Bible Lesson Overview
Most believers recognize the importance of serving God, but may turn down opportunities because they don’t feel qualified or prepared. This Bible Study lesson will help us recognize and deal with our excuses and objections when God calls us to serve Him.
10. • 641 - Josiah becomes king
• 628 - Jeremiah called by the LORD
• 626 - Nabopolassar rises to power in
Babylon
• 612 - Nineveh destroyed by the
Babylonians and Medes
• 609 - Josiah killed by the Egyptian forces
of Necho at Megiddo - Jehoahaz
made king by the people of Judah
11. • 608 - Necho takes Jehoahaz captive to Egypt
and places Jehoiakim on the throne in his
place
• 605 - Nebuchadnezzar defeats Necho at
Carchemish
• - Jehoiakim becomes a vassal of
Nebuchadnezzar
• - First deportation of captives from Judah
(Daniel taken)
12. • 602 - Jehoiakim rebels against
Nebuchadnezzar
• 598 - Babylonians capture Jerusalem /
Jehoiakim dies
• - More Jewish people deported to
Babylon
• 597 - Jehoiachin is made king, and reigns
only three months when he is deported to
Babylon with 10,000 other
13. • 579 - Zedekiah placed on the throne
• 587 - Zedekiah rebels against
Nebuchadnezzar
• 586 - Judah’s rebellion is crushed, Jerusalem
is destroyed
• - Zedekiah is deported to Babylon
• - Gedaliah appointed governor over
Judah - then is killed
• - Many of the Jews flee to Egypt
(Jeremiah with them)
15. Jeremiah 1:4-6
4 Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 5
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before
thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I
ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. 6 Then said I,
Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak:for I am a child
16. Jeremiah 1:7-8
7 But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child:for
thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever
I command thee thou shalt speak. 8 Be not afraid of their
faces:for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord
17. Topic 1
God Calls
1. What was the Lord calling
Jeremiah to do?
2. Why did Jeremiah feel
inadequate for the job the Lord
appointed for him?
3. How did God respond to
Jeremiah’s objections?
18. Topic 1
God Calls
4. Does God always deliver us
from dangerous situations?
5. What were Jeremiah’s
qualifications for his new role
as a prophet of God?
6. How can we recognize God’s
call to service today?
19. Topic 1
God Calls
7. What reasons might we give
today to explain why we’re not
the right person for the job?
8. How has God equipped you to
complete a task He gave you,
whether large or small?
21. Topic 1
Discussion
• Summary of Jeremiah
• Chapter 1: Jeremiah’s reluctant call
• 1:2-45: Jeremiah’s life and prophetic
messages to his own people during the
reigns of Judah’s last 5 kings
• 2:46-51: Jeremiah’s prophecies against
other nations
• The fall of Jerusalem and the Temple to
Babylon
23. Topic 1
Application
• God calls people to serve Him based on
His ability, not ours.
• He equips and empowers for the task.
• We should lay aside our fears and
feelings of inadequacy and respond
with confidence to God’s call because
we know we are never alone.
24. Topic 1
Application
• What excuses or objections are you
currently using to avoid God’s call?
• How will you overcome those excuses
and fulfill the role God has planned for
you?
25. Topic 1
Application
• Have you been reluctant to accept the
service or leadership of fellow believers
because they were young and
unproven?
• What will it look like if you trust God’s
choice?
26. Biblical Truths of This Lesson
• God’s plans for us were made in
eternity past, long before we were
born.
• We have no valid reasons for refusing
to obey what God calls us to do.
• When God calls us to do something,
He will equip us for the task.
27. Biblical Truths of This Lesson
• God will accomplish His will through
His Word, but our task is to remain
faithful in proclaiming it.
Teaching Plan: Icebreaker and Introduction
Icebreaker
Icebreaker
Invite learners to discuss in groups of three to six:
What are some excuses we might come up with to explain why we’re late for work or church?
To explain why we were driving over the speed limit?
Which of these excuses are legitimate reasons?
What are some common excuses people give for not serving at church?
In this study Unit, as we consider events in the life of Jeremiah the prophet, certain questions arise, such as these:
Are we willing to be used by God?
How can we fulfill the purpose for which He made us?
As we study this lesson, we will see a call to service as an opportunity to honor God and not as a burden.
Explain
In verse 6, Jeremiah tried to turn down God’s call, offering the excuse, “I don’t know how to speak.”
Moses had given a similar excuse (Ex. 4:10).
But there is a bit of difference. Moses was saying he was not a good speaker. The grammar of Jeremiah’s statement, as with Genesis 24:50, can be taken to mean, “I don’t have anything I can say.”
God assured Jeremiah that He would supply the words of the message.
What was the Lord calling Jeremiah to do? What words in verse 5 show that God specifically selected Jeremiah for this task?
Why did Jeremiah feel inadequate for the job the Lord appointed for him? Were his concerns legitimate? Explain.
How did God respond to Jeremiah’s objections? What commands did He give Jeremiah? What did the Lord promise the young prophet?
Does God always deliver us from dangerous situations?
How does the promise in this passage apply to believers today?
What were Jeremiah’s qualifications for his new role as a prophet of God?
What does it mean to you that God does not choose us for service based solely on our past performance? How does that address our feelings of inadequacy?
How can we recognize God’s call to service today?
Can it be God’s call if we simply observe a need and respond?
Is it always God’s call if someone asks us to fill a spot on a team or committee at church? Explain.
What reasons might we give today to explain why we’re not the right person for the job?
When are these reasons just excuses?
When are they legitimate?
How has God equipped you to complete a task He gave you, whether large or small?
What obstacles did He help you overcome?
Read Commentary page 2
Apply
God calls people to serve Him based on His ability, not ours. When God calls, He equips and empowers for the task. We should lay aside our fears and feelings of inadequacy and respond with confidence to God’s call because we know we are never alone.
What excuses or objections are you currently using to avoid God’s call? How will you overcome those excuses and fulfill the role God has planned for you?
Have you been reluctant to accept the service or leadership of fellow believers because they were young and unproven? What will it look like if you trust God’s choice?
Have you been reluctant to accept the service or leadership of fellow believers because they were young and unproven? What will it look like if you trust God’s choice?
Biblical Truths of This Lesson in Focus
• God’s plans for us were made in eternity past, long before we were born.
• We have no valid reasons for refusing to obey what God calls us to do.
• When God calls us to do something, He will equip us for the task.
• God will accomplish His will through His Word, but our task is to remain faithful in proclaiming it.
Biblical Truths of This Lesson in Focus
• God’s plans for us were made in eternity past, long before we were born.
• We have no valid reasons for refusing to obey what God calls us to do.
• When God calls us to do something, He will equip us for the task.
• God will accomplish His will through His Word, but our task is to remain faithful in proclaiming it.