INWARD PRAYER

QUESTIONS

1. What is one thought, point or Scripture that stuck out to you in the message today? 
2. What is one fear that you have that others may say is irrational? 
3. What do you see people around us being most afraid of? 
4. If God is truly “with us” how should that change the way we view circumstances or things we have fear over? 
5. How do we give over fear to God? What does that actually look like? 

OUTWARD PRAYER 

Our fear is paralyzing. But God is with us. 

WEEK 3 November 30-December 6

WHAT’S THE POINT? 

Our fear is paralyzing. But God is with us. 

WORD UP
Matthew 2:1-23 

There’s a lot going on in this short chapter, but a couple things that are important to pay attention to and take note of: 

1. Joseph and Mary had good cause to be afraid for the life of their son Jesus. Herod and Herod Archelaus were both ego driven, evil leaders who had many people killed. If either thought there was a challenge to their throne by another king, they would retaliate brutally and we see an example of this in verses 16-18. 
2. God “with us” protected them. We see angel interventions, Magi’s wisdom and pretty much God’s hand at work protecting Jesus and his family. Although they seemed in danger the whole time, they couldn’t be more safe with God protecting them. 
3. God had a plan. We can see in verse 6, 15 and 18 previous prophecies of Jesus fulfilled through the journey they took. These prophecies from Micah 5:2&4, Hosea 11:1 and Jeremiah 31:15 were written hundreds of years before this event ever happened. This, and the hundreds of other prophecies Jesus fulfills, show that God had a plan and executes it perfectly. 

WAKE UP
Two ideas for wakeup. Feel free to use either, both or come up with something else 

1. Use this game at the start to talk about what people are afraid of: https://beulahallaincechurch-my.sharepoint.com/:u:/g/personal/jbrigham_beulah_ca/EQF_4_yFNCZNl7eR7C7–2MB6CXpgXbjuZ1oKoHEXppZZw?e=Ak6z1J 
2. Tell a story of when you were afraid and you didn’t need to be, or even a circumstance where you were afraid and God took care of you 

WHY DO I CARE? 

• The world isn’t becoming any less scary of a place (Covid-19, US Elections, War, etc.) 
• I don’t need to be paralyzed by fear, I can hand them over to Jesus and he is trustworthy 
• God is present and I don’t have to be alone 

WHAT DO I DO? 

When something arises in my life that causes fear: 

1. Recognize that I am afraid and take a breath 
2. Look for what God might be doing through the circumstance 
3. Pray, trusting that God is “with us” 
4. Face what I am fearing with a listening ear to God