Sermon: The Day of the Lord

Key Takeaways:

The "day of the Lord" refers to times when God makes things right and deals with sin.

There are three types of responses needed to the day of the Lord: recognize, repent, and rejoice.

God's judgment and mercy apply to all people and nations, not just Israel.

Even in judgment, God offers hope and restoration for those who seek Him.

Discussion Questions:

What stood out to you most from the sermon on Zephaniah? Why?

The sermon mentioned three types of people who need to hear about the day of the Lord. Which category do you think you fall into most often, and why? a) Those who need to recognize God's existence and authority b)

Those who need to repent of false views of God or syncretism c) Those who need to rejoice in God's salvation and coming justice

How does the concept of the "day of the Lord" challenge or encourage you in your faith?

The sermon talked about taking God's blessings for granted. In what ways might we be guilty of this today?

How can we maintain a balance between recognizing our guilt and shame while also rejoicing in Christ's forgiveness?

Greg mentioned his mother feeling weary of sin in herself and the world. Have you ever felt similarly? How does Zephaniah's message speak to those feelings?

Practical Applications:

This week, take time to "recognize" God's authority in an area of your life where you may have been ignoring Him. What steps can you take to submit that area to Him?

Identify one way you might be mixing worldly values with your faith (modern "syncretism"). Commit to addressing this and aligning more fully with biblical teaching.

Practice rejoicing in God's promises of restoration and justice. Each day this week, thank God for a specific way He has shown or will show His faithfulness.

Choose one blessing from God that you may have been taking for granted. How can you cultivate more gratitude for it?