Do Not Fear
It’s been said that the phrase do not fear appears 365 times in Scripture. Paul writes in Romans 8 that that we did not receive a spirit of fear, and that nothing can separate us from God’s love. Nearly every time an angel from God shows up with a new assignment for one of the biblical characters, they come with a message: “Do not fear.” Still, whether there are enough utterances of “do not be afraid” in Scripture to give us a unique reminder every day, the idea remains that the command to put away fear is comprehensive—whatever trials befall us, we can remember that we are created for faith, not fear.
In this unit, participants will learn that the command to “do not fear” does not mean that there is nothing to be afraid of—it means that God will walk with us through whatever fears we have. We will not eradicate fear, but we can move through it, and through studying this practice we can see how we must not let fear paralyze us from holy actions. The four dimensions of the practice that are discussed include: tuning into God’s presence, trusting God’s promises, taking one step at a time, and persevering.
Congregational Guide
The Congregational Guide provides materials for the pastor, educator, and church leaders to connect the practice with congregational worship and life.
Included in this guide:
Foundational Essay—written by a biblical scholar, these essays explore what each practice means and where it is found in the Bible
Worship Helps—ways of incorporating this practice in worship through liturgy, song, and other suggestions
Café Discussion Guide—self-guided, brief study for each practice
Intergenerational Session—option for your church to have an event or explore the practice as a whole congregation together
Curriculum Connections—information about what each age level is doing weekly
Practicing the Practice at Home—a two-sided page for families about how to practice the practice at home
Children’s Worship Leaflets—weekly two-sided page with practice ideas, games, an adapted Bible story, and a coloring picture
Series Description
Follow Me: Biblical Practices for Faithful Living is a twenty-seven-unit curriculum based on practices Jesus did and taught us to do as faithful followers. Written for people of all ages who wish to live out their faith, this new curriculum examines where these practices are found in the Bible and how they have been used in Christian faith then and now.
