Fear runs rampant in the world today, including fears related to the rise of nationalism, refugees, political corruption, violence, religious extremism, and climate crises. Amid these existential realities, the biblical idea of "the fear of God" poses theological opportunities and challenges for those who address these themes in their preaching and public ministry. This collection of conference presentations from the 2018 meeting of Societas Homiletica focuses on how preaching and homiletical studies around the world address the rhetorical, biblical, political, and spiritual dimensions of fear as it has emerged in recent decades in church and society.

Fear—it’s something we all experience. Fears about the future, an illness, or what others might think about us can rule our hearts and steal our joy. Did you know, though, that the Bible commands Christians to fear? Believers are to fear the Lord. But what does that mean? In A Holy Fear, Christina Fox unpacks what the “fear of the Lord” means and what it looks like in our lives. By giving examples of such fear in the Bible, exploring the fruits of that fear in our lives, and uncovering God’s promises to those who fear Him, this book will help you disarm your lesser fears, applying what you learn to your heart and turning to a fear of the Lord. Table of Contents: 1. A Fear-Filled Life 2. Fear the Lord 3. Fear the Lord for Who He Is 4. Fear the Lord for What He Has Done 5. Growing in the Fear of the Lord 6. The Fruit of Holy Fear 7. From Fear to Fear 8. God’s Promises to the Fearful Conclusion: A Life of Holy Fear

How cultivating a healthy fear of God liberates us from our fear of others, our fear of the future, and even our fear of death itself. At times the world feels like it's losing its mind. From politics to the pandemic, we live with an ever-increasing uncertainty, and many of us have grown to fear the rapid disintegration of our society and our own lives. Recovering Our Sanity is not another self-help book about how to beat your daily fears for a better life. It's a book that will show you the gravity and glory of a God who's worthy of our fear. It’s a book that will reveal how these two biblical phrases—Fear God and Do Not Be Afraid—are not contradictory but actually one coherent message. Michael Horton—Professor of Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary—shows us that we cannot fight our fears by seeking the absence of fear altogether, but by living with a fear of God that drives out the fear of everything else. Horton will walk you through the case for the fear of God by: Developing what it means to fear God, biblically and theologically, and what this kind of fear looks like in practice. Categorizing different types of fears—from cultural anxiety to pain and hardship—and what they stem from. Focusing on how to confront our earthly fears with our hope in Christ, rooted in the gospel. Reminding us that God does not exist for us; we exist for God. Humbling, thought-provoking, and hope-igniting, Recovering Our Sanity delivers a timely message that will help you shift your focus from a human-centered obsession with self-preservation to a fixation on Christ and his salvation. Rather than clinging to false securities and promises of immediate gratification, you can gain the lasting joy of knowing the One who has given himself to save us and who says to us, "Do not be afraid."

The fear of God is a primary spiritual grace deposited in the redeemed and pardoned soul. Scripture is filled with directives in obedience before God based on godly fear because it is a principal grace; it is part of the beginning of grace. Why are not more Christian books taken up with the fear of the Lord? It is because at the outset, such seems to be very offensive to modern Christian sensibilities. And yet, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding,” (Prov. 9:10). Many Christians look to Christ like they look to a boyfriend or girlfriend, rather than as the holy God who deals with sin through infinite wrath on the cross. Christ directed his disciples to a holy fear of God (Matt. 10:28). Jesus is the loving Savior, but this is bound up in the astonishment and amazement and respect of God’s being and character in relation to sin and salvation. He is to be feared. What is godly fear? Jeremiah Burroughs will answer this more than adequately. He uses his primary text in Isaiah 66:2, “But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” Knowledge of the word of God produces and cultivates the fear of God in Spirit-endowed believers. It produces a trembling and contrite Christian. As a result, he will show that Scripture informs the pardoned soul to understand God in the light of holy fear and trembling, in turn that becoming a tender heart to follow the word and will of God, as he demonstrates further from 2 Kings 22:14, “Because thine heart was tender….” Holy dread and tenderness of heart are inseparably linked together as Gospel-Fear.

Contrary to popular belief, there is nothing natural or acceptable about fear. In a world that is running rampant with fear, selfishness, and sin, it is easy for those not familiar with God's word to become deceived by the enemy. Remember, fear is the faith of the devil! Just as the kingdom of God requires faith to bring God's promises to pass in your life, the kingdom of darkness requires fear to bring the enemy's plans to pass in your life. Overcoming Fear provides a candid and revealing look into a spirit that is designed to destroy your life on every level. YOU WILL DISCOVER: The different ways fear can manifest in your life. Why you don't have to be subject to fear. How to evict every kind of fear from your life for good. Fear is a destructive force that Satan uses to keep you from experiencing God's best. When you deal with the spirit of fear according to the Word of God, you can live the life of peace God designed for you. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Creflo Dollar was born and raised in College Park, Georgia. Today, with his wife, he pastors over 30,000 members at WCCI-College Park, WCC-New York, and over 25 fellowship churches worldwide. Recognized for his cutting-edge revelation and humorous, pragmatic approach, Creflo empowers millions to experience God's grace, restoration, healing, and financial breakthrough by delivering simple, biblical principles to apply in their daily lives. Creflo is a world-renowned Bible teacher, best-selling author, and sought-after conference speaker with hundreds of books, CDs, and DVDs in worldwide distribution. He publishes CHANGE online magazine, and his award-winning television show, Changing Your World, is broadcast throughout the world and translated into six languages. Creflo and his wife, Taffi, have five children and live in Atlanta, Georgia.

Fear is one of the strongest human emotions, and it is one that often baffles Christians. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." — Proverbs 1:7 Fear is one of the strongest human emotions—and one that often baffles Christians. In the Bible the picture can seem equally confusing: Is fear a good thing or a bad thing? And what does it mean to "fear the Lord"? In Rejoice and Tremble, Michael Reeves clears the clouds of confusion and shows that the fear of the Lord is not a negative thing at all, but an intensely delighted wondering at God, our Creator and Redeemer.

Find freedom in an age of anxiety. Let’s face it: we are afraid. Our world is riddled with fear-inducing headlines, financial meltdowns, family crises, and phobias of every stripe. No wonder the New York Times now reports one in ten Americans is now taking antidepressant or anxiety medication. So how do we cope or even succeed in a world spinning out of control? As someone who has battled panic attacks and anxiety most of his life, Lance Hahn can relate. In How to Live in Fear, Lance tackles the pervasive problem of fear and panic head-on by inviting readers into his world. In this genuine and practical book, he invites readers into the life of a pastor living with anxiety disorder. Through humorous personal stories—like losing it on an airplane or collapsing onstage as he is about to preach—Lance will win over readers with his transparency. He will also share the remedies that have helped him recover and overcome throughout the years. How to Live in Fear is a public intervention of sorts. We need to talk about this issue, especially the church-at-large. Millions of people suffer from anxiety disorders, and the church has done little to make them feel normal. Many Christians now take medication privately but keep it a secret under the shame of being viewed as a failure. Lance willingly bares his soul in order to get the conversation started. He firmly believes the church should not only recognize the issue, but also help believers reconcile the guilt of being a Christian while dealing with dread and anxiety Filled with practical tips and advice, and full of relevant scriptures, How to Live in Fear gives readers the tools to relax in the face of fear—real or imagined. Lance will show readers that while he may still encounter bouts of panic, he has never let his disorder stop him from living a full life.