Zephaniah has two major themes: the judgement on the world and the restoration of God’s people on the ‘day of the LORD’. The past few lessons have seen us looking at the wrath and judgement of God, but today we are finally going to delve deeper regarding the ‘restoration’ of God’s people.
How would you describe yourself? How would you describe your character? We might be tempted to qualify and choose a suitable description so that people will like us. But in some sense, the God of Zephaniah doesn't really care. This text focuses on the righteousness of God. What's also important is that the God we have been seeing in Zephaniah is the same God today! He is not an OT God of wrath and a loving and merciful God today. This is important to remember.
There are 2 big themes in the book of Zephaniah -- judgment on the Day of the Lord and the restoration on the Day of the Lord. In some sense, Zephaniah is the equivalent of Revelation in the Old Testament. But how is this book applicable for us today? Truthfully, is not hard to see that the powers of the world are fumbling. Countries don't gather and cooperate naturally. Just take a look at the newspapers. As we read Zephaniah 2, bear this in mind, that the judgment He is pouring out in chapter 2 is also what He is doing in our world today.
Today's study is based on just 3 verses, but don't let that throw you off. These are 3 verses with important truths, not only for the people of Israel then, but it also has present-day implications for us!
If you knew what tomorrow holds today, how would you live differently? This passage in Zephaniah talks about the "day of the Lord", which is a day of the LORD’s judgment on sin. What does this mean for us today, and how does this change the way we live now?
This is the first of our series in Zephaniah. Zephaniah belongs to the minor prophets in the Old Testament, but most of us don't really read the minor prophets because (a) poetry is hard, (b) it requires knowledge of some history and (c) the themes are hard-hitting. So before we look at the chapters and verses of the book of Zephaniah, let's also remember to understand the context.
What is the link between Jonah and Jesus Christ? This is the question that we seek to answer in this study, where we will examine the words of Jesus in the New Testament, in Matt 12:38-42.
What comes to your mind when you think of the word "God" and "mercy"? What does it mean that God is a God of mercy? In Jonah 4, we read of a God who is merciful, but also Jonah's struggle with this God! As we come to this passage, let us not approach Scriptures and leave in a disengaged manner. Rather, let us come ready to commit to let the Word speak to us, and walk away changed.
At the end of Jonah 2, "the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land" (Jonah 2:17). Jonah 3 records for us what happens after this, and Jonah 3:10 speaks of a God who relents. Immediately, we have many questions about what this means when God does not do what He said He would. This creates a lot of problems for us, which hopefully this study will address.
Jonah 2 is probably the most famous part of the Jonah narrative. When we get to Jonah 1:17, 2:1 and 2:10, many think that this is not possible and dismiss this account. For those of us that grew up in Sunday School, we are also left with the idea that this is a passage that shows us that if we are bad we are punished, and sets up a transactional relationship with God. Yet Jonah 2 is not about these 2 things, as we are about to find out.
Last week we began by understanding the context and circumstances surrounding Jonah's call from God. Jonah the son of Amittai is anything but faithful. God calls him to arise and go northeast but he has southwest instead just to get away from God. This is extremely counter-intuitive for a Jew. Landlocked Israel has always thought of the sea as a tempestuous place, where uncertainty, chaos and disaster reigns. In this study, we'll dive right in and unpack more of Jonah's response to God's call and command.
For this study, we'll only be camping out in the first 3 verses of this book. Why? Understanding these verses is important in shaping our understanding of the rest of the book, for it sets the tone and helps prevent us from being distracted by red herrings.
This final letter was addressed to Laodicea, which was a city similar to Singapore. It was a bustling, prosperous city engaged in trade. It had no water supply and had to pipe in water from the surrounding region. Laodicea was also a medical hub and had a well-known school of ophthalmology. Things seemed to be good in this city, but what did Jesus had to say to them? What can we learn from this letter?
This penultimate letter maintains the same structure that we've seen in the previous 5 letters to the churches, but in this letter, we'll also see how Jesus uses 3 house related metaphors in His writing to this church in Philadelphia.
The idea of "fake it till you make it" is not foreign to us, especially not to those of us in the workplace or at school. But do we have this same attitude in our walks with God? Today's passage shows us Sardis, the "worst" of the seven churches, and how they had a reputation for being alive but were actually dead - a message just as relevant to us today.
Do you find yourself awkward in today’s world or do you fit in perfectly with the world’s culture today? Do you find yourself increasingly distant from the world’s desires? Today’s passage challenges the church in Thyatira and us today to leave the world’s culture to obey and worship God alone.
To the church at Pergamum, Jesus speaks about the importance of right theology. But, who needs theology? Doesn't doctrine divide? Hasn't doctrine been the cause of great divisions in the church throughout the centuries? Clearly Jesus thought teaching and theology matters, and it will do us well to listen and obey His words in Revelation.
The second of the letters is addressed to Smyrna. What did Jesus have to say to this church and what can we learn from His words?
Today we begin looking at the letters to the 7 churches. What does Jesus have to say to the church at Ephesus, the subject of Paul's letter in the book we know as the book of Ephesians?
We continue our study in Revelation and today's passage is interesting with lots of symbolism etc. But before we get bogged down with the details (or confused), let Rev 1:3 be an encouragement to us, remembering that there is blessing in the reading and study of His Word.
