Creekside Community Church
The Wounded Heart (Part 1) - Jeremiah 11:18-12:13
June 15, 2025 Jeff Bruce, Lead Pastor
Locations & Times
Creekside Community Church
951 MacArthur Blvd, San Leandro, CA 94577, USA
Sunday 7:00 AM
1. How God assures the wounded heart (11:18-23):
2. How God admonishes the wounded heart (12:1-6):
3. How God attunes the wounded heart (12:7-13):
2. How God admonishes the wounded heart (12:1-6):
3. How God attunes the wounded heart (12:7-13):
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 11:18-23. What does God reveal to Jeremiah (11:18-19, 21; see also 12:6)? Why would those closest to Jeremiah want him dead (11:19, 21; see also Jeremiah 5:31; 6:13)? What does Jeremiah pray for (11:20)? How does God respond (11:21-23)?
3. Read Jeremiah 12:1-6. What complaint does Jeremiah level against God (12:1-4)? Why is he dissatisfied with God’s response to his prayer (11:20, 23; compare Psalm 73:1-14)? How does God respond to Jeremiah’s complaint (12:6)? Why does God assure Jeremiah at first, but proceed to admonish him (compare Job 38:1-40:2)? Why is this significant?
4. Read Jeremiah 12:7-13. How does Jeremiah’s experience with his family parallel God’s experience with his people (12:7-13)? In what sense does God “hate” his people (12:8; compare verse 7)? How does Jeremiah’s suffering attune him to the heart of God (see also Jeremiah 8:21)?
5. Compare Jeremiah’s life with the life of Jesus. How does Jeremiah’s experience (see especially Jeremiah 11:18-21; 12:3, 6) foreshadow Christ’s (see Isaiah 53:5, 7; Matthew 13:57; 26:3-4; Luke 4:14-30; Luke 22:47-48; John 1:11)? How is Jesus the greater Jeremiah?
Application
6. Jeremiah prays against his enemies (Jeremiah 11:20; see also Jeremiah 15:15; 17:18; 18:21-23), but Jesus commands us to pray for them (Matthew 5:44; see also Romans 12:14). Do you think it’s permissible for believers to pray against the wicked (i.e. for God to execute vengeance on them)? If so, in what circumstances is it permissible (consider Mark 11:11-26; 1 Corinthians 16:22; Galatians 1:8-9; Rev 6:9-11)? What pitfalls should be avoided when praying this way? How does appealing to God’s justice help us to forgive?
7. Jeff noted the various ways God assures, admonishes, and attunes Jeremiah in this passage. Which of these stood out to you? Which is most helpful to you, as you consider the woundedness of your own heart?
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 11:18-23. What does God reveal to Jeremiah (11:18-19, 21; see also 12:6)? Why would those closest to Jeremiah want him dead (11:19, 21; see also Jeremiah 5:31; 6:13)? What does Jeremiah pray for (11:20)? How does God respond (11:21-23)?
3. Read Jeremiah 12:1-6. What complaint does Jeremiah level against God (12:1-4)? Why is he dissatisfied with God’s response to his prayer (11:20, 23; compare Psalm 73:1-14)? How does God respond to Jeremiah’s complaint (12:6)? Why does God assure Jeremiah at first, but proceed to admonish him (compare Job 38:1-40:2)? Why is this significant?
4. Read Jeremiah 12:7-13. How does Jeremiah’s experience with his family parallel God’s experience with his people (12:7-13)? In what sense does God “hate” his people (12:8; compare verse 7)? How does Jeremiah’s suffering attune him to the heart of God (see also Jeremiah 8:21)?
5. Compare Jeremiah’s life with the life of Jesus. How does Jeremiah’s experience (see especially Jeremiah 11:18-21; 12:3, 6) foreshadow Christ’s (see Isaiah 53:5, 7; Matthew 13:57; 26:3-4; Luke 4:14-30; Luke 22:47-48; John 1:11)? How is Jesus the greater Jeremiah?
Application
6. Jeremiah prays against his enemies (Jeremiah 11:20; see also Jeremiah 15:15; 17:18; 18:21-23), but Jesus commands us to pray for them (Matthew 5:44; see also Romans 12:14). Do you think it’s permissible for believers to pray against the wicked (i.e. for God to execute vengeance on them)? If so, in what circumstances is it permissible (consider Mark 11:11-26; 1 Corinthians 16:22; Galatians 1:8-9; Rev 6:9-11)? What pitfalls should be avoided when praying this way? How does appealing to God’s justice help us to forgive?
7. Jeff noted the various ways God assures, admonishes, and attunes Jeremiah in this passage. Which of these stood out to you? Which is most helpful to you, as you consider the woundedness of your own heart?
8. What’s one thing you can do this week to apply this message?