June 25 - Exclusive - Jeremiah 12:1-13
OVERVIEW OF JEREMIAH
The overview will be uploaded shortly.
VIDEO LESSON
Listen to the Audio of the Lesson
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Intro - Focus Attention
- Q. What images come to your mind when you hear the word “covenant”?
- Give time to answer.
- Q. In what ways does a marriage covenant parallel a salvation covenant with God?
- Give time to discuss.
- Exclusive, forever, etc.
- Today’s passage shows how the people of Judah failed to keep their covenant with the Lord. They rejected Him and faced the consequences.
- Context:
- In Jeremiah 11 we see Jeremiah remind the people of God’s covenant with Israel after delivering them from Egypt (Jer 11:1-7). We also see how they disobeyed and brought God’s judgement (Jer 11:8-13). Sadly, the people of Judah were now doing the same thing.
- Because of Jeremiah’s prophecy of judgement, the people conspired against him, so Jeremiah asked God for protection (Jer 11:18-20). God assured Jeremiah that He would judge those who opposed him (Jer 11:21-23).
- This is the context leading up to our passage. As we read Jeremiah 12:1-13 we are going to see how Jeremiah struggled to understand how God could allow the wicked to prosper. He wanted God to bring judgement on them now. Ultimately, God explained how the people’s rejection of Him would result in their judgement and destruction, because they didn’t heed His warnings.
Truth - Explore the Text
What does this passage tell me about God?
- God is completely righteous (Jer 12:1). Man might not understand why God is doing something, but He is righteous in His actions.
- God sees everything, those who are righteous and those who sin (Jer 12:3).
- God promises to be with us, not that the mission will be easy (Jer 12:5-6).
- God allows people to experience the consequences of their sin (Jer 12:7, 9).
- God’s judgement is complete and inescapable (Jer 12:12-13).
What does this passage tell me about man?
- Man wonders why God does what He does (Jer 12:1).
- Man’s perspective is limited, focused on the here and now (Jer 12:2-4). We want God to act on our timetable. We don’t see things from His perspective.
- Man’s sin distorts, even affecting creation (Jer 12:4, 11).
- Man is arrogant, thinking that God does not see their evil (Jer 12:4).
- Man gets tired and faces challenges (Jer 12:5-6).
- Man shouldn’t place his trust in people, only in God (Jer 12:6).
- Man’s sinful rebellion is an attack against God (Jer 12:8).
- Leadership either brings people to God or away from Him (Jer 12:10).
- Man reaps the consequences of their sin (Jer 12:13).
What does this passage mean FOR my life?
- I need to remember the righteousness of God. While I might not understand why He allows things to happen or evil to prosper, I must trust God to be just in His dealings with all people.
- I need to trust in God’s strength and not my own. When opposition comes against the gospel, I need to rest in God knowing that I can’t do it on my own.
- I need to honor God as Lord of my life. God expects me to be faithful to Him alone, so I need to get rid of anything that pulls me away from Him.
- Personal Challenge:
- Q. What is pulling you away from maintaining a singular and exclusive devotion to the Lord?
- Q. What steps do you need to take to remove those barriers?
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.