The Big Idea
Study Guide written by Dr. Lessing from Concordia St. Paul.
INTRODUCTION The Book of Jeremiah focuses on God’s Word of Law and Gospel and the stubborn disobedience of the people of Judah and their kings. It exposes those sins with powerful law and judgment, prophesying the defeat of Judah at the hands of Babylon and the Babylonian exile. But it shows God’s incomparable grace, patience, and mercy as He reaches out to Judah repeatedly, providing a way to survive as His people. Even after the destruction of Jerusalem, He promises that after seventy years in exile His people will be permitted to return and rebuild Jerusalem.
AUTHORSHIP The Book of Jeremiah was written by the prophet Jeremiah around 628–580 BC.
PURPOSE Jeremiah teaches us that God will judge and punish unrepentant sin, but He is patient and long-suffering, offering protection and salvation through the promised Messiah.
OUTLINE Jeremiah can be divided into the following parts:
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The Call of the Prophet (Chapter 1)
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Warnings and Exhortations to Judah (Chapters 2–35)
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Suffering and Persecution of the Prophet (Chapters 36–38)
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The Fall of Jerusalem and Related Events (Chapters 39–45)
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Judgment against the Nations (Chapters 46–51)
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Historical Appendix (Chapter 52)
CHAPTER 1 | Meet Jeremiah
How does the story of the exploding whale connect with Jeremiah’s life? With your life?
What did Jeremiah learn about suffering? After reading this chapter, what did you learn about suffering?
CHAPTER 2 | Overcoming Through God’s Word
How does the opening story about Sir Ernest Shackleton connect with the rest of the chapter?
What part of Jeremiah’s call encourages you? What part of his call challenges you?
CHAPTER 3 | Overcoming Through Confession and Absolution
How does shame get the best of you? What is Jeremiah’s solution?
Of the options listed on page 53, which one do you choose when you’re overwhelmed with shame? What is God’s solution as explained in John’s gospel?
CHAPTER 4 | Overcoming Through Hope
What was Jeremiah’s end? What was Christ’s end? What gives you hope?
How did Jeremiah and his people reach the point of no return? What has Jesus done to give you hope when you feel hopeless?
CHAPTER 5 | Overcoming Through Worship
What was so wrong about worship at Shiloh? What does Christ do for you in worship?
What strikes you about Jeremiah’s teaching about worship? Why are the words “for you” so reassuring?
CHAPTER 6 | Overcoming Through Expressing Grief
What role to tears have in Jeremiah’s life? What role do tears have in Christ’s life?
Why is Jeremiah called “the weeping prophet”? How does crying lead to healing?
CHAPTER 7 | Overcoming Through Renouncing Idolatry
How do you sometimes do business in a “Build a God Workshop”? What do you learn from Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?
How does suffering make us susceptible to idolatry? What is God’s solution?
CHAPTER 8 | Overcoming Through Laments
Why are people tempted to “fly over” laments in the Bible? What do they lose?
Describe Jeremiah’s laments. What does the acronym C.A.R.E.S. teach you?
CHAPTER 9 | Overcoming Through God’s Tests
Describe Jeremiah’s tests. How are they like tests in your life?
Why does God test our hearts? What are the ingredients in God’s tests?
CHAPTER 10 | Overcoming Through Listening
Respond to the phrase, “Keep calm and listen on.” What do you learn from Jeremiah’s prophetic sign act of burying his underwear?
List five negative side effects from stress. How does listening to God’s Word dial down stress?
CHAPTER 11 | Overcoming Through Trust
What do you learn from Jeremiah’s metaphor of two plants? How is this key to applying the ideas expressed in chapter eleven?
Why are loneliness, self-sufficiency, and worry so rampant in our society? How is the Sabbath God’s solution to these problems?
CHAPTER 12 | Overcoming Through Humility
List three ideas from the potter’s house that interest you. What is God’s response to the beast that lives in us all?
Respond to the phrase, “I am the Potter, you are the clay.” Describe a time when you were like a beast. What did you learn?
CHAPTER 13 | Overcoming Through God’s Grace
Define God’s grace. How does Jesus, like Jeremiah, demonstrate the power of praise?
Why is grace such a hard gift to grasp? How does praising God help overcome life’s suffering and setbacks?
CHAPTER 14 | Overcoming Through the Good Shepherd
Specify the characteristics of sheep. What three traits of the Good Shepherd inspire you the most?
Respond: “We are just like sheep.” How is moralism a dead end when it comes to healing our hurts?
CHAPTER 15 | Overcoming Through Seeing
What does Jeremiah’s vision of the figs mean? How does God give us a new heart?
Why is Jeremiah’s vision about figs so radical? In addition to eyes, what else does God have for you?
CHAPTER 16 | Overcoming Through Persistence
What is your favorite illustration in this chapter? Why? How does hope empower Jeremiah to persist?
What is your “fourth year of Jehoiakim”? What does Jeremiah teach you about persistence?
CHAPTER 17 | Overcoming Through Surrender
How does Hananiah get it all wrong? Describe the opposite of surrendering to God.
List three ideas in the chapter connected to surrender. Respond: “Surrender and live.”
CHAPTER 18 | Overcoming Through Shalom
Define exile. What are some solutions for you when you feel exiled?
Define shalom. Define the opposite of shalom. How does God deliver shalom into our lives?
CHAPTER 19 | Overcoming Through the New David
Who is the new David? Which one of these words in the chapter speak to you the most? “Again, “yet,” or “mercy”?
What characteristic of the new David stand out for you? How does the adverb “again” direct life after loss?
CHAPTER 20 | Overcoming Through the Renewed Covenant
Explain the difference between a contract and a covenant. What ideas linked to God’s forgiveness speak most to you?
Explain the differences between a new covenant and a renewed covenant. Why is forgiveness a key to our emotional wellbeing?
CHAPTER 21 | Overcoming Through Taking Risks
What risks did Jeremiah take? What risks did Jesus take? What risks do you need to take?
Why did Jeremiah take risks? Why did Jesus take risks? What will it take for you to take more risks?
CHAPTER 22 | Overcoming Through Tenacity
Who are the scroll shredders in this chapter? At the end of all the shredding, what finally endures?
Respond to this statement: “Failure isn’t running and losing. Failure is refusing to run.” List the main idea of Jeremiah’s encounter with Jehoiakim.
CHAPTER 23 | Overcoming Through the Storm
How does God rescue Jeremiah from his storms? How does God rescue you from your storms?
How were the last days of Judah and Jerusalem like a violent storm? What promises from Jesus help you survive your storms?
CHAPTER 24 | Overcoming Through Faith
What does the first story about Grisha Siklenko teach you? What in this chapter increases your faith?
Why is fear the opposite of faith? What do you learn in the chapter about Baruch? Jesus? Yourself?
CHAPTER 25 | Overcoming Through Singing
Why does Jeremiah dare to sing? Why is it good news that God will finally judge Babylon?
Respond: “Babylon is exceptionally powerful but not ultimately powerful.” What is so endearing about Rembrandt’s painting of the prodigal son?
CHAPTER 26 | Who Overcomes?
Why is the expression “what are the odds” a good summary of Jeremiah 52? How does Jeremiah 29:11 summarize this book?
Why is there a hope and a future for Jehoiachin? Why is there a hope and a future for you?