For Sunday, July 31, 2011

1) Jeremiah 31:1-6

How is the time period this prophecy is describing different than Israel/Judah pre-exile? In what way was the exile a “rest’ or “grace in the wilderness” for the people? What does verse 3 teach us about God’s view of us/ How does God draw people into relationship with Him? How has He drawn you? What was God’s hopeful promise to the exiles in verses 4-6?

2) Jeremiah 31:15-17

Who was Rachel? (See Genesis 29:9-20) Why were the exiles to have hope? Why did this hope require faith?

Jeremiah 31:27-30

What will be different about the new era God had planned? What does the saying in verse 29 mean? What might have motivated the exiles to say it? How does verse 30 add to it?

3) Jeremiah 31:31-34

How would the new covenant be different from the old? What does this covenant teach us about God? How was this prophecy fulfilled?

Ezekiel 26:22-28 (Another prophecy about the new covenant.)

Why did God enact a new covenant? How does this prophecy compare with Jeremiah 31:31-34?

4) Read about some other covenants: (In each passage, to whom did God speak?)

Genesis 9:9-11; Genesis 15:18-21; Exodus 19:3-6; Numbers 25:10-13; 2 Samuel 7:11-16; 2 Samuel 23:5

For Sunday, July 24, 2011

1) Jeremiah 29:1-9

Who was Jeremiah to deliver this message to? Where was the audience? What was the message? How did these instructions oppose human logic or natural human emotions? What does it mean to seek the welfare of their city? What would that mean for us?

Jeremiah 29:10-14

What does God promise the exiles in this passage? How is this a good news/bad news message? What would happen before they would be restored?

2) Jeremiah 29:15-20

Why were they looking for a different prophet than Jeremiah? What was the danger in looking for a different prophet than the one God sent? What would be the consequences of their refusal to listen? When are you tempted to look for different instructions from God than what He’s already given?

Jeremiah 29:21-32

What did God have Jeremiah say about the false prophets? What would be their consequences?

3) Read about the 3 deportations to Babylon that took place.

Daniel 1:1-7; 2 Kings 24:10-14; 2 Kings 25:1-12

What was the progression in the deportation? Who was taken first? When did the most destruction occur?

Jeremiah 29:8-9

How can a person discern whether a prophet is a false prophet or a true prophet from God?

Deuteronomy 18:18-22

How would knowing this passage help the exiles? How could it help us?

4) Jeremiah 29:4-7

How do the following New Testament verses relate to God’s instructions to the exiles in Babylon?

Matthew 5:43-45; Romans 12:20-21; Titus 3:1-2

How do these instructions all relate to us?

For Sunday, July 17, 2011

1) Jeremiah 22:1-9

Who was Jeremiah to deliver this message to? What was the message? What is justice? Gilead was known for lush growth and medicinal plants. What would the other nations learn about God when Judah was destroyed?

2) Jeremiah 22:10-19

What was God’s message about King Shallum (Jehoahaz)? King Jehoiakim? What charges did God describe against the kings of Judah? According to God, where did the kings put their focus?

Deuteronomy 17:18-20

How would things have been different if the kings had consistently obeyed these commands?

Jeremiah 22:13

Is your house built with righteousness and justice? What is the evidence?

3) Jeremiah 22:21-23

How do these verses apply to the other verses in this lesson? In what ways do these verses apply (or not) to your life?

What is the definition of justice? What do these verses say about a life of justice?

Exodus 23:6-7; Deuteronomy 16:20; Proverbs 21:15; Micah 6:8; Isaiah 61:8

4) One definition of justice is “the order that God seeks to reestablish in His creation where all people receive the benefits of life with Him. (Includes penalties assigned and blessings handed out.) Do you agree or disagree with this definition? How does it differ from other definitions of justice that you have heard?

What do these verses say about a life of justice?

Matthew 22:37-39; Mark 12:38-40; James 1:27; Matthew 25:31-46

For July 10, 2011

1) Jeremiah 19:1-11

What was God’s message for Jeremiah to deliver? Why? Who did God command Jeremiah to have present for the message? How do you think the people felt about the message? About Jeremiah?

2) Jeremiah 20:1-4

What happened to Jeremiah, as a result of this prophecy? What was Jeremiah’s message to Pashur?

Jeremiah 20:7-11

How does Jeremiah respond to his circumstances? How does he feel about the message God has given him? What does he say about God in this passage?

3) Jeremiah 21:1-5

What were the officials asking Jeremiah to do? What was Jeremiah’s surprising answer? Was there any hope found in this message? How did God’s instructions compare with usual human wisdom? How would obeying God in this situation be an act of faith? How is obedience always an act of faith?

4) 2 Kings 24:17-20; 25:1-7

What further information do these verses give about the background of the circumstances of the passages of this lesson?

Isaiah 37:33-37

In Jeremiah 21:2, the officials mentioned “wonderful acts” of God. This Isaiah passage gives an example of a time God did rescue them. How was this time going to be different? Why?

For Sunday, July 3, 2011

1) Jeremiah 18:1-4

Where did God send Jeremiah? What did Jeremiah see there? Retell it in your own words. What are some common uses for clay pots? Why is the term “clay pots” a fitting description for humans?

2) Jeremiah 18:5-12

What did Jeremiah learn about God’s character from this experience? How was Israel like the clay the Potter had been using? What was Jeremiah’s next message to the people supposed to be? According to the Lord, how would it be received?

3) Isaiah 29:16; 45:9; 64:8; Lamentations 4:2; Romans 9:19-24

What lessons do these passages add to the description of God as the Potter and people as the clay? What would be a more modern way of saying this same comparison? Why are we so tempted to challenge God’s work (the Potter’s work) in our lives? How are these verses encouraging? In what area of your life are you resistant to recognizing God’s work as Potter?

4) 2 Corinthians 4:7; Romans 9:20-21; 2 Timothy 2:20-26; Exodus 19:5

What do these verses have in common? What do these passages say about God’s relationship with humans? In what ways are you like an earthen vessel? In what ways are these verses encouraging? Challenging?

For Sunday, June 26, 2011

1) Jeremiah 15:1-4; 2 Kings 21:1-18
What was God saying about His relationship with Judah in this passage? Why were they going to be an object of horror? What had Manasseh done, according to the 2 Kings 21:1-18 passage?

2) 2 Kings 23:26-27; 24:3-4; 2 Chronicles 33:1-9

These passages give more details about Manasseh’s sins. How would you describe Manasseh to someone who didn’t know about him? What were the consequences for Judah? If you were summarizing Manasseh’s reign in Judah in just a few words, what would you say?

3) Jeremiah 15:10-11, 15-18

How is Jeremiah feeling in this passage? Why is he feeling that way? What do you learn about Jeremiah’s relationship with God in this passage? What do you learn about the character of God from this passage?

What was God’s response to Jeremiah in verse 11? Have you ever felt like Jeremiah?

4) Jeremiah 15:19-21

How does God respond to Jeremiah’s concerns and discouragement? What does He promise Jeremiah? What does He warn Jeremiah about? What can we learn about following Jesus from this passage?

For Sunday, June 19, 2011

1) Jeremiah 7:1-7
What was God’s command to Jeremiah? What did God have to say about the people’s word? About the people’s actions? What was God’s promise to them? What was their responsibility? List the “do” and “don’t do” instructions God gave them.

2) Jeremiah 7:8-11
How were they trusting in deceptive words? What was the Lord’s complaint about them in this passage? Can you think of a modern example of this behavior? Does verse 11 sounds familiar? See Matthew 21:13. Is there an area of your life currently where your words and actions don’t match?

3) Jeremiah 7:12-15

Where was Shiloh? What do you know about the history of Shiloh? See Joshua 18:1-5 and 1 Samuel 1:20-28 for more information about Shiloh and about the name of the tribe of Ephraim being synonymous with Israel, the Northern country of God’s people. What was the judgment God was declaring? Why? According to verse 13, did they have any excuse of ignorance of their sin? Why or why not?

4) Jeremiah 7:16-20

What surprising instructions did God give Jeremiah? Do you think God gives these instructions often? Why or why not? According to God’s description in verse 18, how much of Judah’s society was effected by idol worship? What does it mean to spite God? Where would the consequences of God’s wrath being poured out be evident?