The Handlebar Podcast 126. MINISTRY + THE FEAR OF GOD (A CONVERSATION WITH JOEL FIGUEROA PT 2)
Mar 2, 2026
Joel Figueroa, worship leader and songwriter, reflects on ministry, family life, and spiritual accountability. He shares the story behind the song "Fear of God." The conversation explores reverent friendship with God, personal repentance over public condemnation, and practical rhythms to stay grounded in reverence.
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Writing Fear Of God As A Prayer For A Fallen Leader
- Joel and Sarah Beth wrote Fear Of God in 2020 after a music director fell away, reshaping a leftover upbeat idea into a prayer for a returning person.
- The chorus and bridge emerged from Miller's sermon series on fear of God and the group's grief, leading to a live recording that included table-flipping imagery.
Scandal Can Redirect To The Fear Of God
- Aaron connects current church scandals to a renewed hunger for the fear of the Lord rather than social media outrage or opinion-sharing.
- He recounts a fear-of-God Bible study where practical hardship (a stolen car) felt like spiritual warfare around pursuing holiness.
Confess First Before Publicly Condemning Others
- Before pointing fingers at exposed leaders, examine personal compromise and invite God to reveal where you live by the flesh.
- Joel advises confessing and bringing hidden faults into the light with friends rather than reacting publicly.
