Jerusalem Under Siege - Jeremiah 6:1-30 Topics: Anger, Beauty, Deceit, Disobedience, Enemies, Family, Fear, Greed, Hardheartedness, Law, Listening, Lying, Peace, Punishment, Rebellion, Rejection, Rest, Running, Sacrifice, Shame, Sickness, Soul, Testing, War, Wisdom Open It 1. What positive or negative associations do you have with the word “tradition”? * 2. How do we use predictions about the future in our everyday lives? Explore It 3. What warning did Jeremiah issue to the people of Jerusalem? (6:1-3) 4. What plans did Jeremiah envision being made by invaders? (6:4-5) * 5. What did Jeremiah say would happen if the people didn’t heed his warning? (6:6-8) 6. When Babylon finished “gleaning” the vine of Israel, how many would be left? (6:9) * 7. What kind of response did Jeremiah get to his prophecies? (6:10) 8. What did Jeremiah predict would happen when God judged the world? (6:11-12) 9. How had the prophets and priests sinned against God? (6:13-15) * 10. For what did God recommend that the people ask? (6:16) 11. What did God’s appointed watchmen tell the people? (6:17) 12. What did God call the rest of the earth to observe about Israel? (6:18-19) 13. How did God view the sacrifices and expensive incense offered by Israel and Judah? (6:20) 14. What did God say would cause many people to stumble? (6:21) 15. How did Jeremiah describe the invading army of Babylon? (6:22-23) 16. How did Jeremiah predict that people would react to the invaders? (6:24-26) 17. How did Israel respond to God’s refining? (6:27-30) Get It 18. Why do you think Jeremiah kept on talking about the level of devastation that Israel’s enemies would bring? * 19. When have you received a “we will not listen” response to a message about God, as did Jeremiah? 20. Who do you know to whom the Word of the Lord is offensive? * 21. Why are some people offended by what the Bible says? 22. By Jeremiah’s day, how long had God been revealing His path to righteousness and blessing? 23. What sometimes motivates people in leadership to deceive the people they lead? 24. Why do you think people sometimes put more emphasis on expense and appearance in religious observances than on sincerity of heart? 25. When have you experienced God’s refining in your life? 26. How should we respond when God seeks to refine us? Apply It * 27. To whom do you need to communicate God’s Word, even if he or she finds it (the message, not you) offensive? 28. Where can you read in the Bible this week to remember God’s will and commands? .