READ: GENESIS 3:6-10

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard theLord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked."

WATCH A CLIP FROM THE MOVIE & SUNDAY'S MESSAGE

Fear plays on our insecurities, causing us to react irrationally and, often, creates a "Self-FULFILLED prophecy" as our actions can actually bring our fears to life. Our imaginations soon start to run and has the potential to put us in a dark place. However, we have the power to trust and give up our control to God.

DISCUSS:

  • What is the silliest thing you have "put on a front" about?

 

  • "Keeping up with the Jones's" is exhausting; What was the mental and emotional outcome from doing this?  

 

  • In the garden Adam and Eve felt the weight of putting on a mask and covering themselves up from God. Have you ever felt this weight?

READ: 1 SAMUEL 18:6-10

When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals.This was their song:

“Saul has killed his thousands,
    and David his ten thousands!”

This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!”So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman.

DISCUSS:

  • What fears do you have that stem from lack of familiarity?
    • In other words, is there something your'e afraid of based on a very limited understanding of that thing? 

 

  • Anger and fear are often intertwined, and can result in shifting blame.
    • Don't answer here, but is there something you're blaming on another that is really the result of your anger, insecurity and fear? 

READ: 1 JOHN 4:18

"Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love."

DISCUSS:

  • Jesus came to give us a different operating system. Instead of our automatic default being fear, how do we combat it in a positive way?

 

  • Have you ever overcame a fear and realized it wasn't what you thought it was?

Loving ourselves AND OTHERS the way that God made us

has the ability to change the world.

  • Going into this coming week, how can you celebrate who YOU are as well as the people around you?