Opening
Fear is an emotion that can take over your life. It can make you sick, keep you from trying new things and keep you from meeting new people. Someone once said, “Fear can keep us up all night long, but faith makes one fine pillow.” Faith in something bigger than yourself (God) can put you at peace and help you overcome your fears. Let’s take a look at fear, the gang and “The Legend of the Beast.”

Watch DVD Scenes 8 and 9 (“The Thing Behind the Fence” and “Legend of the Beast”); Start time: 0:23:34—End Time: 0:33:08 (9:34)

Discussion Questions
1. Who was afraid in this clip? (The gang.) What did they fear? (The beast.) What was the gang’s fear based on? (The Legend of the Beast.)

2. What are some things that cause fear in your life? (Answers will vary but may include fear of the unknown, danger, death, the future, what others may think of us, going to the doctor, our enemies and speaking in front of others.) Do you control fear in your life, or does it control you? (Answers will vary.) What are some things you do to overcome fear in your life? (Answers will vary.)

3. Read John 20:19-22. The meeting of the disciples in these verses happened shortly after Jesus’ crucifixion. Who was afraid in these verses? (The disciples.) Why were they afraid? (They were meeting behind locked doors for fear of death or punishment by the Jews because of their relationship with the recently crucified Jesus.) What helped the disciples overcome their fear? (Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” The disciples’ fear turned to joy.)

4. Read Luke 24:36-39. These verses tell the same story as the verses from John except they are from Luke’s point of view of. What was another reason the disciples were afraid according to these verses? (They thought they were seeing a ghost.) Did these verses add an additional way Jesus comforted His disciples that wasn’t recorded in the verses from John? (Yes.) Explain. (He used words to comfort them, but also showed them his hands and feet. This served as proof that they were actually seeing Jesus.)

5. In the verses from Luke and John did the disciples control their fear or did their fear control them? (It seemed that fear controlled the disciples.) If you were a disciple in the situation above do you think you would have been afraid? (Answers will vary.) Why or why not? (Answers will vary.)

6. Read Acts 18:9-11. Who is God commanding not to be afraid in these verses? (Paul.) What was Paul doing in these verses that could have caused him fear? (Teaching the Word of God to others.) In verse 10, why did God tell Paul he shouldn’t be afraid? (God told Paul he was with him.) Are you ever afraid to tell others about your relationship with God? (Answers will vary.) Why? (Answers will vary.) Should you be? (Answers will vary.) Why? (Answers will vary.)

7. Read Genesis 26:24 and Mark 5:36. Does God want fear to control your life? (No.) What was the reason the Lord told Abraham not to be afraid? (Because He was with him.) In Mark 5:36, what did Jesus tell the synagogue ruler to do instead of being afraid? (Believe and trust in Him.)

8. How can remembering God is with you and trusting in Him help you overcome your fears? (Answers will vary.)

9. Will you choose to remember God is with you and trust in Him as a way of helping you overcome fear in your life? (Answers will vary.) If no, why not? (Answers will vary.)

Closing Thought
The question facing the disciples was a tough one: Let fear control their lives or turn to Jesus for help in overcoming fear? You face the same question in your life. Jesus was there for the disciples as they struggled with fear, and He will be there for you as you struggle with fear in your life. Will you choose to face fear alone or with the confidence of knowing there is no fear greater than your awesome God?

Closing Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer
So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my Helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6).

Jesus Appears to His Disciples
“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ After He said this, He showed them His hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.’ With that, He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit'” (John 20:19-22).

Jesus Appears to the Disciples
“While they were still talking about this, Jesus Himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at My hands and My feet. It is I myself! Touch Me and see a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have'” (Luke 24:36-39).

“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.’ So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the Word of God” (Acts 18:9-11).

“That night the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham'” (Gen. 26:24).

“Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe'” (Mark 5:36).