Creekside Community Church
The Divided Heart (Jeremiah 2-3)
May 25, 2025 Jeff Bruce, Lead Pastor
Locations & Times
Creekside Community Church
951 MacArthur Blvd, San Leandro, CA 94577, USA
Sunday 7:00 AM
“For they have turned their back to me, and not their face.” (Jeremiah 2:37)
The divided heart says…
1. “It’s not that bad"
2. “God’s not that good…”
The divided heart says…
1. “It’s not that bad"
2. “God’s not that good…”
For Further Thought and Discussion
Getting Started
1. What was helpful to you in this week’s sermon? What didn’t you understand?
Going Deeper
2. Read Jeremiah 3:1-5. How does God respond to Judah’s idolatry (see v. 3; compare Deuteronomy 11:13-16)? How does Judah respond to her idolatry (vv. 3-5; see v. 21)? What prompts Judah to turn towards the Lord (vv. 3-5; see also 2:27)?
3. Read Jeremiah 3:6-11. Jeremiah compares Judah to Israel, her “sister” to the north. What did God do in response to Israel’s idolatry (see v. 8; see 2 Kings 17:7-23)? What lesson should Judah have gleaned from this (v. 8)? Instead, how did she respond (see v. 10)? Why might Judah have minimized her own idolatry (see vv. 6-7; compare 2 Kings 22:1-23:27)? Why would Judah have been shocked to hear God’s assessment of her (in relation to Israel; see v. 11)? In what sense is Israel “more righteous” than Judah?
4. Read Jeremiah 3:19-20. What is God’s longing for his people? How does he display his goodness towards them? Why doesn’t Judah see God as good (see 3:23)?
5. Jeremiah offers a vivid description of Judah’s divided heart (see 3:10; compare 2:37). How does the divided heart speak (see Jeremiah 2:20, 23, 25, 27, 31, 25)? What stands out to about these statements? Why does a divided heart inevitably lead to a confused mind?
Application
6. Jeff noted that we tend to minimize sin by (1) evaluating sin by its consequences (rather than its character) and (2) evaluating our righteousness in relation to others (rather in relation to God). Which of these stood out to you? Why? How do you find yourself minimizing sin?
7. Jeff noted the importance of deconstructing our own idols, in order to see God’s goodness more clearly. In Jeremiah 3:23-25 we see that idols (1) deceive (v. 23), (2) destroy (v. 24), and (3) debase (v. 25). Think about your idols. How does Jeremiah’s description ring true in your life?
8. What’s one thing you can do this week to apply this message?
Getting Started
1. What was helpful to you in this week’s sermon? What didn’t you understand?
Going Deeper
2. Read Jeremiah 3:1-5. How does God respond to Judah’s idolatry (see v. 3; compare Deuteronomy 11:13-16)? How does Judah respond to her idolatry (vv. 3-5; see v. 21)? What prompts Judah to turn towards the Lord (vv. 3-5; see also 2:27)?
3. Read Jeremiah 3:6-11. Jeremiah compares Judah to Israel, her “sister” to the north. What did God do in response to Israel’s idolatry (see v. 8; see 2 Kings 17:7-23)? What lesson should Judah have gleaned from this (v. 8)? Instead, how did she respond (see v. 10)? Why might Judah have minimized her own idolatry (see vv. 6-7; compare 2 Kings 22:1-23:27)? Why would Judah have been shocked to hear God’s assessment of her (in relation to Israel; see v. 11)? In what sense is Israel “more righteous” than Judah?
4. Read Jeremiah 3:19-20. What is God’s longing for his people? How does he display his goodness towards them? Why doesn’t Judah see God as good (see 3:23)?
5. Jeremiah offers a vivid description of Judah’s divided heart (see 3:10; compare 2:37). How does the divided heart speak (see Jeremiah 2:20, 23, 25, 27, 31, 25)? What stands out to about these statements? Why does a divided heart inevitably lead to a confused mind?
Application
6. Jeff noted that we tend to minimize sin by (1) evaluating sin by its consequences (rather than its character) and (2) evaluating our righteousness in relation to others (rather in relation to God). Which of these stood out to you? Why? How do you find yourself minimizing sin?
7. Jeff noted the importance of deconstructing our own idols, in order to see God’s goodness more clearly. In Jeremiah 3:23-25 we see that idols (1) deceive (v. 23), (2) destroy (v. 24), and (3) debase (v. 25). Think about your idols. How does Jeremiah’s description ring true in your life?
8. What’s one thing you can do this week to apply this message?