Read Nehemiah 6:10-14.  What made Nehemiah a great leader was not the absence of fear and chaos in his effort to rebuild the wall, but his response to this fear.  All great leaders resist the temptation to quit and run when opposition comes even though that is a normal natural reaction.  Nehemiah continued the work on the wall regardless of his own fears.

• What is your natural reaction to a sudden fearful situation: fight or flight?
• Describe a time you saw someone overcome fear and intervene on behalf of another person.

One of the consequences of running and hiding as Christians is that we literally close the church doors to the outside world.  No one can get in and nothing positive gets out to the world God calls the church to build up.  In closing the doors we also insulate ourselves from the plight and pain of the world and make God a God of our own comfort and security.

• How have you structured your relationship with God for your own personal comfort and security?
• Name some ways you have insulated yourself from the problems and needs of your community/world.

There are also life long repercussions when allowing fear to keep you in your comfort zone.  First, you are never stretched in your faith to be able to do the great things that God has for your life plus the world will continue to be ravaged by sin and chaos.  And second, you eventually loose self respect and credibility. 

• What are some of the fears you have in stepping out to do God’s work or build God’s kingdom?
• How would you describe your ‘comfort zone’ in your Christian life and work?  What areas in life do you need to stretched?

Read II Timothy 4:7 and II Timothy 1:7.  Like Nehemiah, great leadership is about the commitment to fight the good fight when faced with fear and opposition.  The first step in committing to the fight is recognizing the source of fear.  Fear never comes from God and in succumbing to it means you don’t trust God, but doubt God.  Once you recognize the source of fear, you must secondly resolve to go forward in spite of that fear.  That is true faith.

• Have you ever doubted God and succumb to fear?  Explain what happened.
• Describe a time you faithfully fought for justice or people in need even though you were somewhat fearful?

Read II Timothy 2:1.  The final thing is to forgive and give every situation and person of opposition over to God.  By releasing your unforgiveness and frustrations of people over to God you quit wasting energy and are able to put all you have into the work God calls you to complete.  This also includes forgiving yourself when you fall short and living in the grace that comes through Jesus Christ.

• In what situation have you recently wasted energy on unforgiveness instead of giving it over to God?  Do you need to forgive someone or yourself today?
• What is a place of fear that is impeding your forward progress in life?  How will you commit today to overcoming that fear and trusting in God?