The One and Only Fear That Matters

Bible Verses on the Fear of the Lord

What does the Bible say about the fear of the Lord? From the OpenBible website.

http://bit.ly/2hm4iod

Isaiah 41:10 NIV

1 Samuel 12:24 NIV

1. What blessings come from the fear of the Lord?

Proverbs 1:7 NIV

Proverbs 10:27 NIV

Psalms 112:1-4 NIV

Psalms 112:7 NIV

Psalms 147:11 NIV

For Reflection/Discussion: What are your initial reactions when you hear the phrase the fear of the Lord? Does the fear of the Lord involve being afraid of God? Why or why not? How would you define the phrase the fear of the Lord? What benefits or blessings, if any, come from a fear of the Lord?

2. What does scripture mean by the fear of the Lord?

• The fear of the Lord means…

• The fear of the Lord means to be in utter, absolute awe of God.

Exodus 15:11 NIV

Isaiah 6:1-3 NIV

"God’s holiness is not simply the best we know infinitely bettered. We know nothing like divine holiness. It stands apart, unique, unapproachable, incomprehensible, and unattainable." —A. W. Tozer

2 Samuel 6:5-8 NIV

The Ark of the Covenant Returns to Israel. Based on Paul Troger’s Altenburg Abbey Frescoe.

There is nothing more dangerous than the casual handling of that which is holy.

Exodus 20:1-11 NIV

Moses Breaking the Tablets of the Law (1659) by Rembrandt. (Gemäldegalerie, Berlin)

Know Before Whom You Stand

Rabbi Stuart Dauermann, PhD, "Know Before Whom You Stand: Where Worship Begins and Continues"

http://bit.ly/2iN9cqM

• The fear of the Lord involves…

• The fear of the Lord involves putting our hope in God's unfailing love.

Psalms 147:11 NIV

From the hymn "Amazing Grace" by John Newton

Amazing Grace

"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn published in 1779, with words written by the English poet and Anglican clergyman John Newton (1725–1807).Newton, who had been involved in the slave trade but became an abolitionist after converting to Christianity, wrote the words from personal experience. Wikipedia article

http://bit.ly/2iOSUxG

• The fear of the Lord involves…

• The fear of the Lord involves living a godly, glad, and grateful life.

Psalms 112:1 NIV

1 Peter 1:15-16 NIV

"We have learned to live with unholiness and have come to look on it as the natural and expected thing.” — A. W. Tozer

For Reflection/Discussion: What, according to scripture, is the fear of the Lord? What three dimensions of the fear of the Lord were highlighted in this week's message? How is the fear of the Lord related to God's holiness? Read Isaiah 6.1-5 and 2 Samuel 6.1-8. How do these texts inform and/or challenge your understanding of God's holiness and the fear of the Lord? How does Jesus add to our understanding of the fear of the Lord? What is the meaning of the words "'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved" in John Newton's hymn Amazing Grace? How does Newton's life story give us insight into these words?

3. What does a healthy, godly fear the Lord look like?

1 John 4:18 NIV

• Read and study…

• Read and study the Bible, and get to know Who our Holy God really is.

2 Timothy 3:16 NIV

• Worship in a way that…

• Worship is a way that reflects a healthy, godly fear of the Lord.

Psalms 29:2 NIV

Exodus 20:8 NIV

Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV

• Live a life that’s…

• Live a life that’s consistent with a healthy, godly fear of the Lord.

1 Peter 1:15-16 NIV

• Thank God for…

• Thank God for the Good News of the Gospel that frees us from all our anxious and unhealthy fears.

1 Corinthians 15:57 NIV

In the end, there are only two fears: the fear of the Lord and the fear of everything else.

For reflection/discussion: According to this weekend's message, what are four ways that Christians can demonstrate a healthy, godly fear of the Lord? If an unchurched friend were to ask you what the phrase "the fear of the Lord" means, how would you answer? 1 John 4.18 says "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…" How does faith in Jesus Christ transform our understanding of the fear of the Lord? How does a godly, healthy fear of the Lord address all of our other fears?

FOR FURTHER STUDY

Fear Of God // Stand In Awe

Trading Fear for Fear

Christina Fox, "Trading Fear for Fear" Desiring God, January 9, 2015.

http://bit.ly/2AwKRwQ

Fearing God

John W. Yates, II, "Fearing God" Preaching Today.

http://bit.ly/2zxTc6G

14 Days

Proverbs 1:7 NIV