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This week, we are trying something a little different. The normal bulletin contents are below this week's video. We hope that this helps you to feel a little more like being together.
Hymn: Breathe on Me, Breath of God
Call to Worship
We gather on this Pentecost Sunday to celebrate and commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit and also to celebrate the birthday of the church. We come this morning with open hearts and open ears to hear the way the Lord makes himself known to use. We thank him for the times when we truly need his presence and guidance. But we should also remember the times of great joy and celebration, and take the time to thank him and praise him. Give us great joy on this Pentecost Sunday as we gather as God's children.
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, the gift of Jesus in us is visible in the way we witness to the fruitfulness of that gift. We know that the fruit of the spirit consists of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Yet so often we put conditions on our love, and joy and peace are difficult to discern when our words and actions deny their presence. When we persistently make self-serving decisions rather than Christ-centered ones. Gracious and merciful God, grant us your forgiveness and your love so that we may truly care for one another. Refresh and renew us with the Holy Spirit this day.
Time of Personal Reflection
Assurance of Pardon
In Christ there is no east or west, in him no south or north, but one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth. In Jesus Christ there is new life. In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
The Apostle's Creed
Children's Sermon
Hymn: Sweet, Sweet Spirit
Prayer of Illumination
Scripture Lesson: John 20:19-23 and Acts 2:1-13
Sermon: Pentecost is a Breath of Fresh Air
Hymn: Spirit of the Living God
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord's Prayer
Benediction
Hymn: Holy, Holy
During Lent, we shared both on our website and on our Facebook page devotionals written by church members in past years. This served as a nice way to connect, even after we stopped meeting in person. Because it will still be some time before we are physically together, we thought that continuing some devotions would be a great way to continue reaching out.
Pick out a few verses or a passage of scripture that mean something to you. Write a paragraph or two (or more, if you need to!) about your reflections on that passage, and a small prayer. Email that to the church's email: north.buffalo.church@gmail.com. We plan to share these on both the church website and Facebook page.
As we continue to be physically apart, please let Pastor Gary or a session member know if you need anything. If you have prayer requests, please talk with Linda Miller. If you need food from our food pantry, please get in touch with Becky Phillips.
This is also a continuing opportunity to reach out to friends, loved ones, and member of our church family. You could send a card, or make a phone call. Even a text message can be appreciated.
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Good Morning!
Today is Pentecost. Happy Birthday to the Church!
When we meet in person, we share joys and concerns. As we gather separately, we can still do that. Take some time to reflect on your week. Pray for both those things that have given you joy, and those things that have given you worry. If you would like, you can share these in the comments below.
During Lent, we shared both on our website and on our Facebook page devotionals written by church members in past years. This served as a nice way to connect, even after we stopped meeting in person. Because it will still be some time before we are physically together, we thought that continuing some devotions would be a great way to continue reaching out.
Pick out a few verses or a passage of scripture that mean something to you. Write a paragraph or two (or more, if you need to!) about your reflections on that passage, and a small prayer. Email that to the church's email: north.buffalo.church@gmail.com. We plan to share these on both the church website and Facebook page.
Our scripture for this lesson is Hosea 11:1-2, 7-10 and Hosea 12:1-2, 6-14.
Introduction
One hot summer day, the cool green watermelon was as appealing as gourmet ice cream. A swift stroke of a knife later, though, and everyone gathered around the table winced in disgust. The watermelon had rotted from the inside out. The rind was perfect, but the dead white insides reeked of decay. Disappointment quickly gave way to revulsion as we tried to escape the nauseating stench. The beautiful fruit was rotten to the core. The northern kingdom of Israel of the mid-eighth century BC looked beautiful on the surface as well, like the nation had it all together. But it too was rotten at the core. And God had had enough of Israel’s revolting behavior.
Lesson Context
A general time line for Hosea’s prophetic ministry is 755-725 BC. This is computed with reference to the reigns listed in Hosea 1:1, as well as the fact that the northern kingdom of Israel, Hosea’s primary focus, ceased to exist in 722 BC. Israel’s King Jeroboam II, listed in Hosea 1:1, reigned from about 793 to 753 BC. He was a strong ruler politically. He expanded Israel’s borders and made Israel the leading nation in Palestine and Syria (see 2 Kings 14:23-29). Israel was wealthy and proud of its success. Turning their backs on God, the people also found it all too easy to shift allegiance to the fictitious deity known as Baal (Hosea 2:8,13); this went hand in hand with injustice (Hosea 4:1-2). In confronting this idolatry, God called Hosea to live out a unique and difficult parable of God’s love for Israel (see chapters 1-3). Hosea’s style did not involve pronouncing what we might call highly directed prophecies -- those beginning with the command, “Hear,” followed by named addressees -- the way other prophets did (contrast Jeremiah 10:1; 22:2, etc.). Two exceptions are found in Hosea 4:1 and Hosea 5:1. Following those pronouncements, Hosea simply continued his generalized prophetic pronouncements on wayward Israel. For this reason, the organization of the book can be difficult to determine.
Lesson
When we meet in person, we discuss the text of the lesson, and how it relates to our lives. The questions provided in the Sunday School book will be used to start these discussions for us now. Reflect on each question as you read it, and think about your answer. If you are working through the lesson with someone else, discuss your thoughts together. Feel free to share your thoughts, answers, and questions with the rest of the class in the comments.
Conclusion
All too frequently we feel the sneaky satisfaction of having gotten away with something. And our choices often convey to others that we are the most important people in our lives. We feel secure because of what we own or who we know; when trouble comes, we try to solve our own problems by way of people and stuff. Suddenly Israel looks as familiar as our reflection in the mirror. It's time to leave those things behind and trust in God. It's time to show through our actions that we follow God only.
Prayer
Dear Lord, help us put hands and feet to our claims to follow you -- and convict us when we don't. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Benediction
This version of our benediction comes from the Passion Translation. 
Matthew 24:36-51
The Day and Hour Unknown 36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. 45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
As Pastor Gary has shared, please pray for the following:
As we continue to stay at home, physically distant from others, take some time for social and emotional connection with others. Send a card or make a phone call to a friend, loved-one, or a member of our church family. If you need anything during this time, please get in touch with Pastor Gary or a session member. If you have a prayer request, you can share it below, or contact Linda Miller to have it added to the prayer chain. If you need food from our food pantry, contact Becky Phillips.
During Lent, we shared both on our website and on our Facebook page devotionals written by church members in past years. This served as a nice way to connect, even after we stopped meeting in person. Because it will still be some time before we are physically together, we thought that continuing some devotions would be a great way to continue reaching out.
Pick out a few verses or a passage of scripture that mean something to you. Write a paragraph or two (or more, if you need to!) about your reflections on that passage, and a small prayer. Email that to the church's email: north.buffalo.church@gmail.com. We plan to share these on both the church website and Facebook page.
Good Morning!
Happy Memorial Day!
When we meet together, we usually share both our joys and concerns. Pause for a few minutes to reflect on your week. Pray in thanksgiving for the good things that have happened, and pray for any worries and concerns. Please share those you feel comfortable letting others know below.
Request
During Lent, we shared both on our website and on our Facebook page devotionals written by church members in past years. This served as a nice way to connect, even after we stopped meeting in person. Because it will still be some time before we are physically together, we thought that continuing some devotions would be a great way to continue reaching out.
Pick out a few verses or a passage of scripture that mean something to you. Write a paragraph or two (or more, if you need to!) about your reflections on that passage, and a small prayer. Email that to the church's email: north.buffalo.church@gmail.com. We plan to share these on both the church website and Facebook page.
Our lesson comes from our adult Sunday School book. Scripture references have been linked to an online text. Just click on the scripture to view it.
The scripture for today's lesson is Jeremiah 22:1-10.
Lesson Context
The historical context of this lesson is the same as that of the previous lesson, so that information is not repeated here. Even so, we can say a bit more about the man Jeremiah himself. God called Jeremiah as a young man to be his prophet to Judah; Jeremiah's own evaluation was that he was too young and not qualified to speak (Jeremiah 1:6). The forthcoming confrontations would see, at times, to be just two against everyone else. But since one of those two was God (Jeremiah 1:17-19), there could be no question regarding the outcome. At times in Jeremiah's lengthy ministry, the stress was so great that it seemed as if he was at the psychological breaking point. Nothing Jeremiah did seemed to persuade people. One example of his extreme frustrations is his series of complaints in Jeremiah 12:1-4 (also Jeremiah 20:7-18). God's response? If we could be permitted a very loose translation of Jeremiah 12:5, it would be something like, "Cowboy up and get with the program!" But Jeremiah's early years of prophetic ministry under King Josiah were easy compared to what was to come.
Lesson
The questions below are derived from applying the lesson's scripture. These questions can be difficult. Take some time to reflect on each question. If you are reading this lesson with someone else, discuss your answers to the questions together. You may share your answers, thoughts, and other questions that come up below.
Conclusion
The word from the Lord to the house of David features two promises: (1) If David's descendants would renounce injustice, then God would bless them, but (2) if not, they would suffer punishment. Judah would experience the full and recognizable consequences of disobeying God. God would therefore exhibit his character to the world and draw people to himself in one of those two ways. God calls us to the same challenge he posed through Jeremiah. As we demonstrate God's righteous and just character in our actions, we also must expose the injustice inflicted on the powerless by oppressive people and systems. But we don't just draw people to God as an abstract. Rather, we draw people to the living Jesus. To reject this mission is to risk experiencing God in ways we will not like.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help us see ways in which we have been unjust so that we may repent and model you as you would have us do. We pray in the name of the one who suffered great injustice, Jesus. Amen.
Benediction
From the Complete Jewish Bible translation 
1 Peter 3:8-18
Suffering for Doing Good 8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. 11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”[a] 13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats[b]; do not be frightened.”[c] 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. Footnotes:
If you have any prayer requests that you would like to share, you can comment below. Please continue to pray for:
Again, please use this time of physical distancing to connect with others. Check in with friends, loved ones, and church family. Make a phone call, or send a card. If you need anything, please contact Pastor Gary or a session member. If you would like a request added to our prayer chain, contact Linda Miller. If you need food from our food pantry, contact Becky Phillips.
Good morning!
Please join us in singing a hymn.
We like to share our joys and concerns. Pause for a moment, and reflect on your week. What caused you worry or concern? What made you feel joy or contentment? Now, pray over those things, both joys and concerns. If you would like, you can share some in the comments for others to pray for you as well.
The lesson below is from our adult Sunday School book. Scriptures have been linked to an online text. Just click on the scripture to read it.
The scripture for this week's lesson is Jeremiah 21:8-14.
Introduction
Some of the most disheartening, even frightening, times in life are those when we come face-to-face with the negative consequences of our poor decisions. Perhaps you can remember an instance in school when you didn't turn in an assignment on time and ended up severely damaging your grade in that class. Perhaps you even acted surprised when you received the penalty, or tried to tell your teacher that it wasn't fair. In situations like this, the lessons we learn often turn out to be very valuable to us later on. And so it was -- or should have been -- with God's covenant people of the Old Testament era.
Historical Lesson Context
The prophet Jeremiah ministered from about 626 to 575 BC. That ministry was to a people -- the Judeans -- who had disobeyed the Lord on a level far beyond the mundaneness of a late term paper. As a result, serious consequences loomed. God had sent prophet after prophet to warn both kings and commoners of pending destruction. But they didn't listen. They acted as though they had God's favor no matter what; they viewed Jerusalem's temple as a good-luck charm (Jeremiah 7:4). The northern kingdom, Israel, had been taken into captivity by the Assyrians in 722 BC (2 Kings 17:6). A century later, the survival of the southern kingdom of Judah was by no means assured. The Assyrians were still the dominant military and political power in the ancient Near East. King Ashurbanipal (As-shure-bah-nee-pahl) of Assyria died in 627 BC. Although he had been a strong ruler, his death laid bare serious internal weaknesses in Assyria. Disorder and revolt erupted in every part of that empire. Nineveh, the capital city, was destroyed in 612 BC (see the book of Nahum); the last vestiges of Assyrian might were wiped out at the Battle of Carchemish (Kar-key-mish) in 605 BC (Jeremiah 46:2). The consequences of Assyria's decline were felt in Judah. After a reign of about 30 years, King Josiah was killed in battle in 609 BC. That happened as he attempted to halt the Egyptian army from aiding the remnants of the Assyrian army (2 Kings 23:29). The Babylonians stepped into the power vacuum left by the collapse of Assyria under the Babylonian king Nabopolassar (Nab-uh-puh-las-uhr) and his son Nebuchadnezzar (reigned 626-605 BC and 605-562 BC, respectively). Babylon came to dominate much of Assyria's old territory. The last kings of Judah reigned in subservience to the Babylonians before the final exile of 586 BC (2 Kings 24-25). Jeremiah 1:2 places the beginning of Jeremiah's ministry at around 626 BC. The book of Jeremiah preserves a prophetic ministry that took place over the course of the next several decades -- through the reigns of five Judean kings and a governor.
Context of Jeremiah 21
Jeremiah 21 is a coherent unit. The opening verses set the scene. Pashhur (Pash-uhr) and Zephaniah were sent by Judah's final king, Zedekiah, to Jeremiah. Pashhur (not the same Pashhur as in Jeremiah 20) was a dogged opponent of Jeremiah, even trying to have him executed (see Jeremiah 38:1-4). Zephaniah, a priest (and not to be confused with the prophet of the same name), was not actively hostile to Jeremiah (see Jeremiah 21:1; 29:25-29). The two emissaries intended to enlist Jeremiah's help in order to ensure God's aid against King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (Jeremiah 21:1-2). King Zedekiah apparently thought that he would be aided by the Egyptians if he rebelled against the Babylonians (compare 2 Kings 18:21). The situations quickly became desperate when Jerusalem was besieged (2 Kings 25:1-2). Zedekiah and his messengers had some confidence in God's willingness to help them, based on his past work on Judah's behalf. Since he had protected Jerusalem before (2 Kings 19:35-36), couldn't he be counted on to do so again? As Jeremiah's response shows, the request demonstrated a fundamental misunderstanding of Judah's standing with God. Jeremiah's response came in three parts. First came words against King Zedekiah himself (Jeremiah 21:3-7). The prophet was blunt: Jerusalem's weapons will become a liability as the Lord himself fights against the city. Today's text opens with the second section of Jeremiah's response.
Lesson
When we meet in person, we usually discuss the lesson. Take some time to read through, and think about, each question. If you are working through the lesson with someone else, discuss your thoughts with them. Feel free to share your thoughts and other questions that may arise in the comments.
Article: Groupthink
In 1979, I was called to be president of a Bible college in northern California. The campus was deteriorating and located in a declining area. A noisy, multilane highway had been built just a few yards away from our buildings. My staff and I engaged in a years-long search for a perfect property. In hopeful consensus, we convinced ourselves that we should press ahead on one in particular. However, we soon began to have nagging doubts. We eventually concluded that God was speaking to us through others who were raising critical questions. We backed out of the negotiations. A few years later, an earthquake made that property totally unusable. What folly if we had continued in perfect agreement with one another! The bad kind of consensus-building we had engaged in has a name: groupthink. This kind of interaction results from listening only to those who agree with the group. Judah had a long history of groupthink, listening only to themselves rather than to the prophets' warnings. The result of their groupthink was the destruction of their nation. What kind of warning is there for us in all this?
Conclusion
Today's lesson brings us to one of the most somber moments in the history of God's dealings with his covenant people. Jerusalem was beyond the point of repentance. The people's trust in their own wisdom meant death. Whether or not we are immunized against such a mind-set depends on whether we are willing to learn from history. And we realize that the grace of God may come to us in the mere fact that we avoided the worst possible outcome of a bad decision or a bad pattern of living. "Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God," (Romans 11:22). May we, unlike the people of Jeremiah's day, repent while there is still time.
Prayer
Father, remind us daily that it's either the narrow way of life or the wide gate of destruction. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 
Happy Mother's Day!
Proverbs 1:1-7
The Beginning of Knowledge 1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity; 4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion-- 5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Please pray for:
As we continue to stay at home, please take time to reach out to others. This is a wonderful time to check in with friends, family, loved ones, and our church family. Send a card or a text message, or make a phone call! If you need something during this time, please contact Pastor Gary or a session member. If you have a prayer request to include on the prayer chain, please contact Linda Miller. If you need food from our food pantry, please contact Becky Phillips.
Good morning!
Happy Mother's Day! Please join us in singing a hymn!
We usually take some time to share our joys and concerns. If you have any you want to share, you can post a comment below. Take a minute pray for any worries or concerns you might be experiencing. Then, take a minute to think about, and be thankful for, all of the joys and blessings you have experienced this week. Pray about those as well!
Our lesson for this week is Zechariah 8:1-8 and 8:11-17
Introduction
There's a little-known psychiatric condition called athazagoraphobia. It refers to an irrational fear of being forgotten. The associated anxiety can be debilitating. Sufferers may feel the need to check in with family constantly while traveling. Or they might excessively remind a coworker about an upcoming meeting. Changes in plans can bring on panic attacks. Sufferers' lives are filled with anxiety and fear. A few passages of the Bible speak of a fear of being forgotten by God (example: Lamentations 5:20); many more speak of the reality of people forgetting him (example: Jeremiah 3:21). That fact speaks directly to an important role of prophets: pointing out the reality of God's memory and its implications for us (example: Zechariah 10:9).
Context
By one count, there are at least 30 men in the Bible by the name of Zechariah. The one who wrote the book of today's study was a prophet from a priestly family; his recorded ministry occurred after the Babylonian exile (Ezra 5:1-2; Ezra 6:14; Nehemiah 12:12,16). The datings in Zechariah 1:1, 7; 7:1 compute to a time between late 520 BC and late 518 BC. The setting in post-exilic Jerusalem is essential to understanding Zechariah's prophecies. Twenty years after returning from exile, signs of God's continued favor seemed to have disappeared (Ezra 4:24; Haggai 1:1-11). Many of those who returned undoubtedly wondered if God had forgotten them.
Lesson
In class, we discuss the lesson. Take a few minutes to reflect on each question. If you are reading the lesson with someone else, discuss your thoughts together. Feel free to share your thoughts, answers, or questions in the comments below.
Conclusion
When a relationship needs to go from bad to good, someone has to make the first move. The text for today tells of a time when God did just that. The bad relationship between God and his covenant people was wholly the fault of the people. Logically, therefore, they should have made the first move. But God in his compassion took the initiative, promising great things to his people. And so it still is: God promises great things for us when we actually deserve quite the opposite. He is determined to redeem all who are willing to acknowledge him as sovereign Lord. Do you?
Prayer
Father, may our allegiance be to you alone! Strengthen us to reflect that value and your character daily. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. 
John 10:1-10
The Good Shepherd and His Sheep 10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Please continue to pray for Ed. Pray for faith, patience, and understanding. If you have any joys or concerns you would like to share, you may add a comment below.
While we may still be physically distant from each other, we do not have to be isolated. This is a great time to check in with friends, family, loved ones, and members of our church family. If you need something, please contact Pastor Gary or a session member. If you would like a prayer added to our prayer chain, contact Linda Miller. If you need food from our food pantry, contact Becky Phillips.
Good morning!
Please join us in a hymn!
We share our joys and concerns with each other when we meet in Sunday School. Take a moment to be thankful for any blessings or joys you experienced this week, and to give any worries and concerns to God. If you have any would like to share, please feel free to comment below.
Our scripture lesson this week is Zephaniah 3:14-20.
Context
Zephaniah was a prophet in the southern kingdom of Judah in the seventh century BC. His lineage suggests that he may have been of royal blood (see Zephaniah 1:1). This family background would have given him deep insight into the state of the nation and impact his understanding of God as king of Israel. Zephaniah understood the importance of leadership and what its absence could do to a nation. Zephaniah likely wrote in the late 620's BC before King Josiah's spiritual reforms. The prophet is primarily concerned with Judah's continued rebellion against God (see 2 Kings 22:1-23:28). The first two chapters of the book of Zephaniah describe a coming Day of the Lord, in which Judah is to face judgment for idolatry. This judgment is to come in the form of both the natural consequences of that nation's choices and as a tool of God for purifying his people. God's process of purification would remove the rebellious in order to ensure the survival of those remaining faithful -- "the remnant of Israel" (Zephaniah 3:12; see also 2:7-9; compare Isaiah 10:20-22). The prophet's warnings to Judah carried weight given the fact of the deportation of the northern kingdom (Israel) by Assyria in 722 BC. That reality and its associated horror underlined the fact that Zephaniah's warning was not an idle threat. Zephaniah's prophecy of God's judgment came true in 586 BC. That was the year the Judeans were cast into Babylonian exile (2 Kings 25:1-21). The prophesied restoration would not begin until 538 BC, when Jewish captives were allowed to returned to Judah (Ezra 1:1-4). The ancient writers' fondness for using parallelism (structural doublets) is important to keep in mind when reading Old Testament passages composed as poetry. We should stress the significance of this technique: when the second phrase in lines of poetry echoes the first phrase, only one thing or action is in view, not two. One happy result of this fact is that when part of a verse is difficult to understand, its companion phrase may be used to interpret the more difficult portion. Zephaniah's prophecy presents us with a sharp change of theme beginning in Zephaniah 3:9, as restoration of a remnant takes center stage. The Lord promises that the, "meek and humble ... will trust in the name of the Lord," (Zephaniah 3:12), untroubled by those who are proud and haughty. The remnant can freely celebrate captivity's end.
Lesson
We normally discuss the lesson in person. Take a minute to reflect on each of the following questions, based on our passage for this week. If you are working through the lesson with someone else, discuss the questions together. You can share any thoughts or responses in the comments.
Conclusion
The final words of the book of Zephaniah remind us that restoration requires the power and willingness of God. He and he alone is the one who has the power to make restored relationship with him possible. That's why Zephaniah's promise of restoration for the Old Testament remnant is relevant to use yet today: it foreshadows our restored relationship to God through Christ. Christians have been delivered from the captivity of sin; yet we still live in a world that is mired in that captivity. Therefore the fullness of our deliverance is yet to come. We trust God to keep his promise in that regard because he has, among other things, "set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit," (2 Corinthians 1:22). Although God's kingdom is not yet here in its fullest sense, his continuing work of restoration is guaranteed by the presence of his Spirit. Let us therefore celebrate these grand realities! As we do, we can affirm with Paul, "that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord," (Romans 8:38-39).
Prayer
Lord, open our eyes to ways in which you are present and restoring your kingdom in and around us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 
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