Title: Our Choice:
A Living God or a Broken World
Opening Thoughts: As God's
children we often act like the children of Israel who would walk away from the
living God and choose to follow dead idols.
Our allegiance to God brings continual life. Why trade that for a broken world?
v What
comes to your mind with the word, anniversary?
o
Ephesians 5:31-32 “For
this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,
and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am
talking about Christ and the church.
Text: Jeremiah 2:1-7
2 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Go and proclaim in the
hearing of Jerusalem:
“This is what the Lord says:
“‘I remember the devotion of your youth,
how as a bride you loved me
and followed
me through the wilderness,
through a land not sown.
3 Israel was
holy to the Lord,
the firstfruits of his harvest;
all who
devoured her were held guilty,
and disaster overtook them,’”
declares the Lord.
4 Hear the word
of the Lord, you descendants of
Jacob,
all you clans of Israel.
5 This is what
the Lord says:
“What fault did your ancestors find in me,
that they strayed so far from me?
They followed
worthless idols
and became worthless themselves.
6 They did not ask, ‘Where
is the Lord,
who brought us up out of Egypt
and led us
through the barren wilderness,
through a land of deserts and ravines,
a land of
drought and utter darkness,
a land where no one travels and no one
lives?’
7 I brought
you into a fertile land
to eat its fruit and rich produce.
But you came and defiled my land
and made my inheritance detestable.
8 The priests
did not ask,
‘Where is the Lord?’
Those who deal
with the law did not know me;
the leaders rebelled against me.
The prophets
prophesied by Baal,
following worthless idols.
9 “Therefore I
bring charges against you again,”
declares the Lord.
“And I will bring charges against your
children’s children.
10 Cross over
to the coasts of Cyprus and look,
send to Kedar[a] and observe
closely;
see if there has ever been anything like
this:
11 Has a
nation ever changed its gods?
(Yet they are not gods at all.)
But my people have exchanged
their glorious God
for worthless idols.
12 Be appalled at this, you
heavens,
and shudder with great horror,”
declares the Lord.
13 “My people
have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug
their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
Summarize the main theme/story: Describe the
events of the story in your own words.
·
Review
and retell the story.
Reflections for applications:
v
Heard the Good News
o
Romans 10:17 Consequently,
faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word
about Christ.
v
Confessed My Faith
o
Matthew 10:32 “Whoever
acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in
heaven.
v
Repent of My Sins
o
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized,
every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
v
Baptized
o
1 Peter 3:21 ...and this
water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from
the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ,
v
Be Faithful
o
Revelation 2:10b Be
faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s
crown.
And yet, there are times I considered trying
another way…
v
Jeremiah 2:1-2, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13,
v
Isaiah 43:1-3 But
now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob,
he who
formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you
by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and
when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk
through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3
For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
v
Isaiah 43:24b-25 But you
have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses. 25 “I, even I, am he who blots out your
transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
Why would one even consider trading allegiance
to God for the pursuit of other gods.
Proverbs 3:3 Let love
and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the
tablet of your heart.
Digging
Questions:
·
How
is your faith?
·
What do these biblical texts tell you about God and His nature?
·
What is God calling us to do?
Take
Away Challenges
·
What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in
this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
·
Whom do you know who needs to hear this?
·
What is God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What
beliefs, thoughts or actions need to be addressed or changed?
Hashtags #Power #Love #Purpose
Sunday
sermon link https://youtu.be/4WtQc1EOBD0
Kevin’s
Blog Link to more resources: Click here for Kevin’s Blog Notes
Comments about some details:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%202&version=NIV
