Freakin Out - An Introduction

Introduction

Why This, Why Now?

• The Human Struggle
• Current Statistics
• Our Own State of New Jersey

What this will not be…

Living under the sun…

Fear Not, Do not be Afraid

A quick word to the proud

Practical Definitions

• FEAR is concern of danger or harm coming towards us
• Worry/Anxiety is a projection of fear into the unknown - either the near or far future 

The Words of Jesus’

¹Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

Troubled Hearts…

Theological Truths…The Fallenness of the World

• Drama with GOD
• Drama with NATURE
• Drama with ONE ANOTHER
• Drama with DEMONIC POWERS
• Drama with THE GRAVE

The World’s Solutions…

• Denial - happy clappy - optimism
• Despair - fatalism - pessimism
• Doctor It - medicate - escapism

²⁷Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Not as the world gives…

Not as the world gives…

The Peace of Jesus

Community Meditation Questions

• Do you typically see yourself as a carefree person or someone burdened with worry?
• In what ways have you sought to relieve stress and overcome fear and anxiety in your life?
• In what ways does “the world” offer to give us peace? How do these help? How do they ultimately leave us hanging?
• What things in life have “troubled” your heart? What is troubling you today? Take a moment to make a list of them all. What do you want to say to God about these things?