Sunday School Lesson Zephaniah 3 the Third Sunday of Advent
Note: During the season of Advent, messages and lessons will include a unifying focus that coincides with the four themes of the Advent Sundays (hope, peace, love, and joy). Additionally, each week a Christmas song will be featured, which also incorporates the theme.
In this lesson, encourage children to consider the importance of joy and what it means to rejoice. As the third lesson in this Advent series, the focus here is on the joyful anticipation of Christmas and how it is similar to expecting the long-awaited Messiah. In the Bible, prophets foretold the coming of Christ and promised a restoration for the people. This message brought hope in a time of darkness. As people of God today, we also can rejoice in knowing that God restores us and promises His constant presence and salvation. That understanding gives us joy all year long!
This passage from Zephaniah offers an excellent balance of God’s justice and mercy. The people of God had sinned, and were experiencing the consequences of that. However, God provided assurance that there was renewal and restoration at hand. This was possible through Jesus Christ. Without knowing who or what the Messiah would look like, the Israelites had reason to rejoice, knowing their sins would not be remembered forever. This is our hope, too, as people of God redeemed by Jesus.
Sunday School Lesson on Zephaniah 3 for Children: God’s Justice and Mercy
Passage: Zephaniah 3:14-20
Target Audience: Kindergarten-6th grade (better geared to older grades)
Materials Needed: Construction paper, markers, stickers, scissors, tape/glue, paper plates, Christmas decorations or presents, paper towel tubes, cups, containers, dry noodles or beans, music makers, decorations, Bibles.
Lesson Opening: This lesson focuses on the joy we have in knowing that God redeems and restores our lives. The focus passage is from the prophet Zephaniah, who provided a reassuring message to God’s people. To get started, select from one of the following openers, or select another of your own choosing.
- Make a joyful noise: Provide various musical instruments for children to explore and play with. For older students, encourage them to form mini “bands” with others, or develop songs on the instruments. Remind them that we can rejoice in Christ our savior, and that our God rejoices over us with singing!
- Restoration Relay: Have students team up and race relay style to a collection of recyclable products. After gathering several items as a team, encourage students to “restore” the potential trash by turning it into something new as a fun craft. With smaller or younger groups, skip the team relay element and simply provide an array of craft items that could transform the recycled object into something new.
- Joy and sorrow: the people of Israel at the time of Zephaniah had experienced a great deal of punishment and sorrow, followed by new hope and joy. Tell a simple story or read a series of statements that fluctuates between happy and sad moments, and have students act out with facial expressions how they might feel.
- Pink for a day! The Third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called “Gaudete” Sunday (from the Latin for “rejoice”). The candle of the Advent wreath, and sometimes the colors seen and worn in church, are rose (or pink) rather than the rest of the Advent blue or purple. This emphasizes a lighter and joyful mood in the midst of a somewhat dark and contemplative Advent season. Encourage students to wear pink, or make something that incorporates pink colors.
- Good News proclaimed. The prophet Zephaniah had a message of joy for God’s people. Have students brainstorm joyful news that they might share with others, and ways to spread positive messages.
Explain that the lesson reviews a message given to God’s people by a prophet, long before the birth of Jesus. The words express joy and restoration after a time of trouble.
Bible Lesson: (Zephaniah 3) Sunday School Lesson for Kids Explained for Children – Rejoice and Exult with all your Heart
Ask: What brings you joy and hope at Christmastime?
Bible Lesson:
This passage is a powerful message from an Old Testament prophet. It does not lend itself as much to acting out, but doesn’t take too long to read through. If time allows, consider looking at surrounding verses in the chapter. Older students can take turns reading, or an adult can read, pausing to discuss elements.
Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;
he has cleared away your enemies.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall never again fear evil. -Zephaniah 3:14-15
It helps to provide a bit of context for the passage. Explain to students that Zephaniah was a prophet, meaning he was someone called by God to deliver messages to God’s people. Prophets weren’t always popular, and sometimes had hard things to say. Zephaniah lived during the reign of King Josiah, about six hundred years before Jesus. His message started out by explaining that the people would be punished for sins, because God is just and there are consequences for our actions. However, there is hope, too, which is the focus of this passage. These verses remind us that God is in our midst, meaning He is near to us. He does not judge us angrily, but removes the weight of our sins.
Ask: Have you ever had a punishment or consequence get lifted? How does that feel?
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Fear not, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.
17 The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing. -Zephaniah 3:16-17
Verse 17 is a particularly joyful and comforting one. Sometimes we imagine that God is watching us for mistakes, or growing irritated with us, or just orchestrating events. Here we read that He actually rejoices over us, His beloved creation. Not only that, but He sings for us! What might the singing voice of God sound like? (Probably a bass?) God will strengthen us and quiet us, joyfully taking pleasure in who we are. With that in mind, it makes even more sense that we should sing praises to Him!
Ask: What are some of your favorite songs to sing in church?
I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,
so that you will no longer suffer reproach.
19 Behold, at that time I will deal
with all your oppressors.
And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.
20 At that time I will bring you in,
at the time when I gather you together;
for I will make you renowned and praised
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
before your eyes,” says the Lord. – Zephaniah 3:17-20
This is another hopeful proclamation. God had a plan for the people of Israel. They had made mistakes and suffered for them, but He would not let that be the end of the story. The Lord would gather people together and restore them. We know that this came about through the redemption offered in Christ. Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s plan for restoration. In Him, all things come back together. With that in mind, this message is for us, too! God restores and renews our broken lives. One day, Christ will come again, but meanwhile, He is in our midst and comforts us with His peace.
Ask: How do you see God restoring things, both long-term and in everyday life?
Remind students that Advent is a season to remember the saving work of Christ and the miracle of God coming to Earth as a man. We can be joyful in Advent, and always, because we have the assurance that God loves us and rejoices in us! Just as the prophet proclaimed hundreds of years ago, we know that God is in our midst and helps us. We can share that good news with others and give thanks for God’s faithfulness.
Pray: Say a prayer thanking God for His salvation and for sending us Jesus. Ask for help in sharing the joy of our redemption in Him.