This document summarizes a men's Bible study on overcoming fear. It discusses the story of Zechariah, who doubted an angel's message that his wife would bear a son despite their old age. The study teaches that God can make the impossible possible, and calls believers to trust God more and overcome inner fears, in order to fulfill their God-given potential. It provides discussion questions on fears that seem impossible to overcome and how spending more time with God can lead to deeper trust.

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ACE Men’s Bible Study
Fear Not – Chapter
1 - Impossible Ideas
September 25, 2015
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Agenda
Welcome
New Guests
Announcements
India Trip – Paul Austin
Prayer
Today’s Lesson – Chapter 1
Small Group Discussion
Homework – Read Chapter 2
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Childhood Fears
• What was your strongest fear as a child?
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Adult Fears
• What inner fear is holding you back from
fulfilling your greatest potential for God’s
Kingdom?
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Fear Not: Finding Courage to Be
Who God Wants You To Be
Paralyzed by insecurities, self-doubt,
and feelings of failure, many Christ-
followers fall short of their God-given
potential. This spirit of fear does not
come from God. God has given us the
gift of courage! In Fear Not, Ed Love
unpacks eleven biblical stories in which
God commanded someone to "fear
not". Each story exposes a common
fear and challenges readers to face
their own fear and follow in faith.
Readers will discover how God uses
ordinary people to accomplish his
extraordinary purposes.
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Ed Love, Author and Pastor
Even though some people find it humorous to call Ed "Dr.
Love," he prefers to be called "Ed." He considers himself to be
an ordinary, down-to-earth guy who just so happens to be
passionate about following the way of Jesus. Ed has been in
ministry, equipping the body of Christ, for the past 15 years. He
has served as an eighth grade bible study leader, traveling
basketball missionary, student ministries pastor, bible teacher,
church planter, lead pastor, church planting coach/consultant
and an author. In 2006 Ed planted Epic Church (Portland, MI)
and in 2011 Epic sent Ed out into Ionia to start The Well. With
an immense passion to help people hear and see the living
Jesus, Ed spends his time teaching, writing, and discipling
others in the Way. Ed holds a Masters of Divinity from
Asbury Theological Seminary and a Doctorate of Ministry
from George Fox Evangelical Seminary. Ed has been
married to Emily for 12 joyous years, and together they are
raising three spunky children, Jennah, Josiah and Micah. 6

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Fears to Overcome
1. When God’s ideas seem
impossible
2. When you feel
inadequate
3. When bad news is about
to hit home
4. When you feel like
you’ve been let down
5. When you don’t believe
6. When you are worried
about being deprived
7. When solutions seem
questionable
8. When you feel like a
failure
9. When life gets hard
10. When you doubt God’s
presence
11. When fears hold you back
(Introduction) 7
Instant Poll
1. Raise your hand if you had a chance to read
Chapter 1.
2. Please share your reaction to the chapter.
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Chapter 1 – When God’s Ideas Seem
Impossible
“Expect great things from God; attempt great
things for God.”-- William Carey
“The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom
shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life –
of whom shall I be afraid?” -- Psalm 27.1
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Luke 1.11-22
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the
altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped
with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your
prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to
call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice
because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never
to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit
even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to
the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and
power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the
disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared
for the Lord.”
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Luke 1.11-22 - continued
18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man
and my wife is well along in years.”
19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I
have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you
will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did
not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he
stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them.
They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to
them but remained unable to speak.
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Commentary
Zechariah was one of 20,000 priests, of which that group was divided into 24
sections. Temple duty for 2 weeks was determined by lottery, and every priest
hoped for the opportunity to minister in the temple. Zechariah had won the lottery.
He was standing at the altar of incense when an angel startled him, but the angel
told him not to fear, and announced that Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth would
have a son, whom Zechariah should name John.
Zechariah and his wife must have been praying for years for a son, but now the
prospect of having a son seemed impossible. Nevertheless, the angel’s message
displaced the impossible with God’s possible. John, the promised son, would
prepare Israel for the coming Messiah.
But knowing he and his wife were elderly, Zechariah doubted and was struck
mute. When he emerged from the temple, he could not speak but only gesture to
the waiting crowd. He would not be able to speak until his wife delivered the
promised son.
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Zechariah - Questions
1. What fear did Zechariah have to face?
2. What lesson is the author illustrating through the
story of Zechariah’s unbelief?
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Believing God vs. Trusting God
1. Zechariah needed to learn a few things about how
God works in order for him to overcome his fears.
He needed to learn how to trust in God and God’s
timing.
2. Like Zechariah, we constantly face fears associated
with things we perceive as impossible. Imagine
what life could look like if we truly believed
nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1.37)
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Small Group Questions to Discuss
1. What inner fear seems impossible to overcome?
2. Why do you struggle to trust God with the outcome
in that area?
3. How much space and time do you carve out of your
life in order to listen to God’s promptings?
4. When it doesn’t feel good to overcome the
impossible, how will you push through the anxiety
and tension?
5. To whom might you be a blessing by overcoming
your fears? 15
Chapter 1 - Ideas to Remember
1. God likes to make the impossible, possible
2. Everything good requires preparation
3. To be trusted is a greater compliment than being
loved
4. More time with God will lead to deeper levels of
trust
5. God will use us to bless others as we overcome
our fears
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