What does it mean to Do Not Fear?
It’s been said that the phrase do not fear appears 365 times in Scripture, one for each day of the year. The reminder not to be afraid is one of the pivotal threads in the Bible, along with the commandment to love and the promise that God is abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. The command to put away fear is comprehensive; whatever each day brings, whatever trials befall us, we can remember that we are created for faith, not fear. That said, the road of discipleship has always been dangerous and challenging. When we follow Jesus into all the situations that require his love, we will confront obstacles and sometimes challenge unjust authorities who do not hesitate to threaten and instill fear in us. We cannot simply ignore that real sense of danger. Nor should we, as it is a helpful emotion. The message do not fear or fear not is given to us not to expunge the feeling from our emotional menu or to be frozen by it. Our Advent exploration is not a four-step plan to eradicate fear but to move faithfully through it.
Learn more about Do Not Fear
Learn more about the theological foundations for this practice.
Foundational essay |
Introduction video |
Do Not Fear practices
Living entirely without fear is an impossible task, but encouraged by angels and prophets not to fear, we can learn to trust in God’s promises. Frightening things and difficult situations are a part of life, but seeing God’s faithfulness and resting in God’s presence in all things helps us decrease the fear and not be paralyzed by it. Along with our faith, which assures us of God’s love and presence, we can learn practical and faithful strategies to help us deal with those things that overwhelm and intimidate us. Each time we are courageous and recognize God’s faithfulness to us, we are able to loosen fear’s hold on us and replace it with feelings of confidence and resilience.
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Advent-specific Do Not Fear practices
Other ways to Do Not Fear
IN WORSHIP
Here's more about how we'll explore the practice of "Do Not Fear" in worship this month. Find out more about our worship opportunities (in-person and online) here.
December 3: Tune Into God's Presence
We listen for God’s guidance, or perhaps simply God’s presence, so we know we’re not alone in our fear.
December 10: Persevere (Lessons & Carols Service)
This is the kind of perseverance to which we are called as people of faith, a steadfastness despite: despite war and division, despite a planet on fire, despite the continued scourge of racism and white supremacy.
December 17: Take One Step at a Time
Whether we’re building a ministry or a life, we don’t need to know how it’s all going to turn out. Which is good, because we can’t know. But by taking the next step, we’ll get there.
December 19: Longest Night Service
Even on the longest night of the year - even amidst our grief, sorrow, and despair - God is with us.
December 24 (AM): Trust God's Promises
Trusting God’s promises means giving our all, driven by faith, not fear. What are we willing to risk for the sake of the gospel?
December 24 (PM): God is With Us
Jesus Christ is with us. We also call him "Emmanuel," which means "God-with-us." We are created for faith, not fear, and are emboldened for the journey because God lived a human life, too.
December 31: Look to Jesus
As we face a new secular year, how can Christ's presence continue to move us towards faith over fear?
December 3: Tune Into God's Presence
We listen for God’s guidance, or perhaps simply God’s presence, so we know we’re not alone in our fear.
December 10: Persevere (Lessons & Carols Service)
This is the kind of perseverance to which we are called as people of faith, a steadfastness despite: despite war and division, despite a planet on fire, despite the continued scourge of racism and white supremacy.
December 17: Take One Step at a Time
Whether we’re building a ministry or a life, we don’t need to know how it’s all going to turn out. Which is good, because we can’t know. But by taking the next step, we’ll get there.
December 19: Longest Night Service
Even on the longest night of the year - even amidst our grief, sorrow, and despair - God is with us.
December 24 (AM): Trust God's Promises
Trusting God’s promises means giving our all, driven by faith, not fear. What are we willing to risk for the sake of the gospel?
December 24 (PM): God is With Us
Jesus Christ is with us. We also call him "Emmanuel," which means "God-with-us." We are created for faith, not fear, and are emboldened for the journey because God lived a human life, too.
December 31: Look to Jesus
As we face a new secular year, how can Christ's presence continue to move us towards faith over fear?
BOOKS & OTHER RESOURCES
Books
Websites & Articles
Podcasts
Other
Children's book recommendations
- Faithful Families for Advent and Christmas by Traci Smith
- A Surprising God: Advent Devotions for an Uncertain Time by Thomas G. Long & Donyelle C. McCray
- A Weary World: Reflections for a Blue Christmas by Kathy Escobar
- Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor
- This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories that Make Us by Cole Arthur Riley
Websites & Articles
- Resources for a more resilient faith from Kate Bowler
- Managing big emotions with mindfulness for kids
- “Listening” from spiritualityandpractice.com
- Practicing listening to God
Podcasts
- Exploring My Strange Bible Podcast: Praying the Psalms in Times of Fear
- Everything Happens with Kate Bowler: Learning to Hold On, Learning to Let Go with Richard Rohr
- Everything Happens with Kate Bowler: Loved and Chosen with Anne Lamott
- Unlocking Us with Brene Brown: Father Richard Rohr on Spirituality, Certitude, and Infinite Love
Other
- Incarnation: Fleshing Out the Bible’s Christmas Stories - Bible study from Yale Divinity School
Children's book recommendations
- Bright Star by Yuyi Morales (here's an article about using this book to explore fears with kids)
- The Dark by Lemony Snicket (here are some faith talk questions to go with this book)
- Brave Squish Rabbit by Katherine Battersby (here are some faith talk questions to go with this book)
- Ella and the Waves by Britta Teckentrup
- One Thursday Afternoon by Barbara DiLorenzo
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
- Known by Sally Lloyd-Jones
- Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas by Ann Voskamp
VIDEOS
Use these videos from our "Follow Me" curriculum resources to spur your own thought, or as discussion starters in your household, small group, and beyond.
Week 1: Tune Into God's Presence
Week 3: Take One Step at a Time
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Week 2: Persevere
Week 4: Trust God's Promises
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Further video resources on Do Not Fear:
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These videos are meant especially for kids and/or their parents.
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ACTIVITES FOR CHILDREN
Here are our Advent devotion resources/suggestions for children and their families:
- See the "practicing the practice" sheet above.
- Check out our ideas for Advent devotions, Advent prayers, and Christmas tree blessings above.
- Pull out your copy of Faithful Families for Advent & Christmas by Traci Smith and review her suggestions for family faith practices in this season. (We gave these out in 2020! Didn't get one? Be in touch with Chris Teesdale.)
ACTIVITES FOR YOUTH
Here are our Advent devotion resources/suggestions for youth and their families:
Bonus Idea: Homemade Advent Calendar
One way to celebrate Advent is to create an Advent calendar. Of course, kids love calendars with chocolate inside, but these can have different activities to do each day. For example, one day you might read a particular book or Bible passage, make Christmas cookies for a lonely neighbor, or sing Christmas carols together. One way to do this Advent calendar is to write activities on pieces of paper and placing them in a jar, then drawing an activity out each day (this option is fun, but make sure all the activities are ones you can do spontaneously).
- See the "practicing the practice" sheet above.
- Check out our ideas for Advent devotions, Advent prayers, and Christmas tree blessings above.
- Get a copy of the "Go Tell" adult reflection guide from the church. (It's a weekly guide that works for families with youth just as well as it does for adults!)
- Choose one of the devotion books (found under "books & other resources") to read as a family.
- Pull out your copy of Faithful Families for Advent & Christmas by Traci Smith and review her suggestions for family faith practices in this season. (We gave these out in 2020! Didn't get one? Be in touch with Chris Teesdale.)
Bonus Idea: Homemade Advent Calendar
One way to celebrate Advent is to create an Advent calendar. Of course, kids love calendars with chocolate inside, but these can have different activities to do each day. For example, one day you might read a particular book or Bible passage, make Christmas cookies for a lonely neighbor, or sing Christmas carols together. One way to do this Advent calendar is to write activities on pieces of paper and placing them in a jar, then drawing an activity out each day (this option is fun, but make sure all the activities are ones you can do spontaneously).