Family Worship

Zephaniah Warned God's People To Repent:    

The focus of this family time is to use five easy steps to teach your family that Zephaniah prophesied about the Day of the Lord—a day when God will judge the world for its sin and Jesus Christ will return. Jesus will make everything like new, and everyone who trusts in Him will be safe.


MEMORY VERSE: 

“Therefore, Repent and turn back, So that your sins may be wiped out.”

Acts 3:19


Learn the Memory Verse together and say it throughout the week to help your family remember and apply what they have learned.



STEP 1. GATHER!

Use this time to begin Family Worship Night and have fun!


Mark your calendar for a “Special Day” later this week, but don’t tell kids why the day is special. Talk about the day often and remind kids that it is coming. When the day comes, surprise the family with a trip to get their favorite dessert. As you enjoy dessert, talk about how the Day of the Lord is a day of hope and joy for those who believe in Jesus. Explain to kids what it means to trust in the Lord and how they might respond if God is leading them to believe.


STEP 2. WORSHIP!

  • Sing and have fun while worshiping then pray. Take a moment here to thank God for your family and your time together!! 

STEP 3. BIBLE!

Watch the Bible story video or read the book of Zephaniah from the Bible:

Preschool:


Elementary:


STEP 4. DISCUSSION! 

Use these questions and points to have a conversation with your children about the Bible story. 


Preschool Discussion:

  • Zephaniah (zef uh NIGH uh) was a prophet. God told Zephaniah about something that would happen one day. Zephaniah told the people, “A day is coming when God is going to punish people because they disobey Him.” 
  • Zephaniah told them it would be a bad, dark day with clouds. God would be angry because people did wrong things. 
  • Zephaniah said, “Love God and do what He says.” 
  • Then Zephaniah told the people some good news. When it was time for all the people to be punished, God would take care of the people who trust in Him. He would keep them safe. The day will be such a happy day for God’s people. They will sing and be happy. 
  • Zephaniah said, “God will be with you. God will take care of you. He will show you how much He loves you.” 
  • MISSIONS MOMENT- This Sunday’s Mission lesson was about Adoniram Judson. Two of the most important things Adoniram Judson did to help people in Burma (now Myanmar) know about Jesus was translating the Bible into their language and writing a Burmese dictionary. These tools helped future missionaries learn the Burmese language so they could tell people in Myanmar about Jesus. Ask the your family if they know any words in another language. Comment that it is difficult work to translate the Bible into a different language. Mention that God helped Adoniram do this hard job. 
  • Remember to pray as a family for our own Missionaries that our church has sent out!

Elementary Discussion

  • Have you ever felt that sick-to-your-stomach feeling that comes when you’re waiting to be punished for doing a bad thing? You know you did wrong and undeniably deserve the coming punishment, but that knowledge still doesn’t make it pleasant! The terrible sick feeling comes because you know the punishment is coming, and you just wish there was some way out of it! 
  • The prophecy of Zephaniah told the people about a future day when God would judge all the sin of the world. He described the frightful day as a time of darkness, wrath, and destruction. Everyone who heard this news got that sick-to-your-stomach feeling because they knew punishment was coming! 
  • But wrapped up in all the bad news of judgment, God provided good news for His people. Zephaniah gave the people hope because God would save all those who trust in Him. He will protect them from the punishment, and He will fix everything broken by sin. On the same day that God will judge sin, He will make all things right and new for His children! That’s just what the doctor ordered to get rid of the sick feeling in your stomach! 
  • Zephaniah prophesied about the Day of the Lord—a day when God will judge the world for its sin and Jesus Christ will return. Jesus will make everything like new, and everyone who trusts in Him will be safe.  
  • MISSIONS MOMENT- This Sunday’s Mission lesson was about Adoniram Judson. Two of the most important things Adoniram Judson did to help people in Burma (now Myanmar) know about Jesus was translating the Bible into their language and writing a Burmese dictionary. These tools helped future missionaries learn the Burmese language so they could tell people in Myanmar about Jesus. Ask the your family if they know any words in another language. Comment that it is difficult work to translate the Bible into a different language. Mention that God helped Adoniram do this hard job. 
  • Remember to pray as a family for our own Missionaries that our church has sent out!

STEP 5. Pray!

  • Pray: We know, God, that You will one day judge the world for sin. We all deserve to be punished for our sin, but we thank You for showing Your love by sending Jesus to die on the cross. You have promised to save those who trust in Jesus, and through Him You will make all things new.