Tag: 4th Quarter 2015

Lessons from Jeremiah

• Lesson 13 for the week of December 19 to December 26

The official study guide has entitled the last lesson simply as “Lessons from Jeremiah.” A fruitful way of focusing on that theme would be to ask for personal testimonies – around the circle, perhaps –...

Continue reading →

Back to Egypt

• Lesson 12 for the week of December 12 to December 19

Key Texts: Jeremiah 40-44 Jeremiah 40-44 tells the tragic story of intrigue and broken promises. It tells how Jeremiah, against his own counsel and against his own will, was taken to Egypt by the rebels....

Continue reading →

The Covenant

• Lesson 11 for the week of December 5 to December 12

Key Texts: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:8-12 Questions for Discussion 1. Question: Given the somber news that dominates the book of Jeremiah, how does one explain the sudden appearance of the new covenant promise in 31:31-34?...

Continue reading →

Destruction of Jerusalem

• Lesson 10 for the week of November 28 to December 5

Key Texts: Jeremiah 29:1-14; 37:1-10; 38:1-6; Question: In the light of the horrible events surrounding the fall of Jerusalem, do you think Jeremiah would have preferred to die, or suffer through with his fellow countrymen?...

Continue reading →

Jeremiah’s Yoke

• Lesson 9 for the week of November 21 to November 28

Key Texts: Jeremiah 16:1-13; 27, 28 The official study guide for this week’s lesson uses “yoke” in two different senses: 1. A reference to the “yoke” of Jeremiah’s difficult life, thus laying the foundation for...

Continue reading →

Josiah’s Reforms

• Lesson 8 for the week of November 14 to November 21

Key Texts: 2 Kings 22-23; 2 Chron. 34-35 In lesson #3 we documented the gradual nature of Josiah’s awakening. Those steps can be listed briefly again here: Josiah’s reign began in 639 when he was...

Continue reading →

Crisis Continues

• Lesson 7 for the week of November 7 to November 14

Key Texts: Jeremiah 10, 26 The official “theme” for this week’s lesson is not very revealing, but the primary passages point to two very diverse but significant issues: Israel’s attraction for other gods (Jeremiah 10)...

Continue reading →

Symbolic Acts

• Lesson 6 for the week of October 31 to November 7

Key Texts: Numbers 19, Jeremiah 13, 18, 19 Symbolic acts can be very helpful, but also deadly. Differences in personalities and cultures can lead to significant distortions. In this lesson we will consider one of...

Continue reading →

More Woes for the Prophet

• Lesson 5 for the week of October 24 to October 31

Key Texts: Jeremiah 18:18-23; 20:7-13, 14-18 The theme for this lesson in the standard Sabbath School lesson guide is similar to the one for the last lesson (“Rebuke and Retribution”) in that both focus on...

Continue reading →

Rebuke and Retribution

• Lesson 4 for the week of October 17 to October 24

Key Texts: Jeremiah 11:18-23; 12:1-6; 15:10-12, 15-21; 17:14-18 Jeremiah’s “Confessions” For lessons 4 and 5 we will be focusing on a cluster of unique passages in Jeremiah called by scholars as Jeremiah’s “Confessions.” The title...

Continue reading →

The Last Five Kings of Judah

• Lesson 3 for the week of October 10 to October 17

Key Texts: 1 Chron. 34; Jeremiah 21-22 A Touch of Good, an Avalanche of Evil Josiah and his four sons were listed in connection with the first lesson of this quarter. That list is repeated...

Continue reading →

The Crisis Within and Without

• Lesson 2 for the week of October 3 to October 10

Key Texts: Jeremiah 2 Jeremiah Against the Backdrop of History The standard Sabbath School study guide takes this second lesson to survey the history of Israel up to the fall of Jerusalem during the time...

Continue reading →

The Prophetic Calling of Jeremiah

• Lesson 1 for the week of September 26 to October 3

Key Texts: Jeremiah 1:1-19; 7:5-7 The Book of Jeremiah The book of Jeremiah is remarkable for several reasons. Canonical status. The man for whom the book is named was thoroughly vilified by the believers in...

Continue reading →