Lessons from Fall

I love the colors of fall and the briskness of an October morning. When leaves begin to turn, I often think of God’s promises. It’s a reminder that we can count on new seasons to arrive in the same way that God always delivers on his promises. He has a perfect track record that enables us to faithfully grasp today without worrying about tomorrow.

As a new season brings change, it seems that people are sensing change is coming in other ways. And it’s unsettling and scary. Do you think so, too?

When angels appear before mortal men and women, their first words are usually “Do not fear!” It seems that tackling fear is an effective first step for a messenger to introduce God’s promises.

In my evangelism training, I address fear before I can begin to talk about how to start a conversation about Jesus or learning what to proclaim. It’s fear that will often cause people to think of worst-case scenarios (which rarely happen) when facing the prospect of being God’s witnesses. The answer to overcome fear starts with trusting God’s promises.

And the same goes for evangelism. A powerful way to introduce God’s promises is to talk about how the Bible helps you overcome fear.

Addressing Fears

Fears are common for all people. They often arise when needs are not being met. Do people today fear abandonment? What about the fear of loneliness? Are people terrified of change?

Unhealthy emotions emerge when fears are not properly confronted. And this can cause problems in our relationships, personal health, and the ability to cope during difficult life circumstances.

Several months ago, I came across a chart about fear from a popular secular blogger (Lawrence Yeo). He used an infographic to address six common fears and their corresponding need, how it is manifested, and healthy resolutions. Let’s provide a biblical resolution that is based on God’s promises. For example:

The fear of rejection
Our human need is love. When this need is not met, we tend to be a people-pleaser. The Bible teaches that perfect love drives out fear. God’s unconditional, sacrificial love is a spiritual truth and a promise. Saving faith becomes a new identity in Christ and the blessings of remaining in him.

The fear of change
As summer changes to fall, our life also goes through seasons of change. It’s a natural cycle that affects everybody. Believers in Christ trust God’s promises and do not need to fear change to preserve our sense of stability. The fear of change can also affect churches. We can feel “stuck” and not know what to do when outreach activity is not gaining traction. We can be reminded that our church is God’s church. We can confidently embrace a spirit of experimentation to try something new with a full trust that God’s Word always works, and he is in full control of results.

Fear is real. It distracts and can be controlling. Addressing fear is a great way to both introduce and remind people of God’s promises.

Allow me to share this brief tip on evangelism:

Please do not buy into the myth that people are not interested in spiritual matters. They are! The craziness of life and distrust in institutions are barriers to overcome. Churches are not looked upon as safe places that calms the fears of judgment and rejection. This is prompting a new dynamic of evangelism — figuring out how to bring the Word to people along with inviting them to come to church.

While people may be rejecting the traditional church and organized religion, they still long to gather and be a part of a church culture. We can be encouraged to not buy into the myth that people today are disinterested or unreachable. They are just requiring a new way to be engaged to gain an audience.