July 23 - Redeems - Jeremiah 31:23-34
OVERVIEW OF JEREMIAH
The overview will be uploaded shortly.
VIDEO LESSON
Listen to the Audio of the Lesson
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Intro - Focus Attention
- Q. How many of you use coupons as you shop?
- Q. What’s the best coupon you’ve ever redeemed?
- Q. How does the word “redeem” apply to God’s work in salvation?
- Give time to answer.
- The word means to buy back or rescue something or someone that was lost, enslaved, or in a state of bondage.
- God redeemed His people out of Egypt. He is promising to redeem Judah from Babylonian captivity. And God promises to redeem anyone from their sin if they repent and trust Him.
- Context:
- In Jeremiah 29-31 we see how the Lord promised to restore His people and bring judgement on those who oppressed them. While God was the One who brought judgement on the people because of their sin, God also promised a remnant who would be restored.
- Jeremiah 31 specifically focused on God’s relationship with His people and the joy that will result from Him bringing them home. Their lament would be turned to joy.
- As we study our passage today we are going to see the phrase, “a new covenant” (Jer 31:31). The Israelites were very familiar with the concept of a covenant, in fact they were in exile because of their failure to keep their covenant with God. So as God is promising to restore them back to the land He also promised a new covenant where He would write His words on their hearts instead of a tablet of stone.
Truth - Explore the Text
What does this passage tell us about God?
- When God says something it’s going to happen (Jer 31:23).
- The presence of God brings righteousness because He is righteous (Jer 31:23).
- God brings peace and unity (Jer 31:24).
- God sustains and strengthens His people (Jer 31:25).
- God brings pleasant dreams and rest (Jer 31:26).
- God is the one who brings growth (Jer 31:27).
- God actively works to bring about His word (Jer 31:28).
- God holds each person accountable for his own sin (Jer 31:29-30).
- God desires a personal relationship with His people (Jer 31:31-34).
- God brings transformation, starting on the inside (Jer 31:33).
- God shows no favoritism or partiality (Jer 31:34).
- God forgives sin (Jer 31:34).
What does this passage tell us about man?
- Man rejoice and thank God for what He has done (Jer 31:23).
- Man needs peace and community (Jer 31:24).
- Man needs God’s provision and strength (Jer 31:25).
- Man finds rest in the Lord (Jer 31:26).
- Man owes everything to God. He provides everything (Jer 31:27).
- Man’s only hope for restoration is in God (Jer 31:28).
- Man is responsible for his own actions (Jer 31:29-30).
- Man is unable to live up to the covenant of God on his own (Jer 31:31-33). We must be empowered by Him.
- Man longs for this picture of perfect unity with God (Jer 31:34).
What does this mean FOR my life?
- I need to stop looking for peace and fulfillment from anywhere other than Christ. He is the one who brings peace that surpasses all understanding.
- I need to place my trust and hope in God alone. His attention to His people gives me hope.
- I need to stop trying to keep the covenant of the law. Instead I need to trust Jesus, that He has given me a new heart and truly forgives me.
Personal Challenge
- Write a prayer expressing thanks to God for saving you “by grace through faith .. not from works” (Eph 2:8-9).
- If you haven’t placed your faith in Jesus and asked Him to forgive you, you need to do that today.
LIFEWAY RESOURCES
Quicksource
Lifeway’s Quicksource is a quick and simple tool that dives directly into the biblical text. Furthermore, it provides a simple outline of the lesson with “Talking Points” and discussion questions for each section. This resource is extremely helpful for facilitating a discussion.
Explore The Bible Podcast
Lifeway provides a podcast for teachers as they prepare to teach each lesson. These podcasts are available on the Leaders Helps webpage (look below), Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.
Leader Helps
Lifeway has a blog where they post Leader Helps for teachers. These range from articles on leading online groups to Extra Ideas for introducing and concluding the lesson with a current news story. You can check it out using the link below
QUOTES / ARTICLES / MEDIA
In Philippians 2:6-11 Paul quoted an early Christian hymn that testified of the work of Christ. The following article was produced by Lifeway and discusses how early believers used songs.