acts 18:9, 10, NLT What is it about the Lord s voice that calms my fears? Well, think about it. When the guy who controls the universe says, Don t be afraid, that means the King of the universe, who is greater than any adversary, is my friend! Not only is He my friend, but He is a friend who stays with me! Did you catch the following statement? God said, For I am with you... If God is with me, then in the words of Alfred E. Newman, What, me worry? This is the beauty of the New Covenant. God is with me. Jesus is Emmanuel - God with us. Really with us. He s inside of me and never leaves. 4. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you any idols you have erected in your heart and take time to cast them down before Him. 5. Continue memorizing and meditating on the scriptures for this week. Here s the cool thing. Fear wants me to believe God is NOT with me, that He s not on my side, and that I m on my own. Faith says, God is with me, will never leave me, and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! It s all that simple, really! God then gives us another gift to confirm that He is with us. Did you catch what God then said to Paul? He said, and no one will harm you because many people here in this city belong to me. God gives us other believers to encourage us (encourage means to pour in courage). I get courage from being with other believers who knowingly or unknowingly give me the strength to face the tribulations, distresses, troubles, and miseries that we all face. What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, then who could be against us? ~Romans 8: 31 8 13
Day Four 1. Take some time to praise the Lord for who He is and enjoy thanking Him for what He has done in your life lately. 2. Read all of Joshua 1 today and meditate on the verses that speak to you. Day Two Dear brothers and sisters, when I first came to you I didn t use lofty words and brilliant ideas to tell you God s message. For I decided to concentrate only on Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. I came to you in weakness--timid and trembling. ~ 1 Corinthians 2:1-3, NLT In this passage at the beginning of Paul s first letter to the Corinthian church, he let them and us in on his inner emotions when he first came to the great city in Acts 18. He was scared stiff. 3. Read Ephesians 2: 1-10 and as you do, put your name into each verse where Paul says, you. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the great love that God has for you. Everywhere Paul went, he encountered resistance. Some of the resistance turned into riots. Some of the riots ended with him getting beaten and imprisoned. When he arrived in Corinth, he was tired, weak, timid, and trembling with fear. Paul was quite shell shocked - or possibly even experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, in today s vernacular. My guess is that when he went into a synagogue to preach, he had to work up his courage because of the very real threat of physical harm or even death. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians later, he would say, I die daily (I Corinthians 15: 21). I think he had to daily work through the reality that he could lose his life at any time for the sake of the Gospel. Once he established in his mind that he was already dead and that his life was no longer his own, that s when he became full of courage and authority. 4. Continue meditating on and memorizing the scripture for this week. Few of us in modern day America have to deal with such realities. Yet, Paul s words echo throughout history to all of us, no matter what our circumstances. When I wake up each morning and die, the rest of the day is His. I no longer have a will of my own. I no longer focus on me, my fear, and whether or not people will accept me. I have died and my life is hidden with Christ in God! 12 9
Day Three 1. Take some time to praise the Lord for who He is and enjoy thanking Him for what He has done in your life lately. 2. Meditate on Joshua 1: 8-9. Day Three But when the Jews opposed him and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his robe and said, Your blood be upon your own heads--i am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles. After that he stayed with Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God and lived next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, and all his household believed in the Lord. Many others in Corinth also became believers and were baptized. Acts 18:6-8, NLT As Paul left the ministry to the Jews in disgust, he began sharing the Gospel of Jesus to the Gentiles. These verses show us that there was apparently a pretty great work of God going on and Paul was, by God s grace, experiencing success. But he was still afraid. 3. Bring at least three friends or loved ones to the Lord and ask Him to bring them to repentance and faith. Ask Him to show you how you can boldly love them and speak the words of Jesus into their lives. The Lord had to show up in the night to help him. One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, Don t be afraid! Speak out! Don t be silent! Acts 18:9, NLT. In the Greek, God literally said, Stop being afraid! Speak Out! Stop being silent! Though Paul was seeing people come to know Jesus, the ever present threat of physical harm still scared him. I feel better now. Don t you? It helps me to know Paul got scared. What helps me even more is knowing that the Bible is full of statements from God telling us not to fear. God wants us to know that fear is not from Him. When I fear Him alone, I fear nothing else. Fearing Him involves the absolute terror that I might grieve Him or quench the Holy Spirit. 4. Continue meditating on and memorizing the scripture for this week. When pleasing Him is more important than my own well being, that s when my fear dissipates. That s when my courage rises. That s when faith takes me into the great unknown! Father, draw me to the place of fearing only You! Be Lord over all my fears this day! 10 11