JEREMIAH 11-12

Jeremiah 11,12 March 18, 2010

THE BROKEN COVENANT

Do you ever feel like being a Christian is too hard? Or, does the thought of the requirements turn you away from joining up? Reading these two chapters might lead you in this direction. One thing that might change your mind is the true alternative. After reading the chapters what are your thoughts and desires? Was or is Jeremiah a Christian? How is the description of him following God similar to our covenant to follow Christ?

In order to be a Christian, do you need to have an agreement with Christ? If you have or do accept Christ as your Lord and Savior what are the promises? Do you think Jeremiah and the people of Judah knew the covenant? How were they breaking the covenant?

Can you put yourself in Jeremiah’s shoes? How is your life like Jeremiah’s life? Do you ever find yourself wanting to tell people how to do things? Do you want them to change their behavior? Are they doing things wrong and you believe you know the right? Where do you get your information? Where does God say you should get your information? I think I often criticize folks without really having the correct information. Its easy to get caught in the trap. Did Jeremiah have the word? Was he still working on trying to get it better? Read his prayer in chapter 12:1-6.

In your life, do you like to be told when you are wrong and have someone explain how to do it better? Or, would you rather just get praise for what you may have done correctly? Do like praise better than criticism. God/Christ wants us to follow, trust, obey, be holy and spread the Word. Can you do it? Do you know how to do it? What is the covenant between you and your maker?

Why did God create Jeremiah? Why did He cause these events to happen? Why did he use these events in the writing of the Word? Why are you and I reading and studying this Word? Is God trying to tell us something about himself? Does He want us to learn something here? What might that something be? Jeremiah actually questions God about this in chapter 12. Why did God create and help the wicked to prosper? Do you think He has?

God is saying, “ I will be your God and you shall be my people”. Or, “ I am your God and you are my people”. Which do you like better? Do we just not get it? We have a choice. But, one of them turns out to be very bad.

Often we try to turn the two options into more than two. In fact, some people try to eliminate the very bad option. They tell me they don’t believe in Hell. I wonder if they are able to destroy it? Option 1 and the one God likes is for us to follow Him. Option 2 the one none of us like is to die. Option 3 is to try and create another god. One we like better. We usually pick some of the attributes and character of the real God. Then we add to the definition those things we want him to be like. There are many versions of option 3 in the world. Many of the churches of the world have people who are using option 3. Next Thursday March 25th we will be studying 1 Cor 6. Paul will give us some more ideas about how to eliminate option 3 from our church body. Come on Thursday or read the blog.

What are you gonna learn from Jeremiah 11,12?