This is lesson 3 of 3 for the Life Lesson Unit, Make No Excuses. The lesson completes the study of the prophet Jeremiah as the word shows how God chooses those He calls, equips them for the work He has for them, and affirms that work.
9. Jeremiah 1:9
9 Then the Lord put forth his hand, and
touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me,
Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth
10. Jeremiah 1:10
10 See, I have this day set thee over the
nations and over the kingdoms, to root out,
and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw
down, to build, and to plant
12. Topic 1
God Equips
• 1 Sam. 3:11
• 1 Kings 17:1-2
• Isa. 7:3
• first verses of Ezek.; Hos.; Joel; Jonah;
Mic.; Zeph.; Hag.; Zech.; Mal.).
13. 1 Samuel 3:11
11 And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will
do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of
every one that heareth it shall tingle
14. 1 Kings 17:1-2
1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth,
before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. 2 And the word of the
Lord came unto him, saying
15. Isaiah 7:3
3 Then said the Lord unto Isaiah, Go forth now
to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son,
at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in
the highway of the fuller's field
16. Topic 1
God Equips
1.
What did God do to equip
Jeremiah for his job?
2.
Why was the Lord ready to uproot
and tear down Judah and the
surrounding nations?
3.
In what ways would Jeremiah’s
message convey both judgment
and hope?
17. Topic 1
God Equips
4.
How is the gospel of Jesus is a
message of both judgment
and hope?
5.
How does the Lord equip us
today to communicate His
message?
18. Topic 1
God Equips
6.
What happens if a
congregation would rather
have a preacher who brings a
pleasing message than one
who speaks the words of the
Lord?
19. Topic 1
God Equips
7.
What does it take to be a bold
witness in a culture that has
lost respect for God?
8.
What might we be called to
uproot and tear down today?
21. Topic 1
Discussion
• Summary of Jeremiah
• Chapter 1: Jeremiah’s reluctant call
• 1:2-45: Jeremiah’s life and prophetic
messages to his own people during the
reigns of Judah’s last 5 kings
• 2:46-51: Jeremiah’s prophecies against
other nations
• The fall of Jerusalem and the Temple to
Babylon
23. Topic 1
Application
• God calls people to serve Him based on
His ability, not ours.
• He equips and empowers for the task.
24. Topic 1
Application
• What excuses or objections are you
currently using to avoid God’s call?
• How will you overcome those excuses
and fulfill the role God has planned for
you?
30. Jeremiah 1:9
9 Then the Lord put forth his hand, and
touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me,
Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth
31. Jeremiah 1:10
10 See, I have this day set thee over the
nations and over the kingdoms, to root out,
and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw
down, to build, and to plant
33. Topic 1
God Equips
• ________________ in the Old
Testament era were the
______________ for _____________,
the God of Israel, the one true God
of the universe.
34. Topic 1
God Equips
• They did not rely on their own
_______________or ______________ or
_______________when they
approached their nation’s kings and
people with messages of rebuke for
sins or courses of action to set the
nation straight.
36. Topic 1
God Equips
• 1 Sam. 3:11
• 1 Kings 17:1-2
• Isa. 7:3
• first verses of Ezek.; Hos.; Joel; Jonah;
Mic.; Zeph.; Hag.; Zech.; Mal.).
37. 1 Samuel 3:11
11 And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will
do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of
every one that heareth it shall tingle
38. 1 Kings 17:1-2
1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth,
before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. 2 And the word of the
Lord came unto him, saying
39. Isaiah 7:3
3 Then said the Lord unto Isaiah, Go forth now
to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son,
at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in
the highway of the fuller's field
40. Topic 1
God Equips
1.
What did God do to equip
Jeremiah for his job?
2.
Why was the Lord ready to uproot
and tear down Judah and the
surrounding nations?
3.
In what ways would Jeremiah’s
message convey both judgment
and hope?
41. Topic 1
God Equips
4.
How is the gospel of Jesus is a
message of both judgment
and hope?
5.
How does the Lord equip us
today to communicate His
message?
42. Topic 1
God Equips
6.
What happens if a
congregation would rather
have a preacher who brings a
pleasing message than one
who speaks the words of the
Lord?
43. Topic 1
God Equips
7.
What does it take to be a bold
witness in a culture that has
lost respect for God?
8.
What might we be called to
uproot and tear down today?
45. Topic 1
Discussion
• Summary of Jeremiah
• Chapter 1: Jeremiah’s reluctant call
• 1:2-45: Jeremiah’s life and prophetic
messages to his own people during the
reigns of Judah’s last 5 kings
• 2:46-51: Jeremiah’s prophecies against
other nations
• The fall of Jerusalem and the Temple to
Babylon
47. Topic 1
Application
• God calls people to serve Him based on
His ability, not ours.
• He equips and empowers for the task.
48. Topic 1
Application
• What excuses or objections are you
currently using to avoid God’s call?
• How will you overcome those excuses
and fulfill the role God has planned for
you?
In this study Unit, as we consider events in the life of Jeremiah the prophet, certain questions arise, such as these:
Are we willing to be used by God?
How can we fulfill the purpose for which He made us?
As we study this lesson, we will see a call to service as an opportunity to honor God and not as a burden.
Explain
When we read Jeremiah and the other prophets, it is important to remember they spoke the Lord’s words.
These were often words of destruction, a necessary consequence of the people’s unrepentant rejection of the Lord and His ways.
But when the Lord destroys, He does so to restore and rebuild.
Prophets in the Old Testament era were the spokesmen for Yahweh, the God of Israel, the one true God of the universe.
They did not rely on their own knowledge or opinions or insights when they approached their nation’s kings and people with messages of rebuke for sins or courses of action to set the nation straight.
Their messages came directly from Yahweh Himself.
We see this point emphasized time and again in the Old Testament records about the prophets
1 Sam. 3:11
1 Kings 17:1-2
Isa. 7:3
First verses of
- Ezek.
- Hos.
- Joel
- Jonah
- Mic.
- Zeph.
- Hag.
- Zech.
- Mal.
What did God do to equip Jeremiah for his job? How did the Lord address the concern Jeremiah had raised in verse 6?
Why was the Lord ready to uproot and tear down Judah and the surrounding nations? How do you think the people responded to Jeremiah’s message? How do people today receive messages of divine wrath and judgment?
In what ways would Jeremiah’s message convey both judgment and hope?
How is the gospel of Jesus is a message of both judgment and hope?
How does the Lord equip us today to communicate His message? What are some ways God equips people for service besides providing words to speak?
What happens if a congregation would rather have a preacher who brings a pleasing message than one who speaks the words of the Lord?
What does it take to be a bold witness in a culture that has lost respect for God?
What might we be called to uproot and tear down today? What might we be called to build and plant?
Read Commentary page 2
Apply
God calls people to serve Him based on His ability, not ours. When God calls, He equips and empowers for the task. We should lay aside our fears and feelings of inadequacy and respond with confidence to God’s call because we know we are never alone.
What excuses or objections are you currently using to avoid God’s call? How will you overcome those excuses and fulfill the role God has planned for you?
Have you been reluctant to accept the service or leadership of fellow believers because they were young and unproven? What will it look like if you trust God’s choice?
Blank
Explain
When we read Jeremiah and the other prophets, it is important to remember they spoke the Lord’s words.
These were often words of destruction, a necessary consequence of the people’s unrepentant rejection of the Lord and His ways.
But when the Lord destroys, He does so to restore and rebuild.
Prophets in the Old Testament era were the spokesmen for Yahweh, the God of Israel, the one true God of the universe.
They did not rely on their own knowledge or opinions or insights when they approached their nation’s kings and people with messages of rebuke for sins or courses of action to set the nation straight.
Their messages came directly from Yahweh Himself.
Prophets in the Old Testament era were the spokesmen for Yahweh, the God of Israel, the one true God of the universe.
They did not rely on their own knowledge or opinions or insights when they approached their nation’s kings and people with messages of rebuke for sins or courses of action to set the nation straight.
Their messages came directly from Yahweh Himself.
Prophets in the Old Testament era were the spokesmen for Yahweh, the God of Israel, the one true God of the universe.
They did not rely on their own knowledge or opinions or insights when they approached their nation’s kings and people with messages of rebuke for sins or courses of action to set the nation straight.
Their messages came directly from Yahweh Himself.
Prophets in the Old Testament era were the spokesmen for Yahweh, the God of Israel, the one true God of the universe.
They did not rely on their own knowledge or opinions or insights when they approached their nation’s kings and people with messages of rebuke for sins or courses of action to set the nation straight.
Their messages came directly from Yahweh Himself.
We see this point emphasized time and again in the Old Testament records about the prophets
1 Sam. 3:11
1 Kings 17:1-2
Isa. 7:3
First verses of
- Ezek.
- Hos.
- Joel
- Jonah
- Mic.
- Zeph.
- Hag.
- Zech.
- Mal.
What did God do to equip Jeremiah for his job? How did the Lord address the concern Jeremiah had raised in verse 6?
Why was the Lord ready to uproot and tear down Judah and the surrounding nations? How do you think the people responded to Jeremiah’s message? How do people today receive messages of divine wrath and judgment?
In what ways would Jeremiah’s message convey both judgment and hope?
How is the gospel of Jesus is a message of both judgment and hope?
How does the Lord equip us today to communicate His message? What are some ways God equips people for service besides providing words to speak?
What happens if a congregation would rather have a preacher who brings a pleasing message than one who speaks the words of the Lord?
What does it take to be a bold witness in a culture that has lost respect for God?
What might we be called to uproot and tear down today? What might we be called to build and plant?
Read Commentary page 2
Apply
God calls people to serve Him based on His ability, not ours. When God calls, He equips and empowers for the task. We should lay aside our fears and feelings of inadequacy and respond with confidence to God’s call because we know we are never alone.
What excuses or objections are you currently using to avoid God’s call? How will you overcome those excuses and fulfill the role God has planned for you?
Have you been reluctant to accept the service or leadership of fellow believers because they were young and unproven? What will it look like if you trust God’s choice?