Lent

Ash Wednesday — Return to Me!  

1 In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo.
2 The Lord was very angry with your forefathers. 3 Therefore, now you are to tell this people that this is what the Lord of Armies says to them. Return to me, declares the Lord of Armies, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Armies. 4 Do not be like your forefathers, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed, “This is what the Lord of Armies says. Return, return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”
But our forefathers did not listen, nor did they pay attention to me, declares the Lord. 5 Your forefathers—where are they now? And those prophets—did they go on living indefinitely? 6 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded to my servants the prophets, caught up with our forefathers, didn’t they?
Then they returned and said, “Because of our ways and our deeds, the Lord of Armies has done to us just as he planned to do to us.” (Zec 1:1–6)

  1. Remember the _________ and respond to the _________ .

  2. The _____________ before us.

1993 version of Christian Worship (page 156):

Q: What does God tell me about myself in his holy Word?

A: He says that I am a sinner and deserve only his punishment.

Q: What should I do if I am not aware of my sins or am not troubled by them?

A: I should examine myself according to the Ten Commandments and ask how well I have carried out my responsibilities as a husband or wife or single person, as a parent or child, an employer or employee, a teacher or student. Have I loved God with all my heart, gladly heard his Word, and patiently endured affliction? (show) Have I been disobedient, proud, or unforgiving? Have I been selfish, lazy, envious, or quarrelsome? Have I lied or deceived, taken something not mine, or given anyone a bad name? Have I abused my body or permitted indecent thoughts to linger in my mind? Have I failed to do what is right and good?

Q: When I realize that I have sinned against God and deserve his punishment, what should I do?

A: I will confess before God all my sins, those which I remember as well as those of which I am unaware. I will pray to God for his mercy and forgiveness.

Q: How do I receive his gracious forgiveness?

A: His Word assures me that Jesus led a pure and holy life for me and died on the cross for me to pay the full price for all my sins. Through faith in Jesus, I have been clothed in my Savior’s perfect righteousness and holiness.

When we return to God in _____________________, he returns to us with ___________________.

When we return to him and _________ his ___________, he returns to us with the reminder that we have _______ it all __________—for Jesus’ sake.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Mt 6:33)

Points to Ponder

  1. What is one thing that stood out for you from this week’s message?
  2. Zechariah points Israel back to their forefathers as a warning. Why is remembering past failures—both personal and biblical—important for spiritual growth?
  3. The people had returned physically to the land but not spiritually to the Lord. What are some ways believers today can appear “close” to God outwardly while drifting away inwardly?
  4. I want you to give some thought to this question from the sermon: “If God has ever seemed distant from you, who wandered away?” How does this question challenge the way we sometimes think about our relationship with God? Why is this question so important for honest self-examination?
  5. Where do you see yourself more often—in the wandering child or in someone patiently waiting and hoping for restoration?
  6. How does the image of returning home to a loving Father shape the way we view repentance—not as fear-driven, but grace-driven?
  7. What does “returning” look like in everyday life—not just in words, but in habits and priorities?
  8. Jobs, homes, and finances are not wrong, yet they often pull us away from God. What practical steps can help us “seek first the kingdom of God” in daily life?
  9. Scripture clearly teaches us that we may face earthly consequences for sin even after repentance. How does that truth help us understand God’s discipline without doubting his love?

Homework: Zechariah 11