We are so glad that you joined us today at North Main Street Church of God. At North Main, we exist to develop completely committed followers of Christ who...

Know Christ intimately,

Grow in Christ continually, and

Go for Christ daily

Communion
We will be celebrating communion together this morning during worship. The ushers will distribute the elements at that time, but for those who need a gluten-free or sealed option, those are available at the Welcome Center right outside of the doors you came in today.

The Letter
(Jeremiah 29:1-14 )
Yearly Theme: “Kindness is… Action”
Series Title: “Kindness through Discipline”
June 25th, 2023

Something to think about:

Do you ever get discouraged, and feel like your circumstances are never going to change, and that you’ll be stuck forever with the same results that you’ve always gotten that aren’t what you ever dreamed or desired? Have you ever wanted to just give up because it seems like you’re way too far off the path to have any meaningful results for hope and a future?

As we conclude our series today on Jeremiah, we read a letter that he wrote on behalf of GOD to the elders, priests, prophets, and all the people who had been exiled to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. This letter was a letter of hope. It was a letter that reminded the people that GOD had not forgotten them and that His punishment would not last forever.

In this letter, GOD tells the exiles to settle in the cities and towns to which they had been exiled in this foreign land. He tells them to build homes, have children, and pray for the prosperity of the towns in which they live. He tells them to beware of false prophets who are only telling them what they want to hear, rather than the truth. And He encourages them to wait expectantly and patiently while in exile because their exile would not last forever. Let’s take a look at GOD’s word to the exiles…

Key Point: “Even amidst judgment, GOD remains with and sustains His people.”


It’s great to know that GOD is still active and working when things are not what they should be, but what are we to do in the meantime while we wait on GOD’s promises to be fulfilled?

· _____________________ in.

Bloom where you’re planted!

Jeremiah 29:4-7 (NLT), 4 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem: 5 “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. 6 Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! 7 And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”

· _____________________.

Beware of those who tell you only what you want to hear.

Jeremiah 29:8-9 (NLT), 8 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let your prophets and fortune-tellers who are with you in the land of Babylon trick you. Do not listen to their dreams, 9 because they are telling you lies in my name. I have not sent them,” says the Lord.

· Wait _____________________.

Trust in GOD to fulfill His promises, even if it doesn’t happen in your lifetime.

Jeremiah 29:10-14 (NLT), 10 This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”

Something to take home:

Hebrews 12:1-6 (NLT), 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. 5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,

“My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline,
and don’t give up when he corrects you.
6 For the LORD disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

How do we win when everything seems to be going wrong; when we seem to be stumbling and struggling all along the way? We must learn to settle in; stay active and strong, and be consistent in our walk with Christ. We must beware of false prophets who merely tell us what we want to hear rather than telling us the truth. And we must learn to wait expectantly on the LORD who always fulfills his promises. It’s only when we get our eyes off Jesus that we lose the race.


Key Point: “Even amidst judgment, GOD remains with and sustains His people.”

Jeremiah 18:4
The Hebrew word for marred is translated ruined. The flaw was in the clay itself not in the skill of the potter. Reflecting on the entire verse, what does this reveal to you about God’s hand in your life? How can you respond to God when you find those flaws in your own life? Are you able to trust the Potter as he creates you into something new?

Jeremiah 18:1-12
Count the times the word “if” is used in this passage. What does that tell you about God’s promises? Since God does not change, what are his blessings and punishments contingent upon? Does this idea force you to consider how you approach God? Does this passage help you better understand the importance God places on relationships as opposed to religion?

Jeremiah 23:1-8
Reading through the passage and reflecting, can you identify a “shepherd” who was uncaring, harsh, frightening, and or destructive? What was your response? Was it effective? What does God promise in this passage not only about the destructive shepherds but of the sheep in their care? How can you walk out faithfulness to God when He places you in the role of a shepherd over others?

Jeremiah 23:5-6
In this passage, God describes a new King. What are some of the promises to come with this King? What are the Hebrew people looking for regarding this King who was to come? Often, as we read these texts, we wonder how the nation of Israel missed the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Why might it be easier to understand the dismay of the Crucifixion because of passages like this?

Jeremiah 29:1-14
Reflecting on this passage, what are the Israelites instructed to do while in exile, and for how long? Why is obedience to this directive important? What happened within a period of 70 years? Can you find any connection between this exile and the time following the Exodus? How easy do you think it was for the Israelites to follow God’s lead, to find that place between revolt and compromise? How difficult is it for you to do today?

OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Thursday
9:00am - 4:00pm