Music Discussions

Hello Fear

June 29, 2011

Dynamic Image Main Point of Discussion: Life can bring us many reasons to be fearful, but Christians have the promise that God is our Abba Father who gives us love, and because of this reality, we can live fear-free.

Vital Info Before You Get Started: (The following should help you contextualize this important issue so you can have a great discussion about it with your kids.)

Kirk Franklin is a relatively big name in Christian music. Famous for tunes such as Revolution and Stomp, Franklin has been a powerhouse for the musical genre known as Christian hip-hop. He’s also been an outspoken voice for men’s ministry and has always modeled the faithful values he sings about. “Hello Fear” is just another truthful message from a Christian trying to keep it real when it comes to following Jesus. You and your students will appreciate his bluntness and honesty in this song.

You can download the song or play this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHf6b8LUYCw

Above all, don’t appear as if you have a “canned” discussion in your head and rattle off questions like a teacher giving a pop quiz—your kids get enough of that in school. This is a guide, primarily—not a verbatim script. Just familiarize yourself with the content here and start a conversation in the most natural, unforced way you know how.

Introducing the Clip:
Our discussion is based on a song by contemporary gospel artist Kirk Franklin, the man behind Christian hits such as “Revolution” and “Stomp.” His latest release Hello Fear debuted in the #1 position on Billboard’s gospel sales chart and #5 on the Billboard Top 200. This is the title song from the CD; it addresses an emotion that is very prevalent these days. Let’s take a listen to what he has to say about fear. (Watch suggested clip.)

Song Lyrics:

Before you sit down there’s something I need to explain

Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):

Q: What’s going on in this song?

A: Franklin is confronting fear in his life and casting it away in favor of grace.

Q: How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this song?

A: We should remember that as believers, there is no reason to fear. Because fear is not of God, it therefore has no place in Christians’ lives. The lyrics should remind us that fear kills our dreams and breaks our hearts—and it leads to hopelessness. Grace, on the other hand, is always loving and forgiving and always there for us. (How hard of a choice is that?)

Q: How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this song to actually living out those opinions?

A: It’s not easy. The world can be a scary place. And Christians have fears just like everybody else. It’s important to remember that having fear doesn’t mean we don’t have faith—just that fear is a most difficult “monster” to slay…and Jesus is the one who has to do the work in us. We must remember to call out to God when we feel fear coming on, asking God to guide us and instruct us and protect us…and ultimately remove our fears.

Where to Take It from Here:
Wherever it feels natural. If these questions lead to a longer discussion on the topic, wonderful! (There’s a guide just after this paragraph that helps you do just that.) If your kids are barely uttering grunts, don’t get discouraged—the next time it feels right, keep engaging them.

For Deeper Discussion:
(If your kids seem into diving in deeper and looking at what the Bible has to say on the subject, the following discussion guide can help take you there.)

Want help getting your teenager engaged in conversation? CLICK HERE for a helpful article from our “Parenting Help” page providing you with 3 Essentials to Talking with Today’s Teens.

Transitional Statement:
This song connects with so many levels of life, because the times we are living in have struck fear into the hearts of many people. Whether it is financial troubles, relational difficulties, school, or just plain every day existence, fear is a commonly experienced reality. The good news is that we don’t have to crumble when anxiety creeps into our hearts, and that’s what the song ‘Hello Fear’ talks about. Let’s spend some time talking about why we can look fear in the eyes…and say goodbye.

More Discussion Questions:

HAVE ALL YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS ANSWER: As we get started, let’s all take a second to name one fear we each experienced recently—and what helped you overcome it.
ASK A FEW FAMLY MEMBERS: Do our fears steal our ‘hopes and dreams’? If so, how?
ASK A FEW FAMLY MEMBERS: How do our fears take us prisoner?

Read the following passage from the Bible:

You didn’t receive a spirit of slavery to lead you back again into fear, but you received a Spirit that shows you are adopted as his children. With this Spirit, we cry, “Abba, Father.” The same Spirit agrees with our spirit, that we are God’s children.

ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: What do these verses have in common with the song, “Hello Fear”? (Parents—answer you’re looking for: Both revolve around the fact that fear makes us slaves and prisoners. Both also claim God as the solution to our fear.)
ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: The term Abba is Aramaic, used as an affectionate term for one’s dad—the closest expression we have in our language is probably papa or daddy. Why do you suppose our heavenly Daddy wants us to bring our fears to Him?

Read the following passage from the Bible:

We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: What does it look like to experience God’s perfect love?
ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: How can perfect love “drive out” all fear?
ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: In the song, Kirk sings “hello grace.” What is the connection between God’s grace and God’s love?
HAVE ALL YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS ANSWER: How are you going to let God’s grace replace your fears this week?

Wrap Up:
Kirk Franklin’s Hello Love is a powerful message that we don’t have to allow our fears to take us prisoner and steal our hopes and dreams. Sometimes the best way for us to be set free is to face our fears directly and fully trust that God’s grace and love can empower us to dismiss them and embrace all the promises He gives us as His children. Although we have many things in our world that cause anxiety, we need to take our focus off them and keep our eyes on our Father Abba.

Exercise:
Pass out the list below that gives many of the truths that enter our lives when we trust Christ and enter into God’s grace as His child. Give your family members a few moments to look them over, then jot down which promises will help them deal with the fears they are currently facing.

I am accepted…