Maintaining a Sane Brain in a Scary World

This week, our final lesson, explores the bold courage of Peter after the Resurrection.  His dramatic transformation, by the power of the Holy Spirit, offers an absolute blueprint for a fearless life abandoned to God. That is the secret to Maintaining a Sane Brain—no matter how scary the world. 

This week we reflect on the most significant moment in all of history—the incredible sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. Everything we’ve studied so far has pointed toward God’s perfect plan for humanity’s salvation. But to the people in Jerusalem that day, events surrounding the Crucifixion were surprising—and frightening. There’s much to learn by from the experiences of those eyewitnesses.

This week marks the beginning of the end of our look at some of the Bible’s biggest names and how they handled fear. Our three-podcast conclusion starts by exploring the life of Peter before the crucifixion. We encounter a simple, uneducated fisherman whose relationship with Jesus was marked by personal confusion, bravado, and eventually panicky denial of Christ. In him, we see much of ourselves.

This week we look at the lives of Mary and Martha, two sisters who have very different reactions when Jesus comes to dinner.  As we explore Mary’s devotion and Martha’s distress, we see that learning to handle routine worries helps the sisters—and us—learn to trust God with huge difficulties.

In this episode we look at two very different people who are privileged to have one-on-one conversations with Jesus the Messiah. Nicodemus, a leader of the Jewish Council, is consumed with curiosity and also afraid of his powerful, friends’ opinions. Fear compels him to visit Jesus under cover of darkness and he just can’t understand the simple gospel message. Shortly after Christ’s encounter with Nicodemus, He goes out of his way to meet with one of society’s most marginalized rejects—the nameless Samaritan Woman at the Well. What ensues is a great lesson in the liberating fearlessness that comes from humbly choosing to pursue simple, heartfelt faith. 

This week we compare the experiences of Zechariah, a well-respected priest, familiar with all the intricacies of his religion, and Mary, a poor and humble peasant girl. Both are visited by the angel Gabriel. Both receive incredible news. That’s where the similarities end. Through them, we explore the differences between people with intellectual knowledge about God and those who simply open their hearts to His possibilities—and the awareness that knowing Him defeats all kinds of fear.

This week we dig into the most unusual Bible book. This incredible story of an orphan who becomes a queen, a simple man who refused to bow down to false idols and a wicked plot to wipe out the Jews, never mentions God, nor prayer. Yet, its drama and intrigue provide great insight into a Creator who orchestrates what we think are coincidences to bring about miraculous deliverance.

Most people have heard the incredible story of Jonah, the man who was swallowed by a huge fish and survived. But there’s so much more to learn from this most reluctant prophet. Besides foreshadowing Christ’s time in the tomb, Jonah offers a great example of someone who tries to run from God’s will—and the knowledge that our Creator has kind intentions for all people—even the ones we don’t like. If you’ve ever feared that God is going to be too nice to those you oppose, this study is for you.

This week we explore the life of Elijah, the most revered prophet in history. Jews still wait for him to herald the coming of the Messiah. Christians remain in awe of his appearance with Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration. This is the man who caused drought, brought rain, and defeated hundreds of pagan priests.  But our lesson uncovers a reluctant Man of God who suffered from loneliness, fear, and a sense of abandonment. The Bible’s revelations about this most celebrated of prophets encourages everyone who has ever felt desperate and alone.

This week we study a portion of the long, complex life of David—a man after God’s own heart. We learn that this shepherd boy turned giant-slayer found God’s good favor not because he was a perfect man, but because he was a penitent man. As we explore his gravest sins, we discover that David feared only separation from the Spirit of God. A fear that can serve each of us well.

This week we continue our study in the Book of 1 Samuel as we look at a pivotal point in history—and how the fear of inadequacy drove God’s Chosen People to seek a king like their pagan neighbors had. In response, God gave them King Saul, a man who looked the part, but whose failure to find his adequacy in God resulted in disaster.

This week we encounter Hannah, a woman living in the time of Judges who has been desperate for a child for many years. We follow her journey as she progresses from fear of being overlooked by God to becoming confident and fully aware that God never neglects us but answers our prayers in the best way and at the perfect time. 

This week Colleen and Jessica study the life of Naomi, a Hebrew widow living in the time of the Judges, who is so bitter and wedded to her woundedness she can’t function. Naomi's story is found in the Book of Ruth, named for her faithful,  pagan daughter-in-law who helps us all learn that no circumstances are hopeless when we trust the Lord.  

This week we encounter two frightened men and two fearless women living when the Hebrews had forgotten their covenant with God, and everyone did what was right in their own eyes. Yet, no matter how deviant and destructive, the people, God remained faithful.

Colleen and Jessica discuss the faith and impact of Rahab, a pagan prostitute motivated by scant knowledge of God to abandon her national allegiance and ally herself with God’s purpose, plan and people.

Colleen and Jessica explore more of the life of Moses and see how he has been transformed from a fearful coward into a faith-filled, courageous leader who has learned to trust the power of God.

In the first of a two-part look at the life of Moses, Colleen and Jessica encounter this most unlikely redeemer of the Hebrew slaves and learn how Moses’ self-consciousness and fear of inadequacy caused him to resist God’s call.

Colleen and Jessica look at the faith of Joseph who, during horrific troubles, learned that the fear of God, and God alone, was all he needed to survive and even thrive.

Colleen and Jessica look at panic-stricken Hagar, whose sliver of faith in the “God who sees” empowered her to confidently endure a desperate situation.

Colleen and Jessica look at God’s love for Sarah, who, fearful that God couldn’t keep His promise, came up with her own disastrous plan to help Him.

Colleen and Jessica look at God’s grace for Abraham whose fears compelled him to live a lie — despite the Lord’s great promises.  

This week we look at Noah, who despite the depravity and chaos of his culture feared nothing, other than disobeying His Creator.

This week we look at Eve, Adam and God’s loving response to their fear of being found out.