Fear Less, with Gary Black

This episode of Locker Room is all about helping men fight back against fear. Fear has been bullying people for far too long. Fear is an emotion. To resist fear is really about the decisions we make to not be overcome by it.

Gary Black joins Scott this week to share three decisions he has made—that we can all make—to push back on fear, live by faith and be resilient. When fear ambushes us and even slams us to the ground, we'll learn how to rise up, fight back and conquer it.

We've kicked off Fight Club at the Nicholasville Campus on Monday nights. If you're interested in jumping in with us—come on. Go to southland.church/groups, click on the NIC campus, scroll through the Group selections and choose Fight Club to sign up.

Want to start or join a Locker Room Men's Group—go to southland.church/groups, pick your campus and start one or jump into one!

LOCKER ROOM DISCUSSION GUIDE

Do you have any irrational fears? (E.g. clowns, the dark, mannequins, etc.)

What other fears do you wrestle with? What keeps you up at night? (E.g. career, health, family, finances, etc.)

Read Matthew 8:18, 23-27. Fear is not something we conquer once and put to bed. It's something we'll continue to address throughout our lives. How have you navigated this season in light of your fear?

Read Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 23:4, Psalm 27:1, and Psalm 56:3-4. The phrase "Don't be afraid" or "Fear not" is repeated over 300 times in the Bible. What do you think the implications are for us? How has the enemy used fear to rob you and stunt your growth?

Read Psalm 112:7, Romans 12:1-2, and 2 Corinthians 10:5. Our emotions are meant to be gauges, not guides. The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional. What ways do you 'catastrophize' events or situations in your life? How often has it actually been as bad as you were expecting?

Read Isaiah 26:3-4, Matthew 14:22-36, and Mark 6:45-52. It's better to be with Jesus in a storm than to be in a storm without Him. Peace isn't the absence of storms; it's the presence of Jesus. Who or what do you turn to for peace in the midst of a storm or trial? Why is the peace we're looking for only found in Jesus?

Read Matthew 28:19-20, John 16:33, Romans 8:11, 1 Corinthians 15:12-14, and 2 Timothy 1:7. How should the resurrection empower us as followers of Jesus?

Hatfield mentioned the song, "The Battle Belongs" by Phil Wickham in this episode. What songs give you courage and strength during your time of need?

Read Romans 8:31-39. What thoughts immediately come to mind after reading this passage? How should these biblical truths change the way we approach our walk with Jesus?

Grab a pen and a piece of paper and answer the following questions:

- What's holding me back in this season? - What would I do if I wasn't afraid? - What does God's Word say in light of my fears?