Exodus for the Rest of Us | Learning Guide

Exodus for the Rest of Us: Using Our Imagination and Leaving Fear Behind

July 23rd, 2023

Introduction:​

Fear makes me think endlessly about “what ifs.” It drives me to either paranoia or hope, and it really depends on my past experiences and what I feel comfortable trusting. When placed in an uncomfortable situation, I feel the fear creep in and I usually choose the route that is most familiar or with outcomes I could somewhat predict or control. Better the devil you know, right? Experiencing and processing both physical and emotional fear is complex, and one on which we typically don’t like to dwell. Our initial reactions to fear may be categorized as “fight, flight,” or my favorite, “fetal,” but thankfully, it doesn’t have to stop there. What if we learn to use our imagination to take what our minds and bodies are telling us about a fear we’re experiencing, and dream up the possibilities of what could happen when we “fear God.”

Jennifer and the Teaching Team

Big Idea:

Fear is one of the biggest drivers in our day-to-day lives, and we can use our imaginations to let fear push us into a spiral of what-ifs or into courageous hope.

Take Away:

We can learn to process our fears in ways that might not lead to absolute peace, but in ways that push us to perfect love.'

Text:

Exodus 20:20 Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you so that you do not sin.”

How does this fit with Belong, Become, Believe?

Fear often leads to the exclusions or love of self or others, but it can rarely do both.

What's Next?

Shannon Barrowcliff leads us through the next part of Exodus.​

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