Purpose & Objectives
This lesson's purpose is to identify steps you can take to learn to fear the LORD, and to show what God does to help you learn.
Memory Verse for Week 3:
Ps 86:11. Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. (NIV)
Lesson Background
A surface comparison of major religions finds great similarities and few differences: each has ethical teaching; each has rules for faithful practice of its precepts, a priesthood and a teaching class; and each warms of penalties for infidelity and promises blessings to the faithful. That's where the similarity ends, though. Only Judaism and Christianity make the daring declaration that God the Father wants an intimate relationship with every believer – today, in this life. In fact, "salvation" is the by-product of a face-to-face relationship with the Lord and Savior of all men, our Messiah, Jesus Christ! Furthermore, Jesus boldly promises that his co-equal member of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, will "teach you, and lead you into all truth."
This week we look at the actions we can take and attitudes we must adopt to learn to fear the LORD. We also look at some methods the Holy Spirit uses to help us to learn.

Definitions – Reminder from Week 1
  • The fear of the LORD is a profound love and deep respect for God
  • The fear of the LORD is simply taking God seriously – he keeps his promises and expects us to obey his commands.
  • The fear of the LORD is the attitude that results from knowing that God is watching my every action, weighing my every motive, and aware of my every thought.
  • The fear of the LORD means to love what God loves, and hate what he hates.
    Day One Homework
    Scripture Reading: His promises to teach us. Exodus 4:12,15. Luke 12:11-12. I John 2:27. John 14:26. Psalms 32:8. Psalms 34:11
    1. Exodus 4:12,15. What did God promise to teach Moses? Compare this to Luke 12:11-12. What does Jesus promise that the Holy Spirit will teach his disciples?

    1. 1 John 2:27. What is the anointing? What will the anointing teach us?

    1. John 14:26. What promise does Jesus make about the Holy Spirit?

    1. Compare Psalms 32:8 with Psalms 34:11. What does God promise?





    Day Two Homework
    Scripture Reading: The heart-attitude of a disciple. Psalms 32:8-9. Psalms 34:11-14. Proverbs 2:1-5. Isaiah 57:15. Psalm 25:9. I Peter 5:5. Luke 14:26.
    1. Psalms 32:8-9. What conditions are required for God to teach us? What is meant by the metaphor of the horse and the mule?


    1. Psalms 34:11-14. What commandments are given to those who would learn the fear of the LORD?



    1. Proverbs 2:1-5. What does it mean to search "as for treasure?" What attitude is shown when we "cry aloud?" What heart attitude is required?


    1. Psalm 25:9 and 1 Peter 5:5. Whom does God promise to guide?


    1. Luke 14:26. What is the "entrance examination" that determines who is eligible to become a disciple?




    Day Three Homework
    Scripture Reading: Actions that only you can take. Psalms 25:4-5. Psalms 27:11. Psalms 51:6. Psalms 90:12. Psalms 86:11. Proverbs 1:23-29. Psalm 119:12,26,33,64,66,68,108,124,135,171.
    Jesus said "Ask, and you shall receive. Seek and you will find." James wrote, "you have not because you ask not." The actions you alone can take to learn the fear of the LORD are summarized here: ask, choose, seek.
    1. Ask. Psalms 86:11. What does the Psalmist ask for? What does he promise to do with the LORD's answer? Can you make a similar commitment?


    1. Review Psalms 25:4-5, Psalms 27:11, Psalms 90:12, and Psalm 119:12, 26, 33, 64, 66, 68, 108, 124, 135, 171. What does learning God's word have to do with learning to fear the LORD?



    1. Psalms 51:6. Where does God want us to learn truth and wisdom?


    1. Choose. Proverbs 1:23-29. How would you describe wisdom's attitude toward the simple? What is wisdom's response when the stubborn fool gets into trouble (v29)? Did you know that you can choose to fear the LORD?


    1. Seek. Proverbs 2:1-6 and Isaiah 11:2-4. From where does true wisdom and understanding arise? To whom does God give it?


    1. Write below a prayer that expresses your desire to learn the fear of the LORD.



    Day Four Homework
    Scripture Reading: God's part: what he does to teach you. Exodus 20:20. Genesis 22:1-12. Deuteronomy 8:5-6. Hebrews 12:7-11.
    1. Exodus 20:20. What is the purpose of God's testing? What will happen to people who learn to fear the LORD?

    1. Genesis 22:1-12 What did God order Abraham to do? What did God's test reveal in Abraham (v12)?


    1. Genesis 22:1-12 What is the most precious thing to you? How does Abraham's test compare to Luke 14:26?


    1. Deuteronomy 8:5-6. What methods did God use to test the Israelites? What was he examining in their lives? Compare this to Hebrews 12:7-11. What is the purpose for his discipline?


    1. How has he tested and disciplined you? Have you responded by choosing to fear the LORD?



    Day Five Homework
    Scripture Reading: God's part: what he does to teach you! Psalms 67:7. Psalms 119:38. Hebrews 12:21, 28-29. Isaiah 59:19 and Mark 4:41. Daniel 10:7-8, Luke 1:11-12, Revelation 1:17. Jeremiah 32:38-41.
    1. Psalms 67:7, Psalms 119:38. What are we supposed to learn from answered prayer?

    1. Hebrews 12:21, 28-29. How has God demonstrated his power and sovereignty to you? What has been the result?

    1. Isaiah 59:19 and Mark 4:41. How do men respond to a genuine miracle? Is this your response?

    1. Daniel 10:7-8, Revelation 1:17, Luke 1:11-12. How do men react to the presence of angels?

    1. Jeremiah 32:38-41. What does God promise to do for his people? Are there any conditions on these promises?


    Day Six Homework
    Scripture Reading: God's part: Judgment and wrath on evildoers. Revelation 14:6-7, 15:4. Acts 5:1-11. Psalms 90:11. Psalms 64:7-9. 2 Samuel 6:8-9. Psalms 2:5. Romans 2:5
    1. What is your attitude towards God's judgment and wrath, when you see it fall on others? Do you fear that the same will happen to you? Are you motivated to warn others to turn away from their sin also?





    The Last Word
  • Summarize your learning this week in a few sentences.



    1. Take time now to pray for yourself, and for each member of your study group.