Attack On Idols- Fear
Attack on idols – Week 6: fear
We all battle fear—fear of people, problems, and pain. Like Daniel in the lions’ den, fear can become an idol if it masters us. But the answer isn’t avoiding fear, it’s kneeling before the Lion of Judah. Week 6 of our series Attack On Idols, we see that when we put faith in Him, fear loses its grip. Jesus is enough, and His presence is greater than any fear we face.
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Attack on Idols: Fear
Daniel 6 | October 16/19
When Fear Becomes an Idol
We all know what it feels like to be afraid. Some fears are lighthearted—snakes, spiders, heights, clowns. But other fears run deeper: fear of death, fear of being alone, fear of pain, fear of problems, fear of people.
The danger comes when fear stops being just an emotion and starts becoming a master. When we allow fear to control our choices, shape our behavior, and define our lives, it becomes an idol.
The story of Daniel in the lions’ den reminds us that the only way to defeat fear is not by avoiding it, but by bowing before the Lion of Judah. Daniel shows us what it looks like to attack the idol of fear with faith.
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Fear of People
In Daniel 6, we see that Daniel was a leader of leaders. What set him apart wasn’t just his skills but his character. That made him a target. The other leaders plotted against him, hoping to take him down.
This is where the fear of people shows up. Many of us know what it feels like to change who we are just to be liked or accepted. Sometimes we lower our standards so we won’t be left out.
Daniel faced the choice: would he fear people or fear God? Jesus put it clearly: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
It’s not easy, but when the approval of others becomes more important than the approval of God, fear has become an idol.
Fear of Problems
Next, the leaders created a problem for Daniel: a law that made prayer to anyone but the king illegal. If he prayed to God, he would face the lions’ den.
Most of us know the weight of problems. When the phone rings with bad news. When the boss calls you into the office. When the car breaks down or the doctor calls with results. Our hearts race, our palms sweat, and our minds spiral into worst-case scenarios.
Daniel didn’t panic. He didn’t plot. He didn’t even try to negotiate. Instead, he went home and prayed—just as he always had. He knew that prayer was more powerful than worry.
Jesus gave us the same command: “Do not worry about your life… but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:25–33). Paul echoed it: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6–7).
Problems will come. But they don’t have to master us.
Fear of Pain
At the root of so much fear is one thing: pain. Physical pain. Emotional pain. Relational pain. Most of us will do anything to avoid it.
Daniel didn’t. He trusted God even as he was thrown into the lions’ den. And God delivered him.
But the story doesn’t always end that way. Many heroes of the faith were not spared from pain—David, Gideon, Daniel’s three friends, and countless others throughout history. The apostles were martyred. Polycarp was burned at the stake in 155 AD. William Tyndale was executed in 1536 for translating the Bible. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was hanged in 1945 for standing against Nazi evil. In 2015, twenty-one Egyptian Christians were beheaded by ISIS. In 2024, one of our mission partners in India reported 1,298 Christians beaten, 460 imprisoned, and 8 killed for their faith.
Faith does not guarantee the absence of pain. What it guarantees is the presence of the Lion. As Daniel discovered, standing in His presence will always be enough
Faith in the Lion
There’s a Jewish song sung during Passover called Dayenu, which means “That would have been enough.” The people of Israel declared that even if God had only done part of what He did to rescue them, it would have been enough.
That’s the heart of faith. To say, “Even if I face pain, even if problems come, even if people turn against me—God, You will still be enough.”
Daniel teaches us that the way to attack the idol of fear is to kneel—not before fear, but before the Lion of Judah. When you do, you’ll discover that faith in Him is stronger than any fear you face.
Final Word
Fear will always try to creep in. But it doesn’t have to control us. Whether it’s the fear of people, problems, or pain, the invitation of Daniel 6 is to fix our eyes on the Lion.
Attack the idol of fear by having faith in the Lion. And when you do, you’ll find what Daniel found: that will be enough.
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Small Group Curriculum: Attack on Idols
Small Group Curriculum – Week 6 PDF
Small Group Curriculum – Week 6
Series: Attack on Idols
Week 6 Title: Fear
Main Scripture: Daniel 6:16–23 (NLT)
Big Idea: Attack the idol of fear by having faith in the Lion.1. Connect (Icebreaker)
Option A (Fun): What’s the funniest or strangest fear you had as a kid?
Option B (Thought-provoking): What’s a fear that still challenges you today?
Transition: Fear is real, but it doesn’t have to master us. Let’s look at Daniel’s story and learn how to face fear with faith.
2. Discover (Scripture & Discussion)
Read Daniel 6:16–23 (NLT):
"So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, 'May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.' … Very early the next morning, the king hurried out… Daniel answered, 'My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me… For I have been found innocent in his sight.’”Discussion Questions
What does Daniel’s response to fear teach us about faith?
How do you see people today controlled by fear of people, problems, or pain?
Why is prayer such an important weapon against fear?
What would change in your life if you trusted God more than your fears?
Dig Deeper Scripture: Philippians 4:6–7 (NLT) — “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything… Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.”
How can prayer help you trade fear for peace?
Where in your life do you most need God’s peace right now?
3. Respond (Application & Prayer)
Personal Application
What fear most often becomes an “idol” in your life?
What would kneeling before the Lion of Judah look like for you this week?
Group Prayer Prompt
Pray for courage to face fears with faith.
Ask God to remind each person of His presence and power when fear rises.
Challenge for the Week
Memory Verse: Isaiah 41:10 (NLT).
Next Step: Each time fear shows up this week, pause and pray: “Jesus, You are the Lion. I trust You more than I fear this.”
⏱️ Designed for 45–60 minutes:
Connect (10–15 min)
Discover (25–30 min)
Respond (10–15 min)
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