Category: Unafraid

A widely admired mainstream pastor shows how people and communities can flourish as beacons of hope and serenity in an anxious age. Truth is, a mere handful of fears work for us–fear of stepping in front of a bus, for example, or not taking care of our health. But the vast majority–fear of others, of failure, of the future–have almost no basis in reality, yet tie us in knots and steal our peace of mind. These fears, experts say, are often vestiges of primitive ‘fight, flight, or freeze’ instincts that, mostly, no longer apply. Making matters worse, our hyper fractious era of hate media, divisive politics, and multiplying natural disasters wreak havoc on our state of mind, leaving us troubled and unhappy. Fortunately there’s abundant good news. As trusted pastor and bestselling author Adam Hamilton shows in Unafraid, we can escape the echo chamber of anxiety and dread. With insight, intention and faith, we can learn to overcome what oppresses us, and live with courage and hope. Drawing on fresh research, psychology, biblical principles, and his long experience shepherding a diverse faith community in Red State America, Hamilton helps readers untangle the knots of fear and truly embrace Jesus’s recurring counsel: “Do not be afraid.” He writes with generosity and intelligence for a wide audience in accessible language that will ring true to believer and unbeliever alike. For anyone struggling with fear, worry, or anxiety, or who wonders how families and communities can live as peacemakers in troubled times, Unafraid offers an informed and inspiring message full of practical solutions. Trusted pastor and bestselling author Adam Hamilton draws on the latest research, therapeutic insights, biblical principles, and personal experience to untangle the knots of fear and truly embrace Jesus’s recurring counsel to his followers: “Do not be afraid.” As a leading voice in the progressive tradition, Hamilton communicates with grace and understanding to a wide and inclusive audience in accessible language that will ring true regardless of one’s religious conviction.

We know Jesus tells us, “Do not be afraid,” but with everything going on in the world, how is it possible not to be anxious? In this five-week study based on his book Unafraid, Adam Hamilton explores the worries and fears most of us experience. Your small group can learn to identify fears and discover practical steps for overcoming them…all in the light of Scripture and a faith that promises again and again that we can live with courage and hope. In video Session 3 titled Failure, Disappointing Others, Insignificance, and Loneliness, Adam Hamilton discusses the fear of failure, loneliness, and rejection with his guests, Carlos, Ginger, and Marie. He also talks with Christian Cid, the CEO and President of the Serenity Counseling Center in Gallatin, Tennessee, about helping people overcome their fears. Running Time: 17:59 Instructions: To stream a purchased video, login with your cokesbury.com user account, click on My Cokesbury.com, and select Downloads/Subscriptions.

We know Jesus tells us, “Do not be afraid,” but with everything going on in the world, how is it possible not to be anxious? In this five-week study based on his book Unafraid, Adam Hamilton explores the worries and fears most of us experience. Your small group can learn to identify fears and discover practical steps for overcoming them…all in the light of Scripture and a faith that promises again and again that we can live with courage and hope. In addition to the Leader Guide, which includes session plans, activities, and discussion questions, a DVD featuring Hamilton, a Youth Leader Guide, and a Children’s Leader Guide are also available. The Children’s Leader Guide contains session plans for younger and older children, including games, activities, craft ideas, and reproducible handouts.

Americans are anxious people. A recent study found that one in five of us has an anxiety disorder and we spend over $2 billion a year on anti-anxiety medications. Often our life events play a significant role in our worries and fears.

In this study based on his book Unafraid, Adam Hamilton explores the most common worries and fears experienced by Americans today. He considers practical steps for overcoming these fears, and reflects upon fear in the light of Scripture and a faith that promises again and again that we don’t need to live in fear. We can live with courage and hope.

The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the five-week study, including session plans, activities, and discussion questions, as well as multiple format options.

We know Jesus tells us, “Do not be afraid,” but with everything going on in the world, how is it possible not to be anxious? In this five-week study based on his book Unafraid, Adam Hamilton explores the worries and fears most of us experience. Your small group can learn to identify fears and discover practical steps for overcoming them…all in the light of Scripture and a faith that promises again and again that we can live with courage and hope. In video Session 4 titled Apocalypse, Change, Missing Out, and Finances, Adam Hamilton talks about apocalyptic thinking with his guests, Carlos, Ginger, and Marie. He also interviews Jerre Stead, who has served as CEO of several companies, about the role that uncertainty plays in business planning and business relationships. Running Time: 15:09 Instructions: To stream a purchased video, login with your cokesbury.com user account, click on My Cokesbury.com, and select Downloads/Subscriptions.

We know Jesus tells us, “Do not be afraid,” but with everything going on in the world, how is it possible not to be anxious? In this five-week study based on his book Unafraid, Adam Hamilton explores the worries and fears most of us experience. Your small group can learn to identify fears and discover practical steps for overcoming them…all in the light of Scripture and a faith that promises again and again that we can live with courage and hope. In video Session 1 titled Understanding and Countering Fear, Adam Hamilton introduces us to a discussion group made up of Carlos, Ginger, and Marie, three people who face fears just as we all do. He introduces the subject of fear—how it is useful and how it can become a burden—and discusses fears of each group member. Afterward he talks with a neuroscientist, Dr. David Zald of Vanderbilt University, and asks how our brains play a role in how we experience fear. Running Time: 16:47 Instructions: To stream a purchased video, login with your cokesbury.com user account, click on My Cokesbury.com, and select Downloads/Subscriptions.

We know Jesus tells us, “Do not be afraid,” but with everything going on in the world, how is it possible not to be anxious? In this five-week study based on his book Unafraid, Adam Hamilton explores the worries and fears most of us experience. Your small group can learn to identify fears and discover practical steps for overcoming them…all in the light of Scripture and a faith that promises again and again that we can live with courage and hope. In video Session 2 titled Crime, Racism, Terrorism, and Politics, Adam Hamilton explores the question of how we overcome our fears of other people. He discusses strategies for confronting these fears with his guests, Carlos, Ginger, and Marie. Then Adam talks with Bishop William H. Willimon about why Bishop Willimon wrote his book Fear of the Other, and how our fear of the other affects our relationships and our society. Running Time: 16:06 Instructions: To stream a purchased video, login with your cokesbury.com user account, click on My Cokesbury.com, and select Downloads/Subscriptions.

We know Jesus tells us, “Do not be afraid,” but with everything going on in the world, how is it possible not to be anxious? In this five-week study based on his book Unafraid, Adam Hamilton explores the worries and fears most of us experience. Your small group can learn to identify fears and discover practical steps for overcoming them…all in the light of Scripture and a faith that promises again and again that we can live with courage and hope. In video Session 5 titled Aging, Illness, Dying, and the Fear of the Lord, Adam Hamilton explores fears of death and illness with his guests, Carlos, Ginger, and Marie. He also welcomes his spouse, LaVon Hamilton, to discuss her own struggles with anxiety. Running Time: 15:22 Instructions: To stream a purchased video, login with your cokesbury.com user account, click on My Cokesbury.com, and select Downloads/Subscriptions.