1. Tracing Awe and Wonder Through the Biblical Tradition
Reverent Awe:
Tracing Awe and Wonder Through the Biblical Tradition

2. What was it in the Bible? Why is it important? How do we encourage it?
Awe and Wonder:
What was it in the Bible?
Why is it important?
How do we encourage it?

3. Tracing Awe in the Biblical text
What was it in the Bible?
Tracing Awe in the Biblical text

4. What Image come to mind when you think of awe and wonder?
It might be something that evokes awe and wonder

7. What Image come to mind when you think of awe and wonder?
It might be something that evokes awe and wonder
It might be the emotion itself

9. The question we face is…
…what facial expression accurately expresses what we are talking about?

10. The challenge of Awe
The reason why we need to add wonder to awe is because awe is a tricky word – and wonder is softer

11. Wonder Interestingly is not really a biblical word
The closest we get to it is amazement – and that is more in the New Testament

12. They were amazed, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?"
(Matthew 8:27)

13. The challenge of Awe
The reason why we need to add wonder to awe is because awe is a tricky word – and wonder is softer
The Hebrew and Greek words that stand behind awe can just as easily be translated ‘fear’
And in modern translations often are

14. Put them in fear, O LORD; let the nations know that they are only human. 
(Psalm 9:20)

15. You shall not cheat one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the LORD your God.
(Leviticus 25:17)

16. Awe and Fear
The word ‘awe’ does communicate a mix of emotions from amazement all the way through to absolute terror
The reason for this in biblical texts is that God’s presence was dangerous
At the same time people were often instructed not to be afraid

17. Reflecting on the Importance of Awe
Why is it important?
Reflecting on the Importance of Awe

18. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom
(Psalm 111:10)

19. Awe and Wisdom
It places us in proper relationship with God, with the world and with others
The summary of the Law and it’s bi-directional focus
Psychologists in a wide range of studies have found that people who feel awe are more likely to show kindness to others (prosocial skills)

20. Wisdom, Awe and Creation
The strong link between awe of God and awe of creation

21. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; 4 what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? (Psalm 8:1)

22. Wisdom, Awe and Creation
The strong link between awe of God and awe of creation
There is an urgent need to link fear of God with care for creation

23. Living lives shaped by awe
How do we encourage it?
Living lives shaped by awe

24. Living in awe:
Modelling it – taking the time to feel awe ourselves

25. “To see a World in a Grain of Sand  And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,  Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand  And Eternity in an hour.” 
William Blake Auguries of Innocence

26. Living in awe:
Modelling it – it is something that takes practice and reflection
Leaving space for it – feelings of awe don’t come swiftly
Recognising that young people may be better at it than we are

27. “The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” W.B. Yeats

28. Living in awe:
Modelling it – it is something that takes practice and reflection
Leaving space for it – feelings of awe don’t come swiftly
Recognising that young people may be better at it than we are

29. “Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty
“Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.” Franz Kafka

30. Awe of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom