In this three-week journey through the book of Zephaniah, we’ve traced the powerful transformation from divine judgment to the joy of salvation. The series began with an unfiltered warning in Zephaniah 1, where God declared that judgment was coming not only for Judah but for the whole world. Sin was serious, and complacency, compromise, and partial devotion were called out as rebellion. The message was clear—God’s justice is real, and the Day of the Lord is coming swiftly. Yet even in the face of such heaviness, we saw how the cross becomes our rescue from wrath, as Jesus bore the judgment we deserved.

But Zephaniah’s message doesn’t end in darkness. In Zephaniah 2, God’s tone shifts from warning to invitation—a plea for people to seek the Lord with urgency, humility, and righteousness before it’s too late. Judgment would come to the nations, but so would the promise of restoration for a faithful remnant. Finally, in Zephaniah 3, we reach the crescendo of Easter: God removes judgment, restores His people, and rejoices over them with singing. Through Christ’s resurrection, we are made new and invited into everlasting joy. The hope of Zephaniah is the hope of Easter: Jesus turns judgment into joy, mourning into dancing, and despair into everlasting hope.

Zephaniah 1:1-6 (ESV)

1 The word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.
The Coming Judgment on Judah
2 “I will utterly sweep away everything
from the face of the earth,” declares the Lord.
3 “I will sweep away man and beast;
I will sweep away the birds of the heavens
and the fish of the sea,
and the rubble[a] with the wicked.
I will cut off mankind
from the face of the earth,” declares the Lord.
4 “I will stretch out my hand against Judah
and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem;
and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal
and the name of the idolatrous priests along with the priests,
5 those who bow down on the roofs
to the host of the heavens,
those who bow down and swear to the Lord
and yet swear by Milcom,[b]
6 those who have turned back from following the Lord,
who do not seek the Lord or inquire of him.”

1 Peter 4:17 (ESV)
For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

Zephaniah 1:7-13 (The Message)
7-13 “Quiet now!
Reverent silence before me, God, the Master!
Time’s up. My Judgment Day is near:
The Holy Day is all set, the invited guests made holy.
On the Holy Day, God’s Judgment Day,
I will punish the leaders and the royal sons;
I will punish those who dress up like foreign priests and priestesses,
Who introduce pagan prayers and practices;
And I’ll punish all who import pagan superstitions
that turn holy places into hellholes.
Judgment Day!” God’s Decree!
“Cries of panic from the city’s Fish Gate,
Cries of terror from the city’s Second Quarter,
sounds of great crashing from the hills!
Wail, you shopkeepers on Market Street!
Moneymaking has had its day. The god Money is dead.
On Judgment Day,
I’ll search through every closet and alley in Jerusalem.
I’ll find and punish those who are sitting it out, fat and lazy,
amusing themselves and taking it easy,
Who think, ‘God doesn’t do anything, good or bad.
He isn’t involved, so neither are we.’
But just wait. They’ll lose everything they have,
money and house and land.
They’ll build a house and never move in.
They’ll plant vineyards and never taste the wine.

Zephaniah 1:14-18 (ESV)
14 The great day of the Lord is near,
near and hastening fast;
the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter;
the mighty man cries aloud there.
15 A day of wrath is that day,
a day of distress and anguish,
a day of ruin and devastation,
a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and thick darkness,
16 a day of trumpet blast and battle cry
against the fortified cities
and against the lofty battlements.
17 I will bring distress on mankind,
so that they shall walk like the blind,
because they have sinned against the Lord;
their blood shall be poured out like dust,
and their flesh like dung.
18 Neither their silver nor their gold
shall be able to deliver them
on the day of the wrath of the Lord.
In the fire of his jealousy,
all the earth shall be consumed;
for a full and sudden end
he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.

Great Commission
Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the End of the age.”

For those exploring faith and checking out The Shores Church:

Whether you join us online or in person, Pastor Scott and Annie want you to know that you are genuinely welcome at The Shores Church. Our mission is simple: We want to help people live lives anchored to Jesus. That’s not a one-time moment—it’s a journey, and every journey starts with a first step.

If you’ve never decided to accept God’s forgiveness and declare Jesus as the Lord of your life, today could be the day everything changes. Romans 10:9-10 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Salvation is the beginning of a life anchored in Jesus. It’s a personal belief that God sent His Son to die on the cross for your sins, that He was buried, and that He rose again on the third day. But it’s also more than belief—it’s a confession. It’s saying out loud, “I need Jesus, and I want Him to lead my life.”

If you’re ready to take that step, your prayer could be as simple as this:
"Jesus, I believe You are for me. I believe You died, were buried, and rose again for me. I confess I am a sinner, and today I receive Your forgiveness. I declare that You are the Lord of my life. Thank You for loving me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen."

If you prayed that prayer—or are still processing—we would love to hear from you. Following Jesus is a lifelong journey, and you don’t have to walk it alone. We’re here to walk with you every step of the way.