What are you afraid of? That’s a question that we often hear, and when we do, we tend to respond to with answers like snakes, spiders, or the dark. While those are valid fears, if we’re honest we’ll admit that fear also targets us on a much deeper level, one that torments the core of who we are and how we live.

But have you ever thought about how fear targets us? It uses deception to cause us to think that challenging situations are bigger than they really are and that we are smaller inside than we really are. Basically, fear functions as a con man in our lives, using ruses like the switcheroo, the hustle, the sting, or the heist to fool us into falling for deceptions that tell us that we’re inadequate, or isolated, or unlovable.

Thankfully, we’re not defenseless against these cons. God’s love provides everything we need to pull the plug on fear’s deceptions and to switch the false ideas of fear to the truth. Now we’re the ones pulling off the switcheroo as we learn how to identify and break through fear’s con games by trusting God’s love to counter and conquer each one.

When I was in the sixth grade, we took a week-long class trip to go snorkeling off the coast of California (because my school was crazy awesome). I wasn’t exactly afraid of sharks or jellyfish or sharks or sharks. After all, I did go in the water (and it was the ocean). We spent four days snorkeling, and each day was better than the last (and it started out really good, so you do the math). That is, until I swam through a “kelp forest” (which isn’t as much of a forest as it is a “wad”).

In an instant those dirty seaweeds wrapped themselves around my leg, and I knew that monsters were pulling me to the bottom of the ocean where I would die – cold and alone. I would never play Nintendo again, and no one would be able to take care of my cat (I knew that having a pet was a big responsibility).

What’s funny is that when I see seaweed at the store (fancy store) I’m all like, “Whatever seaweed” or “I can’t believe people eat that” or “Who’s dried out now!” But in the sixth grade it tried to kill me.

Fear is all about perspective.

My imagination betrayed me. My perspective was wrong. Fear tricked me and then happily retreated back to the sanctuary of its factory so it could design, scheme, and dream up new methods of deceit. Fear turns me against myself. It exploits my imagination. It creates monsters, it paralyzes, it never tires (as long as I continue to provide it with an unlimited supply of natural resources). Fear tries hard. Fear has to try hard – it is up against a mighty opponent: Perfect Love.

Perfect Love shifts perspectives. Perfect Love creates peace; it frees; it never tires. Perfect Love has its own factory, but it is self-sufficient. Fear needs me, but I need Perfect Love. When I plug into Love I am fed instead of fed upon. I am tried instead of tired. I am at peace.

Master Teacher's Guide [ view sample ]
The Master Teacher's Guide is designed for use in large-group settings such as Wednesday night gatherings, combined Sunday School classes, summer camps, and other worship gatherings. It contains background information, explanation and application points, opening illustrations and stories, prompts for personal stories, and life-changing Turning Point activities.

Leader's Guide [ view sample ]
The Small Group Leaders Guide is perfect for use in Disciple Now settings, in-home small groups, individual Sunday School classes, and other settings with one leader and 10-15 students. It contains background information, explanation and application points, group activities, discussion questions, and life-changing Turning Point activities.

Gathering Tool
The Gathering Tool is designed to provide an opening illustration for groups that meet together in a large group before dividing into small groups or Sunday School classes. This will allow small groups to experience the series video and will add to the overall experience of going through the series.

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