The KJV Lesson Commentary International Sunday School Lesson Outline

June 5

Lesson 1

THE DAY OF THE LORD

DEVOTIONAL READING: Isaiah 25:6–10

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Zephaniah 1:2–2:4

ZEPHANIAH 1:4–6, 14–16

4 I will also stretch out mi[my] hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests;
5 And [those]that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;
6 And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.

14 The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wastes and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
16 A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.

ZEPHANIAH 2:3

3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which [has] wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.

Photo: Rasica/iStock/Thinkstock

KEY VERSE
Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which [has] wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.

—Zephaniah 2:3

TOWARD A NEW CREATION

Unit 1: Judgment and Salvation

LESSONS 1–3

LESSON AIMS

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. List characteristics of “the day of the Lord.”
2. Compare and contrast what Zephaniah says about the coming “day of the Lord” with what the New Testament says about “the day of the Lord,” when Christ returns.
3. Identify one hindrance in his or her life to seeking righteousness and make a plan to remove it.

LESSON OUTLINE

Introduction
      A.      Creator and Re-creator
      B.      Lesson Background
          I.      God’s Intentions (ZEPHANIAH 1:4–6)
      A.      Against the Idolaters (vv. 4, 5)
      B.      Against the Indifferent (v. 6)
      From Utopia to Dystopia and Back
          II.      Great Day’s Anguish (ZEPHANIAH 1:14–16)
      A.      Coming Soon (v. 14)
      B.      Coming with Sorrow (vv. 15, 16)
          III.      People’s Attitude (ZEPHANIAH 2:3)
      A.      Call to Repent (v. 3a)
      B.      Consequences of Humility (v. 3b)
      Avoiding Divine Correction
Conclusion
      A.      Ready or Not, Here It Comes
      B.      Prayer
      C.      Thought to Remember

HOW TO SAY IT

Ahab   Ay-hab.

Ammonites   Am-un-ites.

Baal   Bay-ul.

Babylonian   Bab-ih-low-nee-un.

Chemarims   Kih-muh-rims.

Hezekiah   Hez-ih-kye-uh.

Jezebel   Jez-uh-bel.

Josiah   Jo-sigh-uh.

Judah   Joo-duh.

Malachi   Mal-uh-kye.

Malcham   Mall-kam.

Milcom   Mill-com.

Nahum

  Nay-hum.

Nebuchadnezzar   Neb-yuh-kud-nez-er.

Obadiah   O-buh-dye-uh.

Zephaniah   Zef-uh-nye-uh.

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 What Do You Think?
     How do we overcome the various false gods that threaten our relationship with the true God?
 Talking Points for Your Discussion
     ■      Regarding the god of “me first”
     ■      Regarding the god of success and achievement
     ■      Regarding the god of pleasure-seeking
     ■      Other
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 What Do You Think?
     What are some ways to resist temptations to compromise our sole allegiance to the Lord?
 Talking Points for Your Discussion
     ■      Before temptation occurs
     ■      While in the midst of being tempted
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 What Do You Think?
     What techniques, resources, etc., do you use to maintain your spiritual passion so that you continue to seek the Lord?
 Talking Points for Your Discussion
     ■      When alone
     ■      In the context of the gathered church
     ■      In the home
     ■      At work or school
     ■      Other
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 What Do You Think?

     How can we help our church family focus more on the coming day of the Lord? Why is it important to do so?

 Talking Points for Your Discussion

     ■      When gathered for Bible study

     ■      When gathered for worship

     ■      Other

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 What Do You Think?
     What are some ways to seek righteousness in a secularized culture?
 Talking Points for Your Discussion
     ■      Without compromising biblical standards
     ■      Without appearing as “holier than thou”
     ■      While demonstrating the love of Christ
     ■      Other
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Visual for Lessons 1 & 2. Point to this visual as you pose the discussion question that is associated with verse 15.
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