The Fear of the Lord

The sermon centers on Proverbs 1:7, asserting that the fear of the Lord is the foundational beginning of true wisdom, not merely a starting point to be outgrown but a lifelong orientation rooted in reverence, awe, and obedience to God. It distinguishes biblical wisdom from secular or atheistic understanding by emphasizing that without a proper relationship with the living God, even the most intelligent person remains a fool, as genuine wisdom requires divine revelation found in Scripture and Christ. The fear of the Lord is unpacked as a dynamic progression—from initial dread of divine judgment to reverential awe and ultimately to trust, love, and obedience—illustrated through biblical narratives and the metaphor of Dorothy's journey, which contrasts the false self-sufficiency of the Wizard of Oz with the necessity of Christ as the source of all wisdom. The sermon highlights the practical benefits of this fear: humility, moral clarity, a life of greater quality and longevity, deepened confidence, and the ultimate joy of pleasing God. It concludes with a call to all believers to grow in wisdom by treasuring God's Word, pursuing Christ, and living in the assurance that true wisdom is found not in human effort but in abiding in the Lord who is wisdom itself.