Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31:

²⁶Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Psalm 1 in Christian Worship

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked

   or stand in the way of sinners.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

   and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in  Season

   and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

   nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,

   but the way of the wicked will perish.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

   and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning,

   is now, and will be forever.   Amen.

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 5:1-12:

¹Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him; ²and he began to teach them.  He said: ³“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. ⁵Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. ⁶Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. ⁷Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. ⁸Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. ⁹Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. ¹⁰Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

First Lesson/Sermon Text: Zephaniah 2:3; 3:11-13:

^2:3Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.

^3:11On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from you your arrogant boasters. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill. ¹²But I will leave within you the meek and humble. The remnant of Israel will trust in the name of the Lord.

¹³They will do no wrong; they will tell no lies. A deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.”

Theme and Parts:

The Amazing Transformation of Zephaniah

I. From a compete pessimist…

II. To a full-throated optimist