Date: June 15, 2025
Rahab: A Faith Not Held Back by Fear
The Point: Faith acts when others are paralyzed by fear.
Get Into the Study
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During World War II, at the Dachau Concentration Camp, a Jewish prisoner crafted a violin and hid a secret note within, a note that would remain undiscovered for more than 80 years.
“Trial instrument, made under difficult conditions with no tools and materials. Dachau. Anno 1941, Franciszek Kempa.”
The “violin of hope” is believed to have been built in 1941 by Franciszek “Franz” Kempa while imprisoned by the Nazis at Dachau in southern Germany. At least 40,000 people are believed to have died there because of starvation, disease, execution, or mistreatment.
It is unknown how the violin left Dachau and ultimately made its way to Hungary. It remained unnoticed for years until it was sent out for repairs. The poor quality of the wood and the probable crude tools used to create it were puzzling, as the poor violin didn’t match the evident skill involved in making it.
The violin was disassembled, revealing Kempa’s hidden note – an explanation for building an instrument that fell short of his own standards.
Having a task or a challenge may have helped Kempa get through a lot of difficulties as he put his focus, not on the problem, but on the task itself. Could this task have helped the maker of the instrument to survive the concentration camp? Kempa returned to his native Poland to continue making instruments before dying in 1953.
Could Kempa’s secret note have gotten him into trouble? Do you think he was afraid of being caught?
Transition to the study by pointing out that fear causes different reactions in people. Fear causes some people to run away, and others are frozen in place, paralyzed by whatever they fear. In today’s study, we’ll see how faith in God can lead us to act when others are paralyzed by fear.
Information for this post was gleaned from:https://www.cbsnews.com/news/secret-note-violin-built-dachau-concentration-camp/
Get Into the Study (Option from Adult Leader Guide)
In advance, play a video clip showing an Independence Day celebration. Then ask Question #1.
Live It Out
As you discuss the application ideas in Live It Out, use this story as an example of being strong and courageous.
Nikki DeLoach says one of her greatest accomplishments is pushing aside fear and choosing faith, according to a May 5 social media post. Hinting that she’s had a hard year so far, DeLoach admits to a lot of bright spots in her life as a mom to two boys and as a Hallmark star.
But she’s had her share of turmoil, too. Her youngest son, Bennett, now seven, had three open-heart surgeries before he was two years old. The first surgery was when he was five days old, and each time has been a very risky operation. She knows Bennett will need more intense surgeries in the future. After Bennett’s birth, her father was diagnosed with dementia and later died.
Through it all, DeLoach learned how to keep her head up, choosing faith over fear even though she experienced uncertain challenges. Since the beginning of the year, “I’ve looked and found miracles every single day,” she said.
“I had to re-examine my relationship with God and what it meant to walk with God and Jesus …,” she said. “[I believe that] God doesn’t do these things to us…The truth of the matter is that life is hard, and bad stuff happens to all of us.”
But we choose how we handle those fears. It is our faith in God that helps us give a situation meaning. She knows God will redeem the hardest of circumstances when she looks to Him in faith.
Carole Waina wrote these Leader Extras. Carole is a retired teacher and veteran writer for LifeWay. She loves traveling, walking, cycling, reading, and being with family. She and her husband are active at First Baptist in Celina, Texas.
Live It Out (Option from Adult Leader Guide)
In advance, play a song about faith overcoming fear to lead the group to worship the God who gives us faith.
Additional Questions
Icebreaker
- What’s the scariest thing you’ve done in your life?
- As a child, what was one place you were scared to go?
- What’s your favorite part about July 4th?
- What is your fondest memory of celebrating Independence Day?
- What are some symbols of freedom that you appreciate this time of year?
Joshua 2:1-4a
- How do we determine when it is time to obey God rather than man?
- What are some things that help you stand up to cultural pressure?
- When have you felt the tension of unpopular biblical teachings in the face of a cultural issue?
- When has God used someone in your life whom you wouldn’t have expected Him to use?
- When have you felt pressured by modern culture to step away from your values?
- How should we view the balance between obeying our elected leaders and serving God first?
Joshua 2:8-14
- When has a frightening emergency forced you to take action?
- How can believers know when to act in faith and when to wait on God?
- In what ways has faith helped you overcome fear?
- When has living out your faith required courage?
- Why are Christians still affected by earthly fear even when we know God is with us?
- When have you seen faith act even in the face of fear?
Joshua 6:22-25
- When has someone’s faith in action benefited you?
- Who do you know whose faith in action benefits others?
- When have you been personally challenged by someone else standing up for what is right?
- What do you appreciate about God’s work in Rahab’s life?
Podcast
Click here for a 20-minute podcast for both the group member and the leader.
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Awesome…thanks for sharing. I wrote a long paragraph, but I deleted it by accident. I am a Christian in Quinlan, TX. I attend First Baptist Church, when I became a member in Jan. 2018. after I moved to Quinlan 5-1/2 years ago. I have been tested negative for Covid. I am from North La., along I-20. I am 68 years old.