God Calls Jeremiah

SESSION 10 God Calls Jeremiah

Summary and Goal

Jeremiah was called, even before he was born, to be God’s prophet. Because his prophetic message was contrary to what his people wanted to hear, Jeremiah faced opposition and persecution. Nevertheless, Jeremiah remained faithful to God’s call despite the obstacles. In Jeremiah’s grief, we see a picture of the tender heart of God, most fully expressed in Jesus’ weeping for the unrepentant people of Jerusalem. From Jeremiah, we also learn that the God who calls us to deliver His message is the God who will empower us for His mission. Main Passage Jeremiah 1:4-10 Session Outline 1. G od’s plan for us precedes our birth (Jer. 1:4-5). 2. G od’s presence with us overcomes obstacles to our mission (Jer. 1:6-8). 3. God’s proclamation should be on our lips (Jer. 1:9-10).

Theological Theme God equips those He has chosen to minister in His name. Christ Connection Jeremiah’s love for his people was so great that he often delivered God’s message in tears, to the point that he is known as the “weeping prophet.” In Jeremiah’s grief, we see a picture of the tender heart of God, most fully expressed in Jesus’ weeping for the people of Jerusalem who would not repent. Missional Application God calls us to trust Him to overcome the obstacles we may face in carrying out His mission in our lives.

Date of My Bible Study: ______115

Introduction Point 1 Option Lay out the scenario of preparing a birthday cake and performing other tasks In light of Jeremiah’s while having no training in how to do them (leader p. 118; PSG p. 92). historical context, talk about how the timing of God’s call on the prophet When have you felt unequipped to do something you had was not accidental but been asked to do? What did you do in response? purposeful. Play the video clip from the filmThe Curious Case of Benjamin Connect the feeling of being ill-prepared with how we sometimes feel about Button to illustrate the tedious and intertwined following God’s will for our lives, just like Jeremiah. Then summarize the nature of events session (leader pp. 118-119; PSG pp. 92-93). and circumstances. www.wingclips.com/movie- 1. G od’s plan for us precedes our birth (Jer. 1:4-5). clips/the-curious-case-of- benjamin-button/one-thing Present the context of Judah prior to Jeremiah’s birth and the spiritual awakening taking place at the time Jeremiah was called (point to Pack Item 8: Jeremiah’s Life and Pack Item 10: The Divided Kingdom to help set the context for Jeremiah’s call). Then read Jeremiah 1:4-5. Explain what For Further it means that God actively forms us (leader pp. 119-120; PSG pp. 93-94). Discussion Why might God have What are some ways we might fail to properly recognize begun His call to Jeremiah God’s activity in the formation of human beings? like this? How would this have been How does the way we look at ourselves and our children encouraging to Jeremiah? change when we recognize that God has truly formed us? What can you learn about the character and power of God from these verses? Next, explain that, like Jeremiah, God actively calls us (leader p. 121; Why is that important? PSG p. 94). If time allows, point out the similarities between Jeremiah’s call and Paul’s (leader p. 121).

How often do you think about the fact that God has a plan and purpose for your life? Why is that?

How would doing so more often change the way you approach your daily activities?

116 Leader Guide 2. God’s presence with us overcomes obstacles to our mission (Jer. 1:6-8). For Further Ask a volunteer to read Jeremiah 1:6-8. Note that Jeremiah’s focus, like Discussion Moses’, was on himself, but God redirected Jeremiah’s focus to Himself What things are we most prone to fix our gaze on (leader pp. 121-122; PSG p. 95). instead of God? Why is meditation on God’s Why is it important to have your focus fixed on God instead revelation of Himself in of yourself when you are attempting to live on mission Scripture necessary for for Him? countering what the world encourages us to prioritize in our thinking? What happens if we don’t fix our gaze upon Him?

Stress that the Lord’s presence is the priority, not our abilities. But clarify what “success” in our mission means—faithfulness (leader pp. 122-123; Point 3 Option PSG p. 96). Use Jeremiah’s experience as a case study of successful, missional Point out that in order for God’s proclamation to faithfulness (leader p. 122). be on our lips, we must know the content of the What kinds of obstacles do you see in your way to being a Bible. Biblical theology helps us know how to messenger of the gospel? speak the Word rightly. Enlist a volunteer prior How does God’s abiding presence answer those hesitations? to the group meeting to summarize the article “A Healthy Church Member Is 3. God’s proclamation should be on our lips a Biblical Theologian” and briefly explain why learning (Jer. 1:9-10). biblical theology is useful Read Jeremiah 1:9-10. Stress the amazing reality that Jeremiah was given the to everyone. very word of God to speak throughout the land (leader pp. 123-124; www.christianity.com/ bible/a-healthy-church- PSG p. 97). Explain how boldness comes from the provision of God’s Word member-is-a-biblical- (leader pp. 123-124). theologian-11600685.html

What are some of the obstacles to us having God’s proclamation on our lips? Christ Connection: Jeremiah’s love for his What must we believe to be true about the Bible in order to people was so great that live this out? he often delivered God’s message in tears, to the point that he is known as Show that God has not only commanded us to share the gospel to the ends the “weeping prophet.” In Jeremiah’s grief, we see of the earth, He has also provided the message for us. Therefore, we must a picture of the tender know the Word and speak the Word (leader pp. 124-125; PSG pp. 97-98). heart of God, most fully expressed in Jesus’ weeping for the people Conclusion of Jerusalem who would not repent. Close by saying that Jeremiah reminds us of another prophet—Jesus—who ...... wept over the state of His people, and read Matthew 23:37-39 aloud. Exhort Missional Application: God the group to pray, both individually and corporately, to possess the calls us to trust Him to compassionate heart of God for sinners (leader p. 125; PSG p. 99). overcome the obstacles we may face in carrying out His Apply the truths of this session with “His Mission, Your Mission” (PSG p. 100). mission in our lives.

Session 10 117 Expanded Session Content God Calls Jeremiah Session 10

Introduction Voices from Imagine that someone close to you is having a birthday party, and the the Church only thing they want is a certain kind of cake. Because you love them, “Sometimes God’s you want to give them this gift. Problem is, though, you don’t know a people sow in tears of intercession, weeping spatula from a measuring spoon. You’ve never melted butter, measured on behalf of others and flour, or melted chocolate for icing. In fact, the only thing you have as an making appeals for their sake. Like the prophets asset to your cause is a picture of a perfectly formed and created birthday Isaiah, Jeremiah, and cake. But you have to move from “Step 0” to the final product all on Ezekiel, sometimes God’s people sow in tears of your own. compassion, weeping Or imagine having never played baseball and being told that you have over the brokenness of this world—grieving with to step onto the field this day as the starting shortstop. those who have lost and Or imagine being scheduled to give a classical piano concert before a identifying with those who suffer.” 1 crowd without ever having learned to play the piano. –Mary Willson To do these tasks and a host of others, we not only need to see what the task is, we need to be properly prepared in order to perform it. We need the necessary training, the right materials, and the right equipment in order to do what we have been called upon to do.

When have you felt unequipped to do something you had been asked to do? What did you do in response?

Some of us feel the same sort of intimidation when considering what it means to follow God’s will for our lives. We have been called to be salt and light, to love the world without being corrupted by the world, to be heralds of the gospel of Jesus Christ wherever our foot falls. It’s the greatest task in the universe, and because it is, we might feel unequipped for such a mighty cause. Jeremiah felt that way too. But God’s prophet learned, as we will, that God does not leave those whom He has chosen unequipped. Instead, God equips those He has chosen to minister in His name.

118 Leader Guide Session Summary Jeremiah was called, even before he was born, to be God’s prophet. Because his prophetic message was contrary to what his people wanted to hear, Jeremiah faced opposition and persecution. Nevertheless, Jeremiah remained faithful to God’s call despite the obstacles. In Jeremiah’s grief, we see a picture of the tender heart of God, most fully expressed in Jesus’ weeping for the unrepentant people of Jerusalem. From Jeremiah, we also learn that the God who calls us to deliver His message is the God who will empower us for His mission.

1. God’s plan for us precedes our birth (Jer. 1:4-5). Every parent dreams of who and what their child will be. Most of the Further time, those dreams and aspirations are built on the life of the parent, or Commentary who the parent wished he or she was. For example, if a dad excelled in “The prophet was told that sports, he would probably sit with his baby on his knee and conjure up God ‘chose’ him ‘before’ He ‘formed’ him ‘in the womb.’ visions of a great ball player. Or if a mom always wanted to be a great The verb for ‘to choose’ is musician but never found the time for it, she might sit and daydream the Hebrew word ‘to know.’ Similar concepts are used about how her child might rise above what she had achieved. in the call of the Servant Every parent has goals and aspirations for their child, but they are of the Lord (Isa. 49:5) and the apostle Paul (Gal. 1:15). limited in what they can and should do in order to bring these goals into God had more than an reality. That limitation comes from the makeup of who the child is. Part intellectual knowledge of Jeremiah; He had a of parenting is discovering just how a child is wired—What does he enjoy? personal relationship with What is she good at? A parent can dream all they want about the future him. He was ‘set…apart’ or separated (as in the root ‘to of their child, but they must also be a responsible student of their child, be holy,’ or ‘set apart’ to the making sure they aren’t imposing an aspiration that doesn’t actually fit Lord) and ‘appointed’ to be a ‘prophet to the nations.’ If that child’s natural talent and enjoyment. God is the Lord of the entire It’s different with God. God not only has aspirations for His children, world, it is natural that His message would extend to but He also has the most active of roles in putting them together. This was all nations.” 2 the case for the prophet Jeremiah. –Walter C. Kaiser, Prior to Jeremiah’s birth, Judah found itself wedged between two HCSB Study Bible world superpowers. The tiny kingdom was set between Egypt and Assyria, and for the last hundred years or so, Assyria had brought the entire region into its empire. Any attempt at rebellion had been squelched. The Northern Kingdom of Israel, for example, had tried to rebel, but she was overrun and her people were deported. Her existence as a kingdom was ended by the bully on the block. In Judah, King Josiah had come to power at the age of 8. When he was 20 years old, Josiah began a sweeping reform of the nation, calling people far and wide to return to the Lord and destroy their idols. It was during this period of spiritual awakening that Jeremiah was called to begin prophesying and preaching:

Session 10 119 4 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Further 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, Commentary and before you were born I consecrated you; “Jeremiah prophesied I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” during the time of the last five kings of Judah (Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, These two short verses provide powerful insight into the character and Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah— power of God. Sometimes, even as Christians, we tend to think of around 626-586 b.c.) The book of Jeremiah teaches ourselves as victims of circumstance. But if we really believe what the Bible the mission of God to says about God, then we must accept that God actively forms and calls us a people who see the ‘old mission’—a Land of to fulfill His will. Promise as a witness to all nations—withering away… That Jeremiah is called God actively forms us. the ‘weeping prophet’ is As a part of his call, God reminded Jeremiah that he was intentionally no surprise. He had much to weep over. As Israel put together. And God’s formation was not limited to Jeremiah; He is succumbed, Jeremiah was actively involved in the formation of every man, woman, and child. told by God not to marry or raise children because David too recognized God’s active formation in Psalm 139, a song the next generation— about the constant and abiding presence of God everywhere, at all times: those who would bear the judgment for Israel’s “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are sin—would be swept your works; my soul knows it very well” (Ps. 139:14). away. To his lonely life and ominous prophecies add These passages together remind us that we all are more than a jumble the opposition of most of cells and tissue. If God is involved at that specific level, then there is of Judah’s last kings, who deeply resented Jeremiah’s inherent value in every human life. What’s more, we should have the same unmitigated bad news.” 3 response when we look at ourselves, our children, and the unborn that –The Mission of God David did. The very fact of human existence, as intricate and specialized as Study Bible our lives are, is a signpost pointing us to the reality and glory of God. We live in a culture of self-improvement. Go to any bookstore and you’ll find one of the largest sections of written material devoted to this end. We want to improve our minds, improve our bodies, and improve our spirits. Those are fine pursuits if they have the right end. We should, for example, use our minds for the glory and honor of God. Part of that means pursuing education and being in a posture of constant learning. Too often, though, we become preoccupied with the betterment of ourselves to the point we begin to call into question our physical and mental makeup. We drift into the idolatry of mind and body, failing to recognize that we have been fearfully and wonderfully made. God was intentional when He formed us, and our formation should point us back to Him.

What are some ways we might fail to properly recognize God’s activity in the formation of human beings?

How does the way we look at ourselves and our children change when we recognize that God has truly formed us?

120 Leader Guide God actively calls us. God formed Jeremiah in the womb. That means He intentionally Voices from gave Jeremiah the physical and emotional capacity he would need for his Church History prophetic mission. But God not only forms us in the womb, leaving us to “God’s choice of Jeremiah live our lives as we see fit. He also actively calls us, just as He did Jeremiah. was not without basis: knowledge preceded it. Long before Jeremiah could walk, talk, or formulate his thoughts fully Notice it says God had and completely, God set him apart as a prophet to the nations. It’s not unlike knowledge and then he consecrated, for he what God would later say about Saul, better known as Paul, after he met knows everything before Jesus on the road to Damascus: “He is a chosen instrument of mine to carry it happens.” 4 my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15). –Theodoret of Cyr (circa 390-457) Even while Paul was persecuting the early church, God had a plan for his life. It was not a plan that anyone could have guessed in the moment; God often operates in this fashion in order to bring glory to Himself. After all, who could have guessed that the most ardent persecutor of the faith Further would become its greatest missionary? Who would have guessed that a Commentary murderer would become the deliverer of God’s people from Egypt? And who “Jeremiah’s response to would have guessed that a baby in a manger was the King of the universe? his call was to offer two excuses. He felt inadequate God reminded Jeremiah before giving him his task that his days as a public speaker (an had already been planned from the beginning. God put him together excuse shared with Moses, Ex. 4:10) and also immature on purpose, and He was intentionally sending him on a mission He had (cf. Solomon, 1 Kings 3:7). planned beforehand as well. Although his age is uncertain, he probably was not quite twenty…The How often do you think about the fact that God has a plan Lord rejected Jeremiah’s and purpose for your life? Why is that? excuses but without rancor (cf. God’s anger with Moses, Ex. 4:14). When God calls, How would doing so more often change the way you he equips us with what is approach your daily activities? needed to carry out the assigned task. For Jeremiah it was the promise of God’s 2. God’s presence with us overcomes obstacles presence and deliverance from any threatening to our mission (Jer. 1:6-8). situation that the reluctant Despite the truth of God’s formation and God’s call, Jeremiah was still prophet needed to hear. The command ‘Do not be hesitant to take on his mission. He wasn’t the first reluctant messenger of afraid’ is found frequently in the Lord, and he certainly wouldn’t be the last. As is always the case, the Scriptures, suggesting how common is the human though, Jeremiah’s focus was on the wrong thing when he protested. experience of fear. The basis for overcoming fear is the assurance of God’s 6 od Then I said, “Ah, LordG ! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for presence. However, even I am only a youth.” 7 But the Lord said to me, with the assurance of God’s presence, Jeremiah “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; continued to struggle for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, with his calling (see 15:18; 5 and whatever I command you, you shall speak. 20:7-8).” 8 Do not be afraid of them, –F. B. Huey Jr. for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.”

Session 10 121 Do you see where Jeremiah’s focus was? Look at his use of the Voices from word “I” in his response to the Lord in verse 6. Jeremiah was focused on Church History himself—his own shortcomings, his own limited abilities, his own “The Lord delivers…not so inexperience. It’s not unlike Moses, centuries earlier, who also protested to that the prophet will be God’s mission, claiming that he could not speak and that the Israelites free of persecutions and difficulties, for we read wouldn’t listen to him (Ex. 4:1,10). that Jeremiah was severely God’s response to Jeremiah, like His response to Moses, was not so afflicted. Instead, the Lord liberates one who suffers much a counter to his objections. God never denied that Jeremiah didn’t everything to overcome know how to speak, nor did He encourage Jeremiah by saying, “You’re these tribulations rather than yielding to them.” 6 more mature than you think you are.” Instead, God refocused Jeremiah’s –Jerome (circa 345-420) gaze to where it should have been in the first place, on God instead of on himself. The question for Jeremiah was not so much whether he was ready and capable; the question was whether God was ready and capable. And the Voices from Lord was. the Church “There is no doubt that all Why is it important to have your focus fixed on God instead God’s resources are at the of yourself when you are attempting to live on mission disposal of the one whom for Him? God has called…God Himself is your resource.” 7 What happens if we don’t fix our gaze upon Him? –Henry T. Blackaby and Henry Brandt It’s not a question of who we are and our abilities; it’s a question of the Lord’s presence. God’s abiding presence helps us overcome obstacles to our mission. We should stop here for some clarity, though. Just because God will be with us, and just because God was with Jeremiah, doesn’t mean that we will be “successful” in that mission. Then again, that depends on how we define what “success” really is. In Jeremiah’s case, he went on a preaching tour across the land to further the reforms of Josiah. He was met with opposition and was branded as a traitor by his own people. The new promises that Josiah had made on behalf of the people with God were broken almost as soon as they were instituted. Things got even worse for Jeremiah. After Josiah was killed in a battle with Egypt, Jeremiah continued to preach the need for repentance and predicted the coming fall of the nation and exile of the people. He even appeared before the people wearing an ox-yoke. His message was rejected time and time again, but the prophet persisted. In fact, his message was so emotional to him personally that he often wept as he delivered it, causing him to be remembered throughout history as the “weeping prophet.”

122 Leader Guide It’s not, on the surface level, the kind of mission we would deem to be successful by any stretch. But success in God’s eyes is measured less by Further results and more by faithfulness. When we are faithful to say what God Commentary has called us to say to whom God has called us to say it, then the mission “By touching the young is successful. We have been faithful to the Lord. prophet’s mouth God symbolizes the communication of the What kinds of obstacles do you see in your way to being a divine message. The messenger of the gospel? incident is reminiscent of the sanctification of Isaiah (Isa. 6:7). After Jeremiah How does God’s abiding presence answer those hesitations? had felt the touch of the Master’s hand he was ready to begin his prophetic 3. God’s proclamation should be on our lips ministry. Note here that (Jer. 1:9-10). there is no disparity between God’s words and Jeremiah was intentionally formed and commissioned. He was sent those of the man Jeremiah. The ‘word of faith’ was near out with the presence of God going with Him. And then God put His him, in his mouth and in his message in His mouth: heart (Rom. 10:8). God can now proclaim his sovereign will to the nations with 9 Then theL ord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord Jeremiah acting as said to me, spokesman. There is a decidedly negative “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. emphasis here which sets 10 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, the tone for most of the prophecy. What is corrupt to pluck up and to break down, in the nation must be to destroy and to overthrow, uprooted and torn down, for only then can God to build and to plant.” undertake ‘to build and to plant’ anew. Calamity was therefore an inevitable What an amazing thing to be able to say “Thus saith the Lord.” occurrence as long as the Jeremiah was given the very word of God to speak throughout the land, nation pursued its sinful ways. However, the fact and that word came with power. The message of Jeremiah would not be that God spoke of renewal empty rhetoric but instead would be given power. No matter what else furnished some ground for hope of restoration at might come in his life in the future, the weeping prophet would know that some future period. This is he was speaking the very word of God and could stand on it. a paradigm of the spiritual life, for God has first to Jeremiah was not the only one who had such an experience. The Old remove the sin before the Testament is filled with accounts of God’s prophets being given specific sinner can begin to grow in grace and in the knowledge messages from the Lord for the people. They were His mouthpiece to of Jesus Christ (cf. Eph. 4:15; uproot and tear down, destroy and demolish, build and plant. Just like 2 Pet. 3:18).” 8 Jeremiah, these messengers of God were equipped not to speak their own –R. K. Harrison opinions but to authoritatively deliver the word of God to their culture. Fast forward to the New Testament, and you find the disciples of Jesus with a little trepidation when it came time for them to be sent out on their first solo mission. But Jesus would not leave them unequipped, just as God fully equipped the prophets of old:

Session 10 123 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be 99 Essential wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will Christian Doctrines deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you 87. Evangelism will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear It is the duty and privilege witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do of every Christian and of every church of the Lord not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what Jesus Christ to make you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who disciples of all nations. The new birth of man’s speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” spirit by God’s Holy Spirit (Matt. 10:16-20) means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the part of all Do you see the common denominator? It’s the boldness of believing thus rests upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate God will provide the words needed when the time comes. As Christians, life and is expressly and we don’t function in the same way the prophets did in the Old Testament; repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. we don’t have God telling us His message in private for us to declare in The Lord Jesus Christ has public. But God has not left us without a word. commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. It is the duty of every child What are some of the obstacles to us having God’s of God to seek constantly proclamation on our lips? to win the lost to Christ by verbal witness undergirded by a Christian lifestyle. What must we believe to be true about the Bible in order to live this out?

The Bible is the living, active, and unchanging Word of God. God has not only commanded us to share the gospel to the ends of the earth, He has also provided the message for us. Just as Jeremiah had the proclamation of God on his lips, so should we be so familiar with the Word of God that our language drips with it in regular conversation. But in order for that to happen, we must know the Word, and we must speak the Word.

Know the Word. Never before has the Word of God been so accessible, and yet we are finding more and more that we are illiterate of what it actually says. We must, if we want to follow Jesus, be people of the Word. We must treat it with care, loving it, cherishing it, and committing it to memory. When we do, we will see that the Word of God finds its place in us, and having been established in us, it will naturally come out. There’s an old expression that goes like this: “What’s down in the well comes up in the bucket.” It’s a way of restating what Jesus has already told us: “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34). Though He gave this teaching in a negative way to the Pharisees, telling them that of course they speak in an evil fashion for their words reflect their hearts, the same principle applies here. When we hide God’s Word deeply in our hearts, it will overflow in our speech.

124 Leader Guide Speak the Word. We start with knowing God’s Word, but then we must make the Voices from active choice to speak God’s Word. Over time, choices like this become Church History easier and easier, but we must make a start at it. We have to choose actively “He, faithful to his Lord, to speak the Word of God, even though it might not be well received and faithful to that God who employed him, did not it might not be popular. fail from time to time to God’s Word trumps our opinions. It trumps our agenda. It trumps open his mouth against them, and to bear a noble our priorities. When we make the choice to start proclaiming God’s Word testimony to the honor of in the various arenas that He has given us to influence, we’ll see the power that God in whose name he from time to time spake.” 9 of God work to transform them for His glory. –George Whitefield (1714-1770) Conclusion Jeremiah reminds us of another prophet in another time, one who felt even more deeply for the people He was charged to speak to. He too wept over the lack of repentance and understanding in His people, longing for Voices from them with all His heart to return to God. Jesus Himself shows us the the Church depth of the heart of God as He lamented over the same people God was “The more we know God, the more we should want pursuing in the days of Jeremiah: to make Him known to a lost world.” 10 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones –Greg Laurie those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” (Matt. 23:37-39)

If we want to follow Jesus, then we must not only be faithful to God’s call, regardless of the perceived results, but we must pray to possess the heart of God as we reach out compassionately to those around us with the message of the gospel.

CHRIST CONNECTION: Jeremiah’s love for his people was so great that he often delivered God’s message in tears, to the point that he is known as the “weeping prophet.” In Jeremiah’s grief, we see a picture of the tender heart of God, most fully expressed in Jesus’ weeping for the people of Jerusalem who would not repent.

Session 10 125 Additional Resources God Calls Jeremiah

References Get expert insights on weekly studies through Ministry 1. Mary Willson, “Tears in Memphis,” Grid at MinistryGrid.com/web/TheGospelProject. The Gospel Coalition [online], 11 September 2014 [cited 15 February Grow with other group leaders at the Group Ministry 2016]. Available from the Internet: www.thegospelcoalition.org. blog at LifeWay.com/GroupMinistry. 2. Walter C. Kaiser, in HCSB Study Bible (Nashville: B&H, 2010), 1235, n. 1:5. Study Material 3. “Jeremiah,” in The Mission of God Study Bible, eds, Ed Stetzer --“Jeremiah: New Covenant”—Chapter 21 from How to Read the Bible and Philip Nation (Nashville: B&H, 2012), 752. Through the Jesus Lens by Michael Williams 4. Theodoret of Cyr, On Jeremiah, 1.1.4-6, quoted in Jeremiah, --“Make No Excuses”—Article by Rick Ezell; find a link to this article at Lamentations, ed. Dean O. Wenthe, vol. XII in Ancient Christian GospelProject.com/AdditionalResources Commentary on Scripture: Old Testament (Downers Grove: IVP, --Previous Biblical Illustrator articles, including “Jeremiah in its Historical 2014) [WORDsearch]. 5. F. B. Huey Jr., Jeremiah, Setting,” can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter, at Lamentations, vol. 16 in The New American Commentary (Nashville: LifeWay.com/BiblicalIllustrator. Look for Bundles: The Gospel Project. B&H, 2003) [WORDsearch]. 6. Jerome, Six Books on Jeremiah, 1.4.1-2, quoted in Jeremiah, Sermon Podcast Lamentations, ed. Dean O. Wenthe, vol. XII in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Old Phil Ryken: “A Prophet to the Nations” Testament [WORDsearch]. 7. Henry T. Blackaby, Henry Brandt, and Kerry L. Skinner, The Power of the Call (Nashville: B&H, Find a link to this at GospelProject.com/AdditionalResources 1997) [eBook]. 8. R. K. Harrison, Jeremiah and Lamentations, vol. 21 in Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries Tip of the Week (Downers Grove: IVP, 1973), 54-55 [Biblia.com]. 9. George Whitefield, “The Method Over Prepare, Then Limit Yourself of Grace,” Christian Classics Ethereal Library [online; cited 16 February 2016]. Available from “Never before has so much information been available so easily. You can the Internet: www.ccel.org. access commentaries, teaching plans, and sermons from hundreds of 10. Greg Laurie, Let God Change Your Life (Colorado Springs: David resources online. You’ll quickly find out which resources best serve your C. Cook, 2011), 171. 11. Michael Kelley, “Five Things own preparation, and you’ll return to those again and again. No longer Every Group Leader Should Do,” will you struggle to fill your group time but to limit your scope. That 9Marks Journal [online], January/ February 2012 [cited 26 February limitation is important or your group will simply become the means by 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.9marks.org. which you show everybody how smart you are. That’s a fail. Instead, articulate to yourself in writing what your main point is, after deriving it from your personal study. Then use that main point as a gate for all the other information.” 11

126 Leader Guide About the Writers

Unit 1: Mary Jo Sharp (sessions 1,2,4) is an assistant professor of The Gospel Project® Adult Leader Guide ESV apologetics at Houston Baptist University and is the founder Volume 5, Number 1 Fall 2016 and director of Confident Christianity, a non-profit apologetics

Eric Geiger ministry. A clear communicator with a heart for people, she Vice President, LifeWay Resources finds great joy in sharing the deep truths of her Lord and Ed Stetzer Savior. She and her husband, Roger, have one daughter. General Editor

Trevin Wax Managing Editor Adam Dooley (sessions 3,5,6) serves as the senior pastor of

Daniel Davis Sunnyvale First Baptist Church on the northeast side of Dallas. Content Editor He is a two-time graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological

Josh Hayes Seminary, where he has also served as an adjunct professor. Content and Production Editor Adam is married to Heather, and they have three sons and Ken Braddy one daughter. Manager, Adult Ongoing Bible Studies

Michael Kelley Director, Groups Ministry Trillia Newbell (provided the unit 1 session plans) is the author of Enjoy (forthcoming, 2017), Fear and Faith, and Send questions/comments to: United. She is the Director of Community Outreach for the Managing Editor, The Gospel Project: Adult Leader Guide, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Trillia is married One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0102; to Thern, and they reside with their two children near or make comments on the Web at www.lifeway.com. Nashville, Tennessee.

Printed in the United States of America Unit 2: The Gospel Project®: Adult Leader Guide ESV Michael Kelley lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, (ISSN 2330-9377; Item 005573550) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources, One Jana, and their three children: Joshua, Andi, and Christian. LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. © 2016 LifeWay Christian Resources. He serves as the Director of Discipleship for LifeWay For ordering or inquiries, visit www.lifeway.com, or write LifeWay Resources Customer Service, Christian Resources. Michael speaks across the country at One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. churches, conferences, and retreats and is the author of three For subscriptions or subscription address changes, email [email protected], fax (615) 251-5818, or Bible studies and the book Wednesdays Were Pretty Normal: write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, email [email protected], A Boy, Cancer, and God. fax (615) 251-5933, or write to the above address. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To review LifeWay’s doctrinal guideline, please visit www.lifeway.com/doctrinalguideline. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the English Standard Version® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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