Jeremiah - 7 Sessions

As theologian Walter Brueggemann notes, "Jeremiah had to watch the death of the world he loved and treasured, and he had to speak about that death to a people who did not want to hear." (more introduction below this list)

Week 1: "The Call of a Reluctant Prophet" – Overcome Fears - Jeremiah 1-6

Week 2: "A Nation in Crisis" - Getting Real - Jeremiah 7-13

Week 3: "Hope in Hard Times" - Deal With God’s Way - Jeremiah 14-20

Week 4: "Warnings and Promises" – Accept Difficult Truth - Jeremiah 21-29

Week 5: "The Promise of a New Covenant" - A Change of Heart - Jeremiah 30-33

Week 6: "Suffering for Truth"- Handling Rejection - Jeremiah 34-45

Week 7: "Hope for the Future" - Realize He is at Work - Jeremiah 46-52

Introduction to Jeremiah

The Book of Jeremiah stands as one of the most poignant and personally revealing books of the Old Testament, chronicling the ministry of a prophet who served God during one of Israel's darkest periods. Jeremiah's prophetic career spanned forty turbulent years, from 626 to 586 BCE, culminating in the devastating destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of God's people to Babylon. As theologian Walter Brueggemann notes, "Jeremiah had to watch the death of the world he loved and treasured, and he had to speak about that death to a people who did not want to hear."

Jeremiah's calling came during his youth, in the thirteenth year of King Josiah's reign. The young prophet initially resisted, saying "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth." Yet God's response set the tone for Jeremiah's entire ministry: "Do not say, 'I am only a youth'; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak." Charles Spurgeon, reflecting on Jeremiah's call, observed: "God's choice of Jeremiah teaches us that age and experience, though valuable, are not essential to God's work. What is essential is a willing heart and submission to divine authority."

Known as the "weeping prophet," Jeremiah's message was predominantly one of judgment, though interwoven with threads of hope and restoration. Biblical scholar F.B. Meyer writes, "Through all his predictions of approaching judgment, Jeremiah never failed to remind his people that the God who was about to scatter them was also able and willing to gather them." This dual nature of Jeremiah's prophecy – judgment and hope – speaks powerfully to modern readers. As contemporary theologian Timothy Keller points out, "Jeremiah shows us that God's judgments are never final words; they are pathways to restoration and renewal."

The historical context of Jeremiah's ministry is crucial for understanding his message. He prophesied during the reigns of five kings of Judah, witnessing the nation's decline from a period of religious reform under Josiah to its ultimate destruction under Zedekiah. Biblical historian Philip Yancey observes, "Jeremiah's life demonstrates that faithfulness to God does not guarantee an easy life or popularity. In fact, his unwavering commitment to delivering God's message resulted in persecution, imprisonment, and exile."