June 21, 2026

Matthew 10:21-33

Most of us are afraid of something. If I asked you, right now, what are you afraid of? I don’t think we’d hesitate too long. We know. In 1933 at the height of the great depression, he meant to be soothing in his first inaugural address FDR said, “we have nothing to fear, but fear itself.” Truth be told, we have so many fears. Our fears run deep. But actually, there are some fears that a lot of people have in common. So strong as phobias, and when that phobia gets triggered, you may want to run, excessive sweating, trembling, heart palpations, irregular breathing, choking sensation in your throat, nauseous, dizziness, light headedness, and more. The top 5 Arachnophobia (fear of spiders), 1 in 4 men and 1 in 3 women suffer from that fear. Agoraphobia (fear of open or crowded spaces), OTOH Claustrophobia (fear of tight spaces), Acrophobia (fear of heights) Top of many lists is social phobias fear of rejection. Included in that phobia is the fear of public speaking. Jerry Seinfeild said “for the average person if you have to go to a funeral you are better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.” (a lot of us feel that way).

It’s Fathers Day, Happy Father’s Day! I do thank God for you and the godly witness you are and have been to your children. Fathers reflect our heavenly fathers love as you nurture and as you love and as you train up your children. But fatherhood in itself can produce some intense fear. A group of fathers were asked what they feared most when they became Dad’s for the first time. Here are some answers… would I ever sleep again? I fear I’d bring home the wrong baby. Financial stress. I fear my children would see me as I see myself…inadequate and flawed. I fear I won’t be able to protect him from everything. I fear my wife will want another one. Someone said, I fear for the world, cause my kid is epic! A lot and lot of fears, fears of fatherhood, fears of spiders, fears of heights, fears of public speaking, even as Gospel reading talks about, fears that come because we are disciples of Jesus Christ.

In Matt 10 Jesus is sending out His disciples to preach the kingdom of God is near. I am sending you out as sheep among wolves He says, you will be handed over to the local councils and they will flog you in their synagogues He says. You will be brought before governors and kings He says. You will be arrested, He says. But don’t be afraid, He says. Don’t be afraid? As a sheep among wolves, as I’m flogged, as I’m brought before rulers, as I’m arrested? Don’t be afraid? Don’t be afraid, He says. And Jesus goes on, your family will betray you because of your faith, even to death, He says. All men will hate you because of Me, He says. You most certainly will be persecuted, He says. But don’t be afraid, He says. Don’t be afraid??? As my family betrays me to death, as I’m hated because of my faith, as I’m persecuted because of my faith? Don’t be afraid, He says. Yes, don’t be afraid. Jesus is telling His disciples then and He’s telling His disciples now to be prepared, not scared. He’s encouraging a blessed courage that only comes from a connection with Him. He’s wanting His disciples not to speak the two words where most fears start. Ya know those two words where most fears start? Here they are…..What if.

Shel Silverstein, actually has a poem about these two little words where most fears start.

Last night while I lay thinking here, some ‘what if’s’ crawled inside my ear. And prancied all night long, and sang their same ‘what if’ song. What if I’m dumb in school? What if they close the swimming pool? what if I get beat up? What if there’s poison in my cup? What if I start to cry? What if I get sick and die? What if I flunk that test? What if green hair grows on my chest? What if nobody likes me? What if a bolt of lightning strikes me? What if I don’t grow taller? What if my head starts getting smaller? What if they start a war? What if my parents get divorced? What if the bus is late? What if my teeth don’t grow in straight? What if I tear my pants? What if I never learn to dance? Everything seems just swell and then, the night time ‘what if’s’ strike again.

Well, it’d be pretty easy to live a ‘what if’ life, wouldn’t it? A lot of us do that. We wonder if something could go wrong? We wonder, what’s around the next corner? we wonder, what if it’s bad?  But Jesus does not want us to live a ‘what if’ kinda life. He wants us to live fearless, not phobic. He wants us to trust in God not the circumstances of our life. And as Jesus is talking to His disciples He wants them and us to be fearless, not out of ignorance but out of the love and the care and the protection of our God.

Maybe you know people who are fearless, but they are fearless out of ignorance. Children display fearlessness out of ignorance. They are fearless of the stove, totally ignorant of the burn they would get. They were fearless of the traffic in the street, ignorant of what a speeding car could do to a little body. Jesus does not want us to be fearless in that way, not at all. That is why He clearly articulates to us what it means to be a disciple. He wants us to be fearless, despite knowing how difficult it is to be a disciple of Christ really is. He wants us to have a fully informed fearlessness, not because we are disciples, but because we are His disciples!  That’s why 3x Jesus encourages us and empowers us with those three little words…Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid. And there’s a beautiful reason why He tells us don’t be afraid. He tells us why. Don’t be afraid Jesus says, because of your wonderful worth. Jesus says “are not two sparrows sold for a penny. Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father and even the very hairs of your head are numbered. So don’t be afraid you are of more value than many sparrows.” Jesus is saying don’t be afraid, you are valuable to Me, you are precious to Me, you are cared for by Me. And if you are valuable to Me, precious to Me, cared for by Me….then you can live courageously. We really do not have to fear, because He has set our worth. He has shown us that He is faithful. God loves you so much, there is nothing that He doesn’t know about you.   God is attentive to you. He looks so attentively at you, that He can tell you how many “hairs you have on your head.” He knows us so well, He knows the good and He also knows the bad. So don’t be afraid, He says. Don’t be afraid?? When an all-powerful God knows I have sinned and fallen short and I’ve failed, and I’ve been selfish and I’ve spoken words and had hateful thoughts and I’ve been greedy, in short I’ve sinned….against Him. By thought, word and deed. By what I’ve done and by what I haven’t done. Don’t be afraid?? Don’t be afraid He said. You are valuable to Me. Precious to Me. Loved by Me. Cared for by Me. He knows our sin and even knowing all about that, all about that sin, He still says I love you. I love you so much I’m going to send My Son, to be your Savior. And He sends us Jesus. And Jesus goes to the cross and He dies for those sins and He forgives us. And He gives us the gift of everlasting life.

Don’t be afraid. Don’t’ be afraid He says. God knows every flutter of every sparrow and you…are worth so much more to Him than a little bird. You are worth so much to Him that He knows the hairs on your head. So you are so valuable to Him, precious to Him, loved by Him, cared for by Him. Don’t be afraid.

Reminds me of a hymn we sing from time to time, called “Have no fear little flock.” You know that hymn. Listen to the words,

Have no fear little flock, have no fear, little flock.

For the father has chosen to give you the kingdom, have no fear, little flock.

Have good cheer, little flock. Have good cheer, little flock.

For the father will keep you in His love forever. Have good cheer, little flock.

Praise the Lord, high above. Praise the Lord, high above.

For He stoops down to heal you, uplift and restore you. Praise the Lord high above.

Amen.