Discussion Series | Rooted | 13. What Does it Mean to Fear The Lord?

What does it mean to fear the Lord? Most people picture either terror or just a phrase Christians say without thinking about it. Pastor Steve walks us through what the Bible actually means — historically, theologically, and practically. The fear of the Lord isn’t what drives you from God. It’s what draws you to Him rightly.

Key Topics Covered

Why our culture’s declining trust in authority makes this harder to grasp

The difference between slavish fear and filial fear — Augustine’s distinction

What Isaiah 6 shows us about encountering the glory of God

The two primary responses to the fear of the Lord — humble worship and obedience

Why over-familiarity is not actually knowing God better — it’s making Him smaller

How the fear of the Lord affects the way you speak, worship, read Scripture, and obey

Key Scriptures

Proverbs 1:7 — the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge

Proverbs 8:13 — to fear the Lord is to hate evil

Proverbs 14:26 — strong confidence in the fear of the Lord

Proverbs 19:23 — the fear of the Lord leads to life

Isaiah 6:1–5 — Isaiah in the presence of God’s glory

Deuteronomy 10:12 — fear the Lord by walking in His ways, loving Him, obeying Him

Romans 8:15 — you did not receive a spirit of slavery leading to fear

Key Takeaways

The fear of the Lord begins with recognizing that God is the ultimate authority — and responding to that rightly.

It is not terror that makes you run from God. It is reverent awe that draws you toward Him.

Augustine’s distinction: slavish fear drives away. Filial fear — the fear of a son or daughter — draws near.

Isaiah’s response to God’s glory was not paralysis. It was humble worship — “Woe is me.”

The fear of the Lord and love for the Lord go together — Deuteronomy 10:12 lists them side by side.

Over-familiarity is not knowing God better. It’s forgetting who He actually is.

The fear of the Lord is a lifestyle — it affects how you worship, how you obey, and how carefully you use His name.

The third commandment is deeper than avoiding profanity. Putting God’s name on things He hasn’t endorsed is taking His name in vain.

Reading God’s Word regularly is the antidote to over-familiarity — it keeps calling us back to who He actually is.

Reflection Questions

When you think about God, does your picture of Him feel like someone whose presence actually has weight — or have you made Him too comfortable?

Have you ever drifted into over-familiarity with God? What pulled you back?

How does the fear of the Lord show up — or not show up — in the way you use His name?

What would it look like to walk in the fear of the Lord as a lifestyle, not just in a moment?

Enjoyed this episode? Share it with someone who’s been treating God like a casual acquaintance. This conversation might be exactly what they need.

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