Family Worship Guide – Week 31 · PDF file · 2016-07-25o Read Zephaniah 2:3...
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Copyright ©2010 The Church at Brook Hills www.brookhills.org 1 Family Worship Guide – Week 31 READ o In the book of Zephaniah, the prophet by the same name delivered God’s warning to His people and all nations. o Read Zephaniah 1:1‐6 – Here, early in the prophecy from Zephaniah, the coming judgment of God is declared against Judah, the last intact nation of Israel. This is a hard word to receive, but not as critical as that which follows. Beyond the more immediate judgment that is proclaimed, this proclamation also addresses the Day of the Lord. This is a common phrase used to refer to the final judgment at which eternity is determined for each man. This is not temporal, but final judgment. o Chapter one addresses God’s people as represented in Jerusalem (v. 12) and calls them complacent toward God. o This chapter also addresses all of mankind (v. 17) and their sin against God. o Both are condemned to destruction for their acts against the Lord. o Read Zephaniah 2:3 – This verse offers an exhortation and a glimmer of hope for those that will humble themselves and seek righteousness. The rest of the chapter, however, outlines the destruction due to the nations around Judah and climaxes in chapter 3 with Judah itself. o Read Zephaniah 3:9, 15‐17 – These verses give more than just a glimmer of hope. These are promises of God reflecting His goodness and justice. God promises that He will save those who follow Him. Not only will He save them, but He will also rejoice and sing of the delight He has in them. Bottom line: The Day of the Lord brings eternal condemnation for the proud who rely on themselves, but eternal blessing for the humble followers of the Lord. Questions: What are other names you have heard given in reference to “The Day of the Lord?” Who is responsible for acting in chapter 2:3? In chapter 3:9? Would you categorize yourself as someone who relies on yourself or follows the Lord? Do your thoughts, words, and actions support your answer to the previous question? Do you have a healthy grasp of the condemnation that is due to sin and sinners? How does this prophecy affect your understanding of the extent of the mercy promised to Christ followers? PRAY o Read Window on the World, pg. 110‐111 Maldives o Use Prayer Card SING o Use lyric sheet and mp3 download of “Mighty to Save” o Like a parent disciplining a child, in the book of Jeremiah we see God lay out the consequences for His peoples’ actions. If they continue to disobey Him, then He will be just in sending His punishment. If they repent and return to Him, then He will lovingly extend mercy to them. It is daunting to realize that these consequences are eternal. However, the Lord’s exhortations weren’t just meant for the people of Judah. They are also meant to remind us we face the same set of consequences today. While we justly deserve punishment for our sin, God graciously offers us mercy instead. With the song “Mighty to Save”, we focus on the truly magnificent power and grace of our Father as He offers us salvation through His Son. He is strong enough to move mountains, therefore He is mighty enough to cancel our debt to Him. As you sing, let these words be your prayer to God, rejoicing in the great gift of His mercy and love. MEMORIZE o Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
Transcript of Family Worship Guide – Week 31 · PDF file · 2016-07-25o Read Zephaniah 2:3...
Copyright ©2010 The Church at Brook Hills www.brookhills.org 1
FamilyWorshipGuide–Week31 READ
o InthebookofZephaniah,theprophetbythesamenamedeliveredGod’swarningtoHispeopleandallnations.o ReadZephaniah1:1‐6–Here,earlyintheprophecyfromZephaniah,thecomingjudgmentofGodisdeclaredagainst
Judah,thelastintactnationofIsrael.Thisisahardwordtoreceive,butnotascriticalasthatwhichfollows.Beyondthemoreimmediatejudgmentthatisproclaimed,thisproclamationalsoaddressestheDayoftheLord.Thisisacommonphraseusedtorefertothefinaljudgmentatwhicheternityisdeterminedforeachman.Thisisnottemporal,butfinaljudgment.
o ChapteroneaddressesGod’speopleasrepresentedinJerusalem(v.12)andcallsthemcomplacenttowardGod.
o Thischapteralsoaddressesallofmankind(v.17)andtheirsinagainstGod.o BotharecondemnedtodestructionfortheiractsagainsttheLord.
o ReadZephaniah2:3–Thisverseoffersanexhortationandaglimmerofhopeforthosethatwillhumblethemselvesandseekrighteousness.Therestofthechapter,however,outlinesthedestructionduetothenationsaroundJudahandclimaxesinchapter3withJudahitself.
o ReadZephaniah3:9,15‐17–Theseversesgivemorethanjustaglimmerofhope.ThesearepromisesofGodreflectingHisgoodnessandjustice.GodpromisesthatHewillsavethosewhofollowHim.NotonlywillHesavethem,butHewillalsorejoiceandsingofthedelightHehasinthem.Bottomline:TheDayoftheLordbringseternalcondemnationfortheproudwhorelyonthemselves,buteternalblessingforthehumblefollowersoftheLord.Questions:Whatareothernamesyouhaveheardgiveninreferenceto“TheDayoftheLord?”Whoisresponsibleforactinginchapter2:3?Inchapter3:9?WouldyoucategorizeyourselfassomeonewhoreliesonyourselforfollowstheLord?Doyourthoughts,words,andactionssupportyouranswertothepreviousquestion?Doyouhaveahealthygraspofthecondemnationthatisduetosinandsinners?HowdoesthisprophecyaffectyourunderstandingoftheextentofthemercypromisedtoChristfollowers?
PRAYo ReadWindowontheWorld,pg.110‐111Maldiveso UsePrayerCard
SINGo Uselyricsheetandmp3downloadof“MightytoSave”o Likeaparentdiscipliningachild,inthebookofJeremiahweseeGodlayouttheconsequencesforHispeoples’
actions.IftheycontinuetodisobeyHim,thenHewillbejustinsendingHispunishment.IftheyrepentandreturntoHim,thenHewilllovinglyextendmercytothem.Itisdauntingtorealizethattheseconsequencesareeternal.However,theLord’sexhortationsweren’tjustmeantforthepeopleofJudah.Theyarealsomeanttoreminduswefacethesamesetofconsequencestoday.Whilewejustlydeservepunishmentforoursin,Godgraciouslyoffersusmercyinstead.Withthesong“MightytoSave”,wefocusonthetrulymagnificentpowerandgraceofourFatherasHeoffersussalvationthroughHisSon.Heisstrongenoughtomovemountains,thereforeHeismightyenoughtocancelourdebttoHim.Asyousing,letthesewordsbeyourprayertoGod,rejoicinginthegreatgiftofHismercyandlove.
MEMORIZEo Zephaniah3:17TheLordyourGodisinyourmidst,amightyonewhowillsave;hewillrejoiceoveryouwith
gladness;hewillquietyoubyhislove;hewillexultoveryouwithloudsinging.
Copyright ©2010 The Church at Brook Hills www.brookhills.org 2
SUGGESTIONS
These suggestionswere created by the age‐groupministry leaders as away to help parents better communicate thebiblical truths discussed in the Family Worship Guide. These activities and questions can replace or serve as asupplementtothequestionsunderthe“Read”sectiononPage1.RememberthatthesesuggestionsareintendedtohelpparentsfacilitateGod‐centereddiscussionswiththeirchildren.Parentsshouldprayerfullyusethesesuggestions,andanyothermeansnecessary,tohelptheirchildrendiscoverthetruthsofGod’swordandworshipHimtogether.
Preschool(Birth‐Kindergarten)o Beforeyoubegin,thinkofageneralruleinyourhousethatyouexpectyourchildrentoobey.Anexamplemightbe
“Alwaysbetruthful,nevertellalie”.o Next,talktoyourchildaboutthatruleandgiveexamplesofwhenaliemightbetoldorhowthatrulemightbe
broken.ExplaintoyourchildthatyouexpectthemtoobeytherulesbecauseyoulovethemandGodhasgivenyouthisjobastheirparent.Ifaruleisbrokenthereareconsequencesfordisobeyingthatrule.Wewouldhavetochooseapunishmentforyourbadchoice.
o ThenexplainthatGodalsowantsHispeopletofollowHisrulesandtoobeyHimbecauseHelovesustoo.Hisrulesarealwaysforourgood.However,justlikethepunishmentwegiveforyourbadchoice,GodwillpunishpeoplewhochoosetodisobeyHim,too.
o WeneedGod’shelptoobeyHisrules.Wecan’tdoanythingwithoutGod!WhenwechoosetoobeyGodwechoosetofollowHim.ThisisGod’splanforHispeopleandHewillblessthosethatchoosetofollowHim.
Children(Grades1‐5)
o Talkaboutchoices.Askifyoucouldchoosechocolateorvanillaicecreamwhatwouldyouchose?Askafewmore:pizzaorchickenfingers,footballorbaseball,danceorgymnastics,mathorscience.Theseareeasychoicesthatwemakeallthetime.Wearegoingtotalkaboutamuchmoreimportantchoiceweallhavetomake.Themostimportantchoicewewillevermake.
o Zephaniahwasaprophet.Whatisaprophet?ItwasapersonchosenbyGodtotellHismessagestothepeople.Themessageswereoftenwarnings.DuringthetimeZephaniahwasaprophet,Josiah,wasking.Josiahbecomeskingwhenhewas8yearsold.Whenhehadbeenkingforeighteenyears,theBookoftheLaw(WordoftheLord)wasfoundinthetemplewhenitwasbeingrestored.Thebookhadbeenlostandforgottenbymost.ThenationhadturnedfarfromGodformanyyears.KingJosiahreaditandrealizedhowsinfulhispeopleandcountrywere.HebegantochangethingsandleadhispeopleinawaythathonoredGod.AtthesametimeZephaniahwasgivingthepeoplewarningfromGodtochangeandtellingthemofthepunishmentthatwouldcomeforthosewhodidnot.(Zephaniah1:4‐9)
o ThismessagefromGodwasforthepeopleofthistime(640‐621BC)andforusnow.WewillallbejudgedbyGodforouractionsandattitudestoGod.ReadZeph.1:2‐3,3:8and3:15,17,20toseethetwoverydifferentoutcomesofjudgment.HewillshowmercytoallwhohavebeenfaithfultoHimandpunishthosewhodonot.Thewayweliveourlivesandwhowefollowwilldeterminetheoutcomeofourjudgment.
o Thereareonlytwochoices.First,youcangiveyourlifetoGodthroughJesusandfollowhim.Second,youcanturnawayfromHimandfollowtheworldandyourownsinfuldesires.Thisisnotjustachangeinouroutwardactions,butaninwardcommitmentgivingourheartsandlivestoHim.WhenHechangesourheartsouractions/desireswillchange.
o TodayweneedtohearthewordsofZephaniahandaskourselveswhatwewillchoose.IfwehavenotchosentofollowGod,thenwearechoosingtofollowsinanditspunishmentwillfollow.PrayandaskGodtoopenyoureyesandhearttoHim.YoucanbejustlikeKingJosiah,whoread,believed,andwaschanged!
Students(Grades6‐12)
o Whatispride?Howisitoftendisplayedinvariouspeople’slives?o Howdoesprideaffectourrelationshipswithothers?HowdoesitaffectourrelationshipwithGod?o CanwerelyonourselvesandstillfollowafterGod?Whyorwhynot?o Whatistheresultofself‐relianceifwedon’tknowChrist?Whatistheresultofself‐relianceifweareChrist‐
followers?
Pra
yer
W
eek
31Pr
aise
Prai
se is
an
act
of w
orsh
ip t
hrou
gh p
raye
r in
whi
ch w
e ex
pres
s ou
r ad
orati
on o
f and
love
for
God
. It
is r
ejoi
cing
in
who
God
is a
nd t
he s
alva
tion
He
give
s us
thr
ough
Chr
ist.
We
reco
gniz
e th
e m
any
face
ts o
f H
is c
hara
cter
and
the
w
ork
He
has
done
in o
ur li
ves.
It
is g
ivin
g th
anks
for
the
bles
sing
s H
e ha
s gi
ven
us.
Whe
n w
e pr
aise
God
, we
give
gl
ory,
hon
or a
nd th
anks
to H
im.
Bibl
ical
Bas
is fo
r Pr
aise
:D
eute
rono
my
10:2
1; 1
Chr
onic
les
16:8
-13;
Psa
lm 1
50; R
oman
s 15
:8-1
1; H
ebre
ws
13:1
5; 1
Pet
er 2
:9
Take
som
e tim
e fo
r ea
ch o
f tho
se g
athe
red
with
you
to li
ft u
p pr
aise
s to
the
Lord
.
Nati
ons:
Mal
dive
sSe
vera
l hum
an ri
ghts
org
aniz
ation
s na
me
Mal
dive
s as
one
of t
he w
orld
’s w
orst
in re
gard
to re
ligio
us fr
eedo
m.
• A
sk th
e Lo
rd to
wor
k in
the
hear
ts o
f the
Mal
divi
an g
over
nmen
t.A
ll M
aldi
vian
citi
zens
mus
t be
Mus
lim, a
nd c
onve
rts
lose
citi
zens
hip.
Pra
y th
at th
e go
spel
will
spr
ead
thro
ugh
• an
d in
spi
te o
f the
bar
rier
s th
at a
re p
rese
nt.
The
few
bel
ieve
rs in
Mal
dive
s su
ffer
ostr
acis
m a
nd c
anno
t op
enly
mee
t to
geth
er n
or r
ead
the
Scri
ptur
es.
• Pr
ay fo
r ou
r M
aldi
vian
bro
ther
s an
d si
ster
s th
at t
hey
will
hol
d fa
st t
o th
e fa
ith a
nd t
he L
ord
will
gra
nt t
hem
pe
rsev
eran
ce.
Pray
for
thos
e be
ing
pers
ecut
ed th
at th
e Lo
rd w
ill s
how
Him
self
stro
ng in
thei
r liv
es.
• Pr
ay th
at th
e Lo
rd w
ill c
ontin
ue to
gro
w a
nd s
tren
gthe
n H
is C
hurc
h th
ere
in M
aldi
ves.
• So
urce
: Ope
ratio
n W
orld
by
John
ston
e an
d M
andr
yk
Scr
iptu
re M
emor
y
Wee
k 31
Zeph
ania
h 3:
17 T
he L
ord
your
God
is in
you
r m
idst
, a m
ight
y on
e w
ho w
ill s
ave;
he
will
rejo
ice
over
you
with
gla
dnes
s; h
e w
ill q
uiet
yo
u by
his
love
; he
will
exu
lt ov
er y
ou w
ith lo
ud s
ingi
ng.
Mig
hty
to S
ave
By B
en F
ield
ing
and
Reub
en M
orga
n
Ever
yone
nee
ds c
ompa
ssio
n,Lo
ve th
at’s
nev
er fa
iling
;Le
t mer
cy fa
ll on
me.
Ever
yone
nee
ds fo
rgiv
enes
s,Th
e ki
ndne
ss o
f a S
avio
r;Th
e H
ope
of n
ation
s.
Savi
or, H
e ca
n m
ove
the
mou
ntai
ns,
My
God
is M
ight
y to
sav
e,H
e is
Mig
hty
to s
ave.
Fore
ver,
Aut
hor
of s
alva
tion,
He
rose
and
con
quer
ed th
e gr
ave,
Jesu
s co
nque
red
the
grav
e.
So ta
ke m
e as
You
find
me,
All
my
fear
s an
d fa
ilure
s,Fi
ll m
y lif
e ag
ain.
I giv
e m
y lif
e to
follo
wEv
eryt
hing
I be
lieve
in,
Now
I su
rren
der.
My
Savi
or, H
e ca
n m
ove
the
mou
ntai
ns,
My
God
is M
ight
y to
sav
e,H
e is
Mig
hty
to s
ave.
Fore
ver,
Aut
hor
of s
alva
tion,
He
rose
and
con
quer
ed th
e gr
ave,
Jesu
s co
nque
red
the
grav
e.
Shin
e yo
ur li
ght a
nd
Let t
he w
hole
wor
ld s
ee,
We’
re s
ingi
ng fo
r th
e gl
ory
Of t
he r
isen
Kin
g...J
esus
Copy
righ
t©20
06 H
illso
ng P
ublis
hing
Due
to c
opyr
ight
lim
itatio
ns, w
e ar
e on
ly
allo
wed
to p
rint t
he ly
rics
to th
is s
ong
with
no
chor
ds.
We
enco
urag
e yo
u to
do
wnl
oad
an m
p3 o
f thi
s so
ng fr
om
iTun
es.
Cop
yrig
ht ©
2010
The
Chu
rch
at B
rook
Hill
s
