LESSON 1

Know where fear comes from.

Are your kids dealing with fear? Are there specific things they are afraid of?

The bible tells us that God has not given us a spirit of fear.

Read 2 Timothy 1:7 together.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear,

but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7

So, if fear didn't come from God, where did it come from? To answer that, we need to go all the way back to the beginning.

Read the story in Genesis 3:1-10.

Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, enjoying everything that God had provided for them. Love, joy, peace and everything they could ever want. BUT...THEN...the devil came disguised as a serpent and caused them to doubt what God had said about not eating from the tree of good and evil. So Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the fruit of the forbidden tree. Shortly after that, Adam heard God’s voice in the garden and he was afraid. That’s the first time fear is mentioned in the Bible.

The devil caused them to doubt God's Word and then they were afraid.

That's why it is so important that we keep renewing our minds to the Word of God.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,

that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

We don't have to be in fear when we know what God has promised us in His Word.

LESSON 2

Know what God has given you (and what He hasnt!)

Read 2 Timothy 1:7 together.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear,

but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7

We learned where fear comes from. And that it DID NOT come from God. This verse also tells us what God DID give us: Power, love and a sound mind

So if there ARE things in our lives that we are afraid of, we need to get rid of them.

ACTIVITY

Things you need: Blender, water, slips of paper, pencil.

Optional: Write on squares of toilet paper and flush!

Have your kids write down each fear they are dealing with on a piece of paper. (Write any down that you may have, too.)

Examples: afraid of storms, afraid of monsters, afraid of the dark, afraid to go to sleep, nightmares

Find what God's Word has to say about these things. Reinforce that fear does not have a place in their life.

(Give examples of things you have been afraid of and how God's Word helped you overcome it. Your kids need to hear your testimonies.)

Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,

nor the arrow that flies in the day.

Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,

nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
Though a thousand fall at your side,

though ten thousand are dying around you,

these evils will not touch you.

Psalm 91:7 (NLT)

You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly. You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.

Proverbs 3:24-26 (NLT)

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.

Psalm 46:1-2 (NLT)

Now, as an act of faith, put the slips of paper in a blender (you are giving them to God), add water, turn the blender on and shred those fears to smithereens!

Keep them in remembrance of what God's Word says. Write scriptures down and personalize them:

• God did not give me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.
• God is my refuge and strength. He's always ready to help me.
• etc.

LESSON 3

Perfect love casts out fear.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear...

1 John 4:18 (NKJV)

When we know how much God loves us...REALLY, REALLY loves us...fear can have no place in us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.  Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,  neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow— not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below— indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate  us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39 (NLT),

ACTIVITY

Things you need: toy handcuffs or a piece of rope

Handcuffs are designed to secure your wrists together. Without the key, the handcuffs can't be removed.

God's love toward us is like being handcuffed to Him. We cannot be separated from Him. It doesn't matter what tries to come against us, God will not unlock the handcuffs and let go of us.

(Handcuff or tie your hands to each other and walk around)

If we were handcuffed (or tied together), everywhere I went, you would go, too!

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.

What can man do to me?

Psalm 118:6 (NKJV)

No, matter where you go, no matter what you do, God will always be right beside you.

Have you ever been afraid at night? Maybe from a noise or a storm? What did you do? Did you run to find me?

How did you feel when you were with me? You probably felt safe and not afraid anymore because you know how much I love you.

That's how we should be with God. We have nothing to fear because He loves us so much. His love is perfect and His love will cast out fear.