The kind of sermon I usually preach has little to do with fear. In fact, I spent most of my life fighting AGAINST fear and teaching myself self-confidence and boldness. 1 John 4:18, “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.”
It’s true that God loves you...unconditionally. But his blessings are conditional. If you want to walk in the blessing of God--you have to be obedient.
But just like any good parent, God does use discipline to bring us back into line, and if we aren't coming back, throughout the ages, he has used more extreme methods. We have to trust that our creator God is the best judge of us, and give him the proper respect he's due. Healthy fear of God is a good thing.
God is a judge. He created heaven & earth and has all authority to do what HE deems necessary to fix it. We need to trust Him and obey Him.
This week, let's study the following passages:
- Psalm 11
- Would you say you have a healthy fear of the "fire & brimstone" that God is capable of?
- How does this passage make you feel?
- Genesis 19:1-29
- What lessons can we learn from the story of Sodom & Gomorrah?
- Why do you think Lot was spared?
- Matthew 18:1-9
- Jesus has some harsh words in this passage--who are they directed at?
- Do they change your view of Jesus at all?
- Proverbs 9:10
- How can you apply this verse in your life?