Youth Group Lesson on Fear

Use this free youth group lesson, based on Isaiah 41:9-10, to teach students that when they experience fear, God is by their side.

Whether they’re worried about the future, what others think of them, or something happening in their lives right now, fear is something every student faces.

It includes a fun opening game that introduces the lesson’s big idea!

– Nick Diliberto, Ministry to Youth

Looking for youth ministry curriculum? Check out the…

ABIDE – A new & improved youth ministry series helping students remain focused on Jesus and stay aware of His presence in their everyday lives.

Youth Group Lesson on Fear

Bible: Isaiah 41:9-10

Bottom Line: When you experience fear, know that God is by your side!

OPENING GAME – BEAN BOOZLED CHALLENGE

SUPPLIES

• Bean Boozled Jelly Bean Challenge: https://www.jellybelly.com/beanboozled-challenge
• Spit cups
• Box filled with ‘scary/gross’ items such as sardines, crickets, play spiders or bugs, rubber snake, a baby doll (which to some is very scary!), clown toy, villain figure, etc.
• Scary ‘fear’ music
• Index cards for each student
• Pens
• Big bag

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME

Ask for 2 volunteers to face off in the Bean Boozled Challenge. Spin the wheel provided in the game to choose the color of jelly bean, then give each contestant a bean. The trick is that a good-tasting bean and a bad-tasting bean look exactly the same, and you won’t know which one you have until you bite into it! On the count of 3, both contestants eat their beans at the same time.

Provide spit cups for contestants who get a bad-tasting bean. Take pictures of their hilarious facial expressions as they taste the beans to create a fun photo collage. Ask for the next 2 volunteers and continue until all the beans have been tasted.

Next Game: The Box of Fear

Inside this box are items that should strike terror in your heart! Everyone will sit in a large circle and pass the Box of Fear around while music plays. When the music stops, whoever is holding the box must reach inside and grab an item.

You must hold onto that item for the rest of the night unless you can scare someone else and make them jump. If you succeed, that person has to take your item and keep it until they can scare someone else!

Play music (the scarier, the better!) and start passing the Box of Fear around the circle. Remind students that they must hold onto their item unless they successfully scare another student and make them jump.

TEACH – FEAR

What was something you were really afraid of as a small child? What helped you not be afraid?

Hold up a large bag.

What would be in this bag if I were holding something that you would truly be afraid of?

Get responses from students about what they would fear and why.

Fear is something all of us struggle with at some point. (If you’re doing this lesson around Halloween, talk about how fear is front and center. People even pay money to go to movies and haunted houses just to be scared!)

Maybe you remember lying in bed as a small child, afraid that the shadows on the walls were monsters or simply being afraid of the dark.

Leader, share a story about a time when you were very afraid.

How many times have you been afraid of something, only to discover that it really wasn’t that bad? But no amount of telling yourself that everything was okay seemed to help beforehand, did it?

Fear is a very real and powerful emotion, and it can cause us to do some pretty crazy things. So let me ask you: What are you afraid of today?

Maybe it’s your future or what others think about you. Maybe you’re afraid of death or losing someone you love. Maybe you’re worried that someone will discover something you’re ashamed of. Or perhaps you’re afraid of love, rejection, or disappointing someone. The list could go on and on.

Everyone is going to get a notecard. I want you to write down one of your greatest fears and pass the card to me. Don’t write your name on it because I’ll be reading these out loud. Only share something you’re comfortable having read to the group.

Give students a few minutes to write down their fears and pass them in. Read the fears on the cards to the group without identifying anyone.

How many of you were surprised to hear that others have the same fears as you? How did it make you feel to know you’re not the only one who struggles with certain fears? Are there any other fears we should add to this list?

Give students a few minutes to share additional fears if they feel comfortable. Some examples might include being alone, what others think of you, or not having enough food.

Now, this list of fears might look different depending on where we are in life or what kind of community we live in. There are places in the world today where people worry about violence, where their next meal will come from, or whether war will break out. For them, fear can be a matter of life or death. Can you imagine living every day with that level of fear?

Think about how your body feels when you’re really afraid. Sweaty palms. Your stomach gets queasy. Every inch of your body is on alert. And each of us responds to fear differently. Some of us freeze. Others run. And some of us fight. But regardless of how we respond, we all know what it’s like to be afraid.

Fear can be paralyzing, making it difficult to think clearly or know what to do next. It’s no surprise, then, that the Bible has a lot to say about fear and what it means to face the things that scare us.

Read Isaiah 41:9-10 (NCV):

“I took you from places far away on the earth
and called you from a faraway country.
I said, ‘You are my servants.’
I have chosen you and have not turned against you.
10 So don’t worry, because I am with you.
Don’t be afraid, because I am your God.
I will make you strong and will help you;
I will support you with my right hand that saves you.”

This Scripture is one we should probably all memorize because it’s so important. Is there really anything we need to be afraid of when we have God with us?

It’s almost like God knows we’re going to struggle with fear, isn’t it? Throughout Scripture, we’re reminded again and again: Do not be afraid. Do not fear. Why? Because God is with us. Say that with me: God is with us.

And not only is God with us, but God also promises to give us strength. As if knowing we’re not alone isn’t enough, God gives us the strength to face whatever comes our way.

Think about the situations in your life that cause you to be afraid. Now, picture yourself facing those same situations with God by your side. Because that’s the reality. You don’t have to face those things alone.

Hold up the index cards with the students’ fears.

Look at these fears. Some of them might seem small, while others feel overwhelming. But God’s promise remains the same: Do not fear. God is with you.

Even people who face very real dangers and fears every single day are not forgotten by God. God’s presence doesn’t mean we’ll never experience fear or difficult circumstances. It means we don’t have to face them alone.

God is greater than our fears and promises to give us strength as we face them.

I’m going to read each of these fears again. After each one, I want everyone to say these words together: “Do not fear. God is with you.”

Read each card aloud and prompt students to respond, “Do not fear. God is with you,” after each one.

Amen.

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What fear can we pray with you about?
2. What times are the hardest for you to remember not to be afraid?
3. When you think about your future, what causes you fear?
4. How does it make you feel knowing that God is with you?  Does it help you to face your fears?

Have each student write “Fear Not, I am with you” on a note card. Challenge them to put this in a place where they can see it and read it each day.

Close in prayer.

Looking for youth ministry curriculum? Check out the…

ABIDE – A new & improved youth ministry series helping students remain focused on Jesus and stay aware of His presence in their everyday lives.

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