SMALL GROUP SMALL GROUP LEADER GUIDE MOODS / Week 3 BEFORE GROUP GOAL OF SMALL GROUP BOTTOM LINE To help students recognize and respond to their fears in Fear doesn’t have to be the boss of you. healthy ways, and to encourage them to invite Jesus into what they’re afraid of. SCRIPTURE Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed THINK ABOUT THIS him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so In a conversation about fear, it’s important to recognize that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was that students in your group will experience fear in all sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, kinds of ways. Some will open up about fears that seem “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” small, silly, or insignificant. Be careful not to dismiss or He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so minimize those fears, as they are very real to your afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the students. In addition, some students may share fears waves, and it was completely calm. that are bigger than you even realized. In those cases, be just as careful not to increase those fears by how The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is you respond. Keep in mind that the three responses to this? Even the winds and the waves obey fear discussed this week—fight, flight, or freeze—are him!” (Matthew 8:23-27 NIV). not exclusive. Middle schoolers may exhibit different Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for responses at different times and in the face of different you (1 Peter 5:7 NIV). fears. That’s why having a conversation about all three is helpful to your group as a whole. This guide is a suggestion, not a formula. Adjust the questions and activities as needed, and don’t feel like you need to do, or ask, everything you see here. DURING GROUP DO THIS (EXPERIENCE) 1 Scatter the provided emoji cards on the floor in the middle of your group and ask your students to select one card to represent how they’re feeling today. They’ll then go around the group and explain why they picked that card. DO THIS (EXPERIENCE) 2 Put the provided “Feelings Wheel” in the center of your group to use as a conversation aid. Lead a discussion about what words can be used to describe “fear.” Ask a few students to read the “fear” words from the Feelings Wheel out loud and follow by asking the group if they’ve ever felt or used these words before. DISCUSS THIS 1. What’s one example of something a middle schooler might be afraid of? 2. When it comes to fear, which is the response you usually have: a) Fight? b) Flight? c) Freeze? 3. What’s one thing that might be causing fear in your life right now? DO THIS (EXPERIENCE) 3 Close in prayer, asking God to help your few not only face their fears, but also invite Him into them. PASSIONATE THANKFUL HOPEFUL INQUISITIVE INSPIRED LOVING THRILLED RESPECTED CURIOUS NO WORDS NO FULFILLED IMPORTANT THROWN CONFIDENT ENERGETIC RELIEVED EAGER AWESTRUCK CONTENT ENTHUSIASTIC ASTONISHED OPTIMISTIC PEACEFUL INTERESTED OPEN ACCEPTED CONFUSED SENSITIVE SHOOK EXCITED PROUD STUNNED LEFT OUT JOYFUL AMAZED ABANDONED TRUSTING DON’T CARE STARTLED THREATENED LONELY HAPPY SURPRISED TERRIFIED NUMB INADEQUATE REMORSEFUL TIRED FEARFUL INFERIOR INSECURE ASHAMED GUILTY WORRIED ANXIOUS POWERLESS SAD SCARED OVERWHELMED IN MY FEELINGS DISGUSTED REJECTED GRIEF EXCLUDED DEPRESSED MAD WEAK ALIENATED UNDERVALUED AVOIDING NERVOUS VULNERABLE HURTOUT GROSSED EMPTY OFFENDED WORTHLESS AGGRESSIVE PANICKED AWFUL FRUSTRATED OUTRAGED DISAPPOINTED REPELLED HUMILIATED UNEASY LET DOWN HESITANT ANGRY FORGOTTEN HATEFUL SALTY NAUSEATED SKEPTICAL INSULTED APPALLED PROVOKED UNCOMFORTABLE DETEST HOSTILE JUDGMENTAL ANNOYED EMBARRASSED LOATHING HEATED FURIOUS DISRESPECTED NOT HEARD NOT RIDICULED RESENTFUL VIOLATED RAGE BETRAYED BITTER .