Fear is one of the most common issues people deal with. It has been said that there are 365 commands in Scripture telling us not to be afraid. I haven't counted to confirm this, but if it's true that means there is a Biblical exhortation not to let fear control us for every day of the year. Scripture teaches that God has NOT given us a spirit of fear (2 Tim 1:7) so I can confidently say that living in fear is never part God's plan for our lives. Living in a constant state of fear is a miserable existence. A book I'm reading says that two of the words associated with fear in the N.T. carry with it the idea of choking or strangling. The conclusion he draws is that when we are controlled by fear it feels like we are being choked out or strangled. I think you can also say that fear can choke the joy out of our lives if we aren't careful. How do we overcome this? How do we keep from letting fear control us? That is what we are going to talk about today.

Fear is one of the most common issues people deal with. It has been said that there are 365 commands in Scripture telling us not to be afraid. I haven't counted to confirm this, but if it's true that means there is a Biblical exhortation not to let fear control us for every day of the year. Scripture teaches that God has NOT given us a spirit of fear (2 Tim 1:7) so I can confidently say that living in fear is never part God's plan for our lives. Living in a constant state of fear is a miserable existence. A book I'm reading says that two of the words associated with fear in the N.T. carry with it the idea of choking or strangling. The conclusion he draws is that when we are controlled by fear it feels like we are being choked out or strangled. I think you can also say that fear can choke the joy out of our lives if we aren't careful. How do we overcome this? How do we keep from letting fear control us? That is what we are going to talk about today.

John 10 reveals Jesus as the Good Shepherd who leads His sheep. Jesus knows what's best. He knows the best way to do what needs to be done. He pretty much knows everything there is to know about what needs to be done. Our job isn't to question His leadership. Our job isn't to assist His leadership. Our job is very simple, we are to follow His leadership. This passage gives us three characteristics of Jesus' leadership.

John 10 reveals Jesus as the Good Shepherd who leads His sheep. Jesus knows what's best. He knows the best way to do what needs to be done. He pretty much knows everything there is to know about what needs to be done. Our job isn't to question His leadership. Our job isn't to assist His leadership. Our job is very simple, we are to follow His leadership. This passage gives us three characteristics of Jesus' leadership.

It is hard to stay satisfied with anything for very long. There seems to be something in all of us that says there is more to life than what I’m currently experiencing. So what we do is we set out find what will satisfy this longing within us. Sadly, what we seek doesn't provide the lasting satisfaction that we desire. Where we can find lasting satisfaction for longing in our soul?

It is hard to stay satisfied with anything for very long. There seems to be something in all of us that says there is more to life than what I’m currently experiencing. So what we do is we set out find what will satisfy this longing within us. Sadly, what we seek doesn't provide the lasting satisfaction that we desire. Where we can find lasting satisfaction for longing in our soul?

God has always intended that His people would be different than the world around them. Typically, we think of this difference as it relates to morality. To be sure, morality is included in what it means to be different because we are God's people. However, this difference isn't limited to morality. This difference is meant to be seen in every area of our lives. It's meant to be seen in our morality, in our attitudes, in our words, in our priorities, in our values, in our actions, and in our reactions. The best way to learn how the people of God are to be different from the world is to study the Son of God, Jesus. Jesus is our model in all things. Jesus perfectly reveals the Father, and the Father's will. Today we are going to look at the example of Jesus in one area of life and from this we'll see our second gut check question.

God has always intended that His people would be different than the world around them. Typically, we think of this difference as it relates to morality. To be sure, morality is included in what it means to be different because we are God's people. However, this difference isn't limited to morality. This difference is meant to be seen in every area of our lives. It's meant to be seen in our morality, in our attitudes, in our words, in our priorities, in our values, in our actions, and in our reactions. The best way to learn how the people of God are to be different from the world is to study the Son of God, Jesus. Jesus is our model in all things. Jesus perfectly reveals the Father, and the Father's will. Today we are going to look at the example of Jesus in one area of life and from this we'll see our second gut check question.

A gut check is a test of our character, courage, or determination. We face gut checks in every area of our lives, even in our devotion to Jesus. Our first gut check question is: Am I giving God my best or what's left?

A gut check is a test of our character, courage, or determination. We face gut checks in every area of our lives, even in our devotion to Jesus. Our first gut check question is: Am I giving God my best or what's left?