Sunday Sermon Outline: Luke 13:1-9

“I Didn’t Do Anything Wrong!”
Luke 13:1-9

Introduction: Job 4:7-9; Hebrews 10:26-29; Psalm 90:10

I. Repentance vs. 1-5
     “Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. [2] And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? [3] “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. [4] “Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? [5] “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.””

II. Bearing Fruit vs. 6-9
     “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. [7] “And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ [8] “And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; [9] and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”

John 1:11

Conclusion: 2 Peter 3:15; Luke 12:20


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Sunday Sermon Outline: A Model Father and Leader

“A Model Father and Leader”

Luke 15:11-32

Introduction:

Luke 15:11-32, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. 13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.”

“14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'”

“20 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.”

“25 Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' 28 The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' 31 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'”

I. The father was approachable. vs. 18-19

 “I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.”

1 Peter 2:25, “You were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

II. The father was an example. vs. 18, 21

Luke 15:1-2, “Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear [Jesus]. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."”

v. 18, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you” v. 21, “'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.” 

1 Peter 5:2-3, “Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”

Proverbs 22:6; 12:11

III. The father was compassionate. vs. 20, 32

The son “got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

v. 32, “We had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

James 5:11, we have “seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.”

Colossians 3:12; Galatians 6:1

Conclusion:

“Why do you eat and drink with tax-collectors and ‘sinners’?” (Luke 5:30). Luke 5:31-32, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Luke 15:4-7, “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' 7 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

 

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Sunday Sermon Outline: Jeremiah 18:1-17

Jeremiah 18:1-17
“The Parable of the Potter”

Introduction: Genesis 1:26; 1 John 2:16; Exodus 20:3; Romans 3:23; 2 Corinthians 11:2-3


I.  The Crafting of Clay vs. 1-6
     “The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD saying, [2] “Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will announce My words to you.” [3] Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. [4] But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make. [5] Then the word of the LORD came to me saying, [6] “Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does? ” declares the LORD. “Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.”

Genesis 1:27; Hebrews 3:13; Ephesians 2:3; Isaiah 1:4; Jeremiah 31:31-33; Mark 2:22; 2 Corinthians 5:17


II. The Correction of Conduct vs. 7-10
     “At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it; [8] if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will *relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it. [9] “Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to plant it; [10] if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will think better of the good with which I had promised to bless it.”


III. The Chastising of Callousness vs. 11-17
     ““So now then, speak to the men of Judah and against the inhabitants of Jerusalem saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am fashioning calamity against you and devising a plan against you. Oh turn back, each of you from his evil way, and reform your ways and your deeds.’” [12] “But they will say, ‘It's hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’ [13] “Therefore thus says the LORD, ‘Ask now among the nations, who ever heard the like of this? The virgin of Israel has done a most appalling thing. [14] ‘Does the snow of Lebanon forsake the rock of the open country? Or is the cold flowing water from a foreign land ever snatched away? [15] ‘For My people have forgotten Me, they burn incense to worthless gods and they have stumbled from their ways, from the ancient paths, to walk in bypaths, not on a highway, [16] to make their land a desolation, an object of perpetual hissing; everyone who passes by it will be astonished and shake his head. [17] ‘Like an east wind I will scatter them before the enemy; I will show them My back and not My face in the day of their calamity.’””

Matthew 13:15


Conclusion: Acts 3:19; Colossians 3:9-10; Ephesians 2:10; 2 Timothy 2:21


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Sunday Sermon Outline: Why do the heathens rage?

"Why do the heathens rage?"

Psalm 2

Introduction:

Acts 4:24-28, “And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, "O Lord, it is Thou who DIDST MAKE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM, 25 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Thy servant, didst say, 'WHY DID THE HEATHENS RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS? 26 'THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD, AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.' 27 "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Thy holy servant Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Thy hand and Thy purpose predestined to occur.”

1 Kings 18:17-18, "And it came about, when Ahab saw Elijah that Ahab said to him, 'Is this you, you troubler of Israel?' And he said, 'I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father's house have, because you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and you have followed the Baals.'" 

 

Luke 16:31, "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead." Luke 16:14-15, "Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things, and they were scoffing at Him. And He said to them, 'You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.'"

Acts 17, “Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And according to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ." 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a great multitude of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women. 5 But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and coming upon the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people. 6 And when they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have upset the world have come here also; 7 and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus."

Mark 7:6-8: "And He said to them, 'Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.' Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.'"

Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." v. 17, "in it the righteousness of God is revealed ...." v. 18, "the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness."

Romans 1:32, "although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice [ungodliness and unrighteousness] are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them." 

 

Matthew 23:37, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling."

I. David speaks of rebellion. vs. 1-3
     “Why are the nations in an uproar, And the peoples devising a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand, And the rulers take counsel together Against the LORD and against His Anointed: 3 "Let us tear their fetters apart, And cast away their cords from us!"

II. God speaks in response. vs. 4-6
     “He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. 5 Then He will speak to them in His anger And terrify them in His fury: 6 "But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain."

John 13:20, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."

III. Christ speaks with reassurance. vs. 7-9
     “"I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, 'Thou art My Son, Today I have begotten Thee. 8 'Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Thine inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Thy possession. 9 'Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron, Thou shalt shatter them like earthenware.'"

IV. David speaks of repentance. vs. 10-12
     “Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth. 11 Worship the LORD with reverence, And rejoice with trembling. 12 Do homage to the Son, lest He become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”

Conclusion:

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, "The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: Fear God, and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil." 

 

"But the wicked are like the tossing sea, for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up refuse and mud,"  Isaiah 57:20-21, "'There is no peace,' says my God, 'for the wicked.'"

Revelation 3:15-16, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth."

Psalm 1, “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.”

Romans 6:23; "the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord?" 

Proverbs 14:34, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people."

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Sunday Sermon Outline: The Second Serpent

“The Second Serpent”

Numbers 21:4-9

 

Introduction:

Numbers 21:4-9, “Then they set out from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the people became impatient because of the journey. [5] The people spoke against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food.” [6] The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. [7] So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpents from us.” And Moses interceded for the people. [8] Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live.” [9] And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.”
 

I. The bronze serpent demonstrates God's grace. vs. 4-5

“Then they set out from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the people became impatient because of the journey. [5] The people spoke against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food.””
 

A. Grace despite impatience v. 4

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

“now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, [22] even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:21-24).
 

B. Grace despite complaints v. 5

Philippians 2:14-16, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing; [15] so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, [16] holding fast the word of life ...”

“Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! [8] Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. [9] And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. [10] Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

“we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. [16] Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).

“You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin” (Hebrews 12:4).
 

II. The bronze serpent defines people's need. vs. 6-7a

“The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. [7] So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; ...”
 

A. The need of people dying in sin v. 6

James 1:14-15, “each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. [15] Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death."

“the wages of sin is death, ... the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

B. The need of people helpless to sin v. 7a

1 Corinthians 15:56-57, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; [57] but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
 

III. The bronze serpent demands action. vs. 7-9

“So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpents from us.” And Moses interceded for the people. [8] Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live.” [9] And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.”
 

A. The act of repentance v. 7b

Luke 13:3, 5, “… unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

“when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! [18] I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight”'” (Luke 15:17-18).

“Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

“Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. [26] For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; [27] who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself” (Hebrews 7:25-27).

B. The act of obedience vs. 8-9

Matthew 7:21-24, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. [22] Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ [23] And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ [24] Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Hebrews 5:8-9, “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. [9] And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation.”
Conclusion: John 3:14-15 says, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; [15] so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.”

Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, [2] fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith ….”


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Sunday Sermon Outline: Recognizing God's Spirit

The Recognizing of God’s Gifts
Recognizing God's Spirit
Acts 2:38-39

Introduction: Acts 2:38-39, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself.”

Romans 5:8; James 1:21; Romans 1:17; James 1:17


I.   The Reason for the Gift 

John 14:16-17; John 4:18


II.  The Importance of the Gift

John 3:5; Ezekiel 11:19-20


III. The Extent of God’s Gift

John 3:34; Acts 6:2-3; Romans 5:5


IV. The Purpose of the Gift

2 Peter 1:3-4

     A. Adoption. Romans 8:14-16; 2 Corinthians 3:17; 5:4-5

     B. Instruction. Nehemiah 9:19-20; John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:12-14; 14:33; John 4:24; 1 Corinthians 2:12


V.  The Acceptance of the Gift

Ephesians 1:13-14; James 2:19

     A. Faith. Galatians 3:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

     B. Repentance. Acts 2:38

     C. Confession. 1 John 4:2-3

     D. Baptism. Acts 2:38; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 8:17; 1 Corinthians 12:13

     E. Obedient Christian Living. Acts 5:32; 1 John 3:24


Conclusion: Acts 2:36-41, “"Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ-- this Jesus whom you crucified." 37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" 38 And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself." 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!" 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”

James 4:5; Hebrews 10:29; Ephesians 4:30; Galatians 5:5; John 6:63; 1 John 4:13; 2 Corinthians 9:15

 

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Sunday Sermon Outline: The Parable of the Potter

“The Parable of the Potter”

Jeremiah 18:1-17

 

Introduction:

    Genesis 1:26, “Let Us make man in Our image, in Our likeness …”
    “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life” (1 John 2:16).
    “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3).

    “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). 

    2 Corinthians 11:2-3, “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to Him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”


I. The Crafting of Clay vs. 1-6
    “This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2 "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you My message." 3 So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. 5 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.”

    Genesis 1:27, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
    “sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13)

    “the cravings of our sinful nature” (Ephesians 2:3). 

    “Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the LORD; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him” (Isaiah 1:4).
    Jeremiah 31:31-33, “"The time is coming when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke My covenant, though I was a husband to them, … 33 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people."” 

    “No one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins” (Mark 2:22). 

    “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

 

II. The Correction of Conduct vs. 7-10
    “7 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. 9 And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, 10 and if it does evil in My sight and does not obey Me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.”

 

III. The Chastising of Callousness vs. 11-17
    “11 Now therefore say to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, 'This is what the LORD says: Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.' 12 But they will reply, 'It's no use. We will continue with our own plans; each of us will follow the stubbornness of his evil heart.'" 13 Therefore this is what the LORD says: "Inquire among the nations: Who has ever heard anything like this? A most horrible thing has been done by Virgin Israel. 14 Does the snow of Lebanon ever vanish from its rocky slopes? Do its cool waters from distant sources ever cease to flow? 15 Yet My people have forgotten Me; they burn incense to worthless idols, which made them stumble in their ways and in the ancient paths. They made them walk in bypaths and on roads not built up. 16 Their land will be laid waste, an object of lasting scorn; all who pass by will be appalled and will shake their heads. 17 Like a wind from the east, I will scatter them before their enemies; I will show them My back and not My face in the day of their disaster."”

    “This people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them” (Matthew 13:15).
 

 

Conclusion:
    “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

    “[Take] off your old self with its practices 10 and … put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (Colossians 3:9-10).

    “For we are God's [the Potter’s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). 

    “If a man cleanses himself from [sinful] things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21).

 

 

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Sunday Sermon Outline: Major Mistakes

1 Kings 13
"Major Mistakes"

I. Jeroboam 1 Kings 13:1-10
     “Now behold, there came a man of God from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD, while Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense. [2] He cried against the altar by the word of the LORD, and said, “O altar, altar, thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.’” [3] Then he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign which the LORD has spoken, ‘Behold, the altar shall be split apart and the ashes which are on it shall be poured out.’” 
     [4] Now when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar in Bethel, Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, “Seize him.” But his hand which he stretched out against him dried up, so that he could not draw it back to himself. [5] The altar also was split apart and the ashes were poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD. 
     [6] The king said to the man of God, “Please entreat the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.” So the man of God entreated the LORD, and the king's hand was restored to him, and it became as it was before. 
     [7] Then the king said to the man of God, “Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.” [8] But the man of God said to the king, “If you were to give me half your house I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water in this place. [9] “For so it was commanded me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘You shall eat no bread, nor drink water, nor return by the way which you came.’” [10] So he went another way and did not return by the way which he came to Bethel.”

A. Jeroboam tried to tinker with religion. v. 1

B. Jeroboam resorted to violence in order to silence the man of God. v. 4

C. Jeroboam attempted to lure the man of God into compromise. v. 7


II. The Old Prophet 1 Kings 13:11-19
     “Now an old prophet was living in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the deeds which the man of God had done that day in Bethel; the words which he had spoken to the king, these also they related to their father. [12] Their father said to them, “Which way did he go?” Now his sons had seen the way which the man of God who came from Judah had gone. [13] Then he said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” So they saddled the donkey for him and he rode away on it. 
     [14] So he went after the man of God and found him sitting under an oak; and he said to him, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?” And he said, “I am.” [15] Then he said to him, “Come home with me and eat bread.” [16] He said, “I cannot return with you, nor go with you, nor will I eat bread or drink water with you in this place. [17] “For a command came to me by the word of the LORD, ‘You shall eat no bread, nor drink water there; do not return by going the way which you came.’” 
     [18] He said to him, “I also am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’” But he lied to him. [19] So he went back with him, and ate bread in his house and drank water.”

A. The old prophet kept silent in dangerous times. v. 11

B. The old prophet claimed divine revelation. v. 18
     Galatians 1:9, "if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed."
     1 John 4:1, "Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

C. The old prophet lied in the name of God. v. 18


III. The Man of God 1 Kings 13:19-34
     “So he went back with him, and ate bread in his house and drank water. [20] Now it came about, as they were sitting down at the table, that the word of the LORD came to the prophet who had brought him back; [21] and he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because you have disobeyed the command of the LORD, and have not observed the commandment which the LORD your God commanded you, [22] but have returned and eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which He said to you, “Eat no bread and drink no water”; your body shall not come to the grave of your fathers.’” 
     [23] It came about after he had eaten bread and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for him, for the prophet whom he had brought back. [24] Now when he had gone, a lion met him on the way and killed him, and his body was thrown on the road, with the donkey standing beside it; the lion also was standing beside the body. [25] And behold, men passed by and saw the body thrown on the road, and the lion standing beside the body; so they came and told it in the city where the old prophet lived. 
     [26] Now when the prophet who brought him back from the way heard it, he said, “It is the man of God, who disobeyed the command of the LORD; therefore the LORD has given him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke to him.” [27] Then he spoke to his sons, saying, “Saddle the donkey for me.” And they saddled it.[28] He went and found his body thrown on the road with the donkey and the lion standing beside the body; the lion had not eaten the body nor torn the donkey. 
     [29] So the prophet took up the body of the man of God and laid it on the donkey and brought it back, and he came to the city of the old prophet to mourn and to bury him. [30] He laid his body in his own grave, and they mourned over him, saying, “Alas, my brother!” [31] After he had buried him, he spoke to his sons, saying, “When I die, bury me in the grave in which the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones. [32] “For the thing shall surely come to pass which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria.”
     [33] After this event Jeroboam did not return from his evil way, but again he made priests of the high places from among all the people; any who would, he ordained, to be priests of the high places. [34] This event became sin to the house of Jeroboam, even to blot it out and destroy it from off the face of the earth.”

A. The man of God made the mistake of thinking that it doesn't matter what you believe, as long as you're sincere. v. 19

B. The man of God made the mistake of thinking that God doesn't mean what He says.

C. The man of God made the mistake of thinking that partial obedience is sufficient.  


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Sunday Sermon Outline: Running Blindly

2 Samuel 2:12-23
"Running blindly"

Introduction:
     “Abner son of Ner, together with the men of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon. 13 Joab son of Zeruiah and David's men went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool and one group on the other side. 14 Then Abner said to Joab, "Let's have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us." 
     "All right, let them do it," Joab said. 
     15 So they stood up and were counted off--twelve men for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David. 16 Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger into his opponent's side, and they fell down together. So that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim. 
     17 The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by David's men. 18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. 
     Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle. 19 He chased Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him. 20 Abner looked behind him and asked, "Is that you, Asahel?" 
     "It is," he answered. 
     21 Then Abner said to him, "Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons." But Asahel would not stop chasing him. 22 Again Abner warned Asahel, "Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?" 23 But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel's stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.”

I. We must recognize sin in our relationship with others.
     1 Corinthians 15:32-34, “If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." 33 Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God--I say this to your shame.”

II. We must recognize sin in our private lives.
     1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, “Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.”

     Luke 12:1-3, “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.”

III. We must recognize that we can overcome sin.
     Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Conclusion: Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”


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Sunday Sermoun Outline: Tear Down Their Altars

“Tear Down Their Altars”
Exodus 34:13


I. Watch Yourself
     Exodus 34:12-14, “Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, or it will become a snare in your midst. 13 But rather, you are to tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and cut down their Asherim 14 —for you shall not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”


II. You Have Not Obeyed
     Judges 2:1-3, “the angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you, 2 and as for you, you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed Me; what is this you have done? 3 Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; but they will become as thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you.’”


III. Come Out From Their Midst
     2 Corinthians 6:14-18, “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 17 “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. 18 “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.””


Conclusion: Joshua 24:15, “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”




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Sunday Sermon Outline: Romans 11

Romans 11
The Persistence of Faith

I. The Retention of Faith vs. 1-6 
     “I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” 4 But what is the divine response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.” 


II. The Rejection of Faith vs. 7-15 
     “7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; 8 just as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, Eyes to see not and ears to hear not, Down to this very day.” 9 And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, And a stumbling block and a retribution to them. 10 “Let their eyes be darkened to see not, And bend their backs forever.” 11 I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. 12 Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! 13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” 


III. The Reverence of Faith vs. 16-22
     “16 If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.” 


IV. The Repentance of Faith vs. 23-36 
     “23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” 27 “This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” 28 From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. 32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? 35 Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? 36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” 


NEXT WEEK: Romans 12, The Sacrifice of Faith


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Sunday Sermon Outline: Jeremiah 36

Jeremiah 36
Response to the Word

I.  The Word Preached vs. 1-10
     “In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, [2] “Take a scroll and write on it all the words which I have spoken to you concerning Israel and concerning Judah, and concerning all the nations, from the day I first spoke to you, from the days of Josiah, even to this day. [3] Perhaps the house of Judah will hear all the calamity which I plan to bring on them, in order that every man will turn from his evil way; then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.” 
     [4] Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote on a scroll at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD which He had spoken to him. [5] Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, “I am restricted; I cannot go into the house of the LORD. [6] So you go and read from the scroll which you have written at my dictation the words of the LORD to the people in the LORD's house on a fast day. And also you shall read them to all the people of Judah who come from their cities. [7] Perhaps their supplication will come before the LORD, and everyone will turn from his evil way, for great is the anger and the wrath that the LORD has pronounced against this people.” 
     [8] Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading from the book the words of the LORD in the LORD's house. [9] Now in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, all the people in Jerusalem and all the people who came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem proclaimed a fast before the LORD. [10] Then Baruch read from the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper court, at the entry of the New Gate of the LORD's house, to all the people.”

2 Timothy 4:2-5


II. The Word Ignored vs. 11-20
     “[11] Now when Micaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard all the words of the LORD from the book, [12] he went down to the king's house, into the scribe's chamber. And behold, all the officials were sitting there—Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the other officials. [13] Micaiah declared to them all the words that he had heard when Baruch read from the book to the people. 
     [14] Then all the officials sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, to Baruch, saying, “Take in your hand the scroll from which you have read to the people and come.” So Baruch the son of Neriah took the scroll in his hand and went to them. [15] They said to him, “Sit down, please, and read it to us.” So Baruch read it to them. 
     [16] When they had heard all the words, they turned in fear one to another and said to Baruch, “We will surely report all these words to the king.” [17] And they asked Baruch, saying, “Tell us, please, how did you write all these words? Was it at his dictation?” [18] Then Baruch said to them, “He dictated all these words to me, and I wrote them with ink on the book.” [19] Then the officials said to Baruch, “Go, hide yourself, you and Jeremiah, and do not let anyone know where you are.” [20] So they went to the king in the court, but they had deposited the scroll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and they reported all the words to the king.”

Genesis 3:1-3


III. The Word Attacked vs. 21-26
     “[21] Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it out of the chamber of Elishama the scribe. And Jehudi read it to the king as well as to all the officials who stood beside the king. [22] Now the king was sitting in the winter house in the ninth month, with a fire burning in the brazier before him. [23] When Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king cut it with a scribe's knife and threw it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier. [24] Yet the king and all his servants who heard all these words were not afraid, nor did they rend their garments. [25] Even though Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah pleaded with the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them. [26] And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king's son, Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the LORD hid them.”

2 Timothy 3:12


IV. The Word Confirmed vs. 27-32
     “[27] Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah after the king had burned the scroll and the words which Baruch had written at the dictation of Jeremiah, saying, [28] “Take again another scroll and write on it all the former words that were on the first scroll which Jehoiakim the king of Judah burned. [29] And concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah you shall say, ‘Thus says the LORD, “You have burned this scroll, saying, ‘Why have you written on it that the king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, and will make man and beast to cease from it?’” [30] Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah, “He shall have no one to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body shall be cast out to the heat of the day and the frost of the night. [31] I will also punish him and his descendants and his servants for their iniquity, and I will bring on them and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the men of Judah all the calamity that I have declared to them—but they did not listen.”’” 
     [32] Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch the son of Neriah, the scribe, and he wrote on it at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire; and many similar words were added to them.”

Matthew 24:35


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Sunday Sermon Outline: Jeremiah 29

Jeremiah 29
Encouragement to the Exiles

I.  Wait on the Lord vs. 1-14
     “Now these are the words of the letter which Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the rest of the elders of the exile, the priests, the prophets and all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. [2] (This was after King Jeconiah and the queen mother, the court officials, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen and the smiths had departed from Jerusalem.) [3] The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, saying, [4] “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, [5] ‘Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce. [6] ‘Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there and do not decrease. [7] ‘Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.’ [8] “For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Do not let your prophets who are in your midst and your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams which they dream. [9] ‘For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them,’ declares the LORD.”
     “[10] “For thus says the LORD, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. [11] ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. [12] ‘Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. [13] ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. [14] ‘I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’”


II. Listen to the Lord vs. 15-23
     “[15] “Because you have said, ‘The LORD has raised up prophets for us in Babylon’— [16] for thus says the LORD concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, and concerning all the people who dwell in this city, your brothers who did not go with you into exile— [17] thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Behold, I am sending upon them the sword, famine and pestilence, and I will make them like split-open figs that cannot be eaten due to rottenness. [18] ‘I will pursue them with the sword, with famine and with pestilence; and I will make them a terror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse and a horror and a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them, [19] because they have not listened to My words,’ declares the LORD, ‘which I sent to them again and again by My servants the prophets; but you did not listen,’ declares the LORD. [20] “You, therefore, hear the word of the LORD, all you exiles, whom I have sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon.”
     “[21] “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah and concerning Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying to you falsely in My name, ‘Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will slay them before your eyes. [22] ‘Because of them a curse will be used by all the exiles from Judah who are in Babylon, saying, “May the LORD make you like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire, [23] because they have acted foolishly in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives and have spoken words in My name falsely, which I did not command them; and I am He who knows and am a witness,” declares the LORD.’””


III. Fear the Lord vs. 24-32
     “[24] To Shemaiah the Nehelamite you shall speak, saying, [25] “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Because you have sent letters in your own name to all the people who are in Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, and to all the priests, saying, [26] “The LORD has made you priest instead of Jehoiada the priest, to be the overseer in the house of the LORD over every madman who prophesies, to put him in the stocks and in the iron collar, [27] now then, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth who prophesies to you? [28] “For he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, ‘ The exile will be long; build houses and live in them and plant gardens and eat their produce.’”’””
     “[29] Zephaniah the priest read this letter to Jeremiah the prophet. [30] Then came the word of the LORD to Jeremiah, saying, [31] “Send to all the exiles, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite, “Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, although I did not send him, and he has made you trust in a lie,” [32] therefore thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am about to punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants; he will not have anyone living among this people, and he will not see the good that I am about to do to My people,” declares the LORD, “because he has preached rebellion against the LORD.”’”” 


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Sunday Sermon Outline: Jeremiah 27

Jeremiah 27
“A Message of Submission”

I.  A Demonstration of Ownership vs. 1-4
     “In the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying— [2] thus says the LORD to me—“Make for yourself bonds and yokes and put them on your neck, [3] and send word to the king of Edom, to the king of Moab, to the king of the sons of Ammon, to the king of Tyre and to the king of Sidon by the messengers who come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah. [4] “Command them to go to their masters, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, thus you shall say to your masters,'”


II. A Message of Submission vs. 5-15

     A. Surrender or Die vs. 5-11
     “[5] “I have made the earth, the men and the beasts which are on the face of the earth by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and I will give it to the one who is pleasing in My sight. [6] “Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant, and I have given him also the wild animals of the field to serve him. [7] “All the nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson until the time of his own land comes; then many nations and great kings will make him their servant. [8] “It will be, that the nation or the kingdom which will not serve him, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and which will not put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, I will punish that nation with the sword, with famine and with pestilence,” declares the LORD, “until I have destroyed it by his hand.”

     B. Repent to Remain vs. 9-11
     “[9] “But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your soothsayers or your sorcerers who speak to you, saying, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’ [10] “For they prophesy a lie to you in order to remove you far from your land; and I will drive you out and you will perish. [11] “But the nation which will bring its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will let remain on its land,” declares the LORD, “and they will till it and dwell in it.”’””

     C. Listen and Live vs. 12-15
     “[12] I spoke words like all these to Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, “Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him and his people, and live! [13] “Why will you die, you and your people, by the sword, famine and pestilence, as the LORD has spoken to that nation which will not serve the king of Babylon? [14] “So do not listen to the words of the prophets who speak to you, saying, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon,’ for they prophesy a lie to you; [15] for I have not sent them,” declares the LORD, “but they prophesy falsely in My name, in order that I may drive you out and that you may perish, you and the prophets who prophesy to you.””

     D. Watch and Learn vs. 16-22
     “[16] Then I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying, “Thus says the LORD: Do not listen to the words of your prophets who prophesy to you, saying, ‘Behold, the vessels of the LORD's house will now shortly be brought again from Babylon’; for they are prophesying a lie to you. [17] “Do not listen to them; serve the king of Babylon, and live! Why should this city become a ruin? [18] “But if they are prophets, and if the word of the LORD is with them, let them now entreat the LORD of hosts that the vessels which are left in the house of the LORD, in the house of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem may not go to Babylon. [19] “For thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the pillars, concerning the sea, concerning the stands and concerning the rest of the vessels that are left in this city, [20] which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take when he carried into exile Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem. [21] “Yes, thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that are left in the house of the LORD and in the house of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem, [22] ‘They will be carried to Babylon and they will be there until the day I visit them,’ declares the LORD. ‘Then I will bring them back and restore them to this place.’”” 


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Sunday Sermon Outline: Jeremiah 26

Jeremiah 26
 A Prophet in Peril

I.  The Arrest of Jeremiah vs. 1-10

     A. The Command vs. 1-3
     “In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the LORD, saying, [2] “Thus says the LORD, ‘Stand in the court of the LORD's house, and speak to all the cities of Judah who have come to worship in the LORD's house all the words that I have commanded you to speak to them. Do not omit a word! [3] ‘Perhaps they will listen and everyone will turn from his evil way, that I may repent of the calamity which I am planning to do to them because of the evil of their deeds.’”

     B. The Message vs. 4-6
     “[4] “And you will say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD, “If you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law which I have set before you, [5] to listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have been sending to you again and again, but you have not listened; [6] then I will make this house like Shiloh, and this city I will make a curse to all the nations of the earth.”’””

     C. The Response vs. 7-10
     “[7] The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD. [8] When Jeremiah finished speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, “You must die! [9] “Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD saying, ‘This house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate, without inhabitant’?” And all the people gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the LORD. [10] When the officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king's house to the house of the LORD and sat in the entrance of the New Gate of the LORD's house.”


II. The Trial of Jeremiah vs. 11-24

     A. The Charge v. 11
     “[11] Then the priests and the prophets spoke to the officials and to all the people, saying, “A death sentence for this man! For he has prophesied against this city as you have heard in your hearing.””

     B. The Defense vs. 12-15
     “[12] Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and to all the people, saying, “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard. [13] “Now therefore amend your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will change His mind about the misfortune which He has pronounced against you. [14] “But as for me, behold, I am in your hands; do with me as is good and right in your sight. [15] “Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves, and on this city and on its inhabitants; for truly the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.””

     C. The Precedent for Acquittal vs. 16-19
     “[16] Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets, “No death sentence for this man! For he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.” [17] Then some of the elders of the land rose up and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying, [18] “Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, ‘Thus the LORD of hosts has said, “Zion will be plowed as a field, And Jerusalem will become ruins, And the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.’” [19] “Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and entreat the favor of the LORD, and the LORD changed His mind about the misfortune which He had pronounced against them? But we are committing a great evil against ourselves.””

     D. The Precedent for Execution vs. 20-23
     “[20] Indeed, there was also a man who prophesied in the name of the LORD, Uriah the son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim; and he prophesied against this city and against this land words similar to all those of Jeremiah. [21] When King Jehoiakim and all his mighty men and all the officials heard his words, then the king sought to put him to death; but Uriah heard it, and he was afraid and fled and went to Egypt. [22] Then King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt: Elnathan the son of Achbor and certain men with him went into Egypt. [23] And they brought Uriah from Egypt and led him to King Jehoiakim, who slew him with a sword and cast his dead body into the burial place of the common people.”

     E. The Deliverance v. 24
     “[24] But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that he was not given into the hands of the people to put him to death.” 


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Sunday Sermon Outline: Jeremiah 24

Jeremiah 24
A Vision of the Future

I.  The Vision Presented vs. 1-3
     “After Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the officials of Judah with the craftsmen and smiths from Jerusalem and had brought them to Babylon, the LORD showed me: behold, two baskets of figs set before the temple of the LORD! [2] One basket had very good figs, like first-ripe figs, and the other basket had very bad figs which could not be eaten due to rottenness. [3] Then the LORD said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “Figs, the good figs, very good; and the bad figs, very bad, which cannot be eaten due to rottenness.””


II. The Vision Explained vs. 4-10

     A. The Fate of the Good Figs vs. 4-7
     “[4] Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, [5] “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the captives of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans. [6] ‘For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them again to this land; and I will build them up and not overthrow them, and I will plant them and not pluck them up. [7] ‘I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.'”

     B. The Fate of the Bad Figs vs. 8-10
     “[8] ‘But like the bad figs which cannot be eaten due to rottenness—indeed, thus says the LORD —so I will abandon Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land and the ones who dwell in the land of Egypt. [9] ‘I will make them a terror and an evil for all the kingdoms of the earth, as a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse in all places where I will scatter them. [10] ‘I will send the sword, the famine and the pestilence upon them until they are destroyed from the land which I gave to them and their forefathers.’””


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Sunday Sermon Outline: Jeremiah 14-15

Jeremiah 14-15
“No Forgiveness Without Repentance”

I. A Time of Drought vs. 1-6
     “That which came as the word of the LORD to Jeremiah in regard to the drought: [2] “Judah mourns and her gates languish; they sit on the ground in mourning, and the cry of Jerusalem has ascended. [3] “Their nobles have sent their servants for water; they have come to the cisterns and found no water. They have returned with their vessels empty; they have been put to shame and humiliated, and they cover their heads. [4] “Because the ground is cracked, for there has been no rain on the land; the farmers have been put to shame, they have covered their heads. [5] “For even the doe in the field has given birth only to abandon her young, because there is no grass. [6] “The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights; they pant for air like jackals, their eyes fail for there is no vegetation.”


II. First Prayer and Response vs. 7-12 
     “[7] “Although our iniquities testify against us, O LORD, act for Your name's sake! Truly our apostasies have been many, we have sinned against You. [8] “O Hope of Israel, its Savior in time of distress, why are You like a stranger in the land or like a traveler who has pitched his tent for the night? [9] “Why are You like a man dismayed, like a mighty man who cannot save? Yet You are in our midst, O LORD, and we are called by Your name; do not forsake us!””
     “[10] Thus says the LORD to this people, “Even so they have loved to wander; they have not kept their feet in check. Therefore the LORD does not accept them; now He will remember their iniquity and call their sins to account.” [11] So the LORD said to me, “Do not pray for the welfare of this people. [12] “When they fast, I am not going to listen to their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I am not going to accept them. Rather I am going to make an end of them by the sword, famine and pestilence.””

Jeremiah 7:16; 11:14


III. Second Prayer and Response 14:13-18
     “[13] But, “Ah, Lord GOD!” I said, “Look, the prophets are telling them, ‘You will not see the sword nor will you have famine, but I will give you lasting peace in this place.’””
     “[14] Then the LORD said to me, “The prophets are prophesying falsehood in My name. I have neither sent them nor commanded them nor spoken to them; they are prophesying to you a false vision, divination, futility and the deception of their own minds. [15] “Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who are prophesying in My name, although it was not I who sent them—yet they keep saying, ‘There will be no sword or famine in this land’—by sword and famine those prophets shall meet their end! [16] “The people also to whom they are prophesying will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and there will be no one to bury them— neither them, nor their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters—for I will pour out their own wickedness on them.”
     “[17] “You will say this word to them, ‘Let my eyes flow down with tears night and day, and let them not cease; for the virgin daughter of my people has been crushed with a mighty blow, with a sorely infected wound. [18] ‘If I go out to the country, behold, those slain with the sword! Or if I enter the city, behold, diseases of famine! For both prophet and priest have gone roving about in the land that they do not know.’””


IV. Third Prayer and Response 14:19 – 15:4
     “[19] Have You completely rejected Judah? Or have You loathed Zion? Why have You stricken us so that we are beyond healing? We waited for peace, but nothing good came; and for a time of healing, but behold, terror! [20] We know our wickedness, O LORD, the iniquity of our fathers, for we have sinned against You. [21] Do not despise us, for Your own name's sake; Do not disgrace the throne of Your glory; Remember and do not annul Your covenant with us. [22] Are there any among the idols of the nations who give rain? Or can the heavens grant showers? Is it not You, O LORD our God? Therefore we hope in You, for You are the one who has done all these things.”
     “Then the LORD said to me, “Even though Moses and Samuel were to stand before Me, My heart would not be with this people; send them away from My presence and let them go! [2] “And it shall be that when they say to you, ‘Where should we go?’ then you are to tell them, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Those destined for death, to death; and those destined for the sword, to the sword; and those destined for famine, to famine; and those destined for captivity, to captivity.’” [3] “I will appoint over them four kinds of doom, ” declares the LORD: “the sword to slay, the dogs to drag off, and the birds of the sky and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. [4] “I will make them an object of horror among all the kingdoms of the earth because of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem.”


V. The Root of the Problem 15:5-9
     “[5] “Indeed, who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem, or who will mourn for you, or who will turn aside to ask about your welfare? [6] “You who have forsaken Me,” declares the LORD, “You keep going backward. So I will stretch out My hand against you and destroy you; I am tired of relenting! [7] “I will winnow them with a winnowing fork at the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy My people; they did not repent of their ways. [8] “Their widows will be more numerous before Me than the sand of the seas; I will bring against them, against the mother of a young man, a destroyer at noonday; I will suddenly bring down on her anguish and dismay. [9] “She who bore seven sons pines away; her breathing is labored. Her sun has set while it was yet day; she has been shamed and humiliated. So I will give over their survivors to the sword before their enemies,” declares the LORD.”


VI. Fourth Prayer and Response 15:10-14
     “[10] Woe to me, my mother, that you have borne me as a man of strife and a man of contention to all the land! I have not lent, nor have men lent money to me, yet everyone curses me.”
     “[11] The LORD said, “Surely I will set you free for purposes of good; surely I will cause the enemy to make supplication to you in a time of disaster and a time of distress. [12] “Can anyone smash iron, iron from the north, or bronze? [13] “Your wealth and your treasures I will give for booty without cost, even for all your sins and within all your borders. [14] “Then I will cause your enemies to bring it into a land you do not know; for a fire has been kindled in My anger, it will burn upon you.”” 


VII. Fifth Prayer and Response 15:15-21
     “[15] You who know, O LORD, remember me, take notice of me, and take vengeance for me on my persecutors. Do not, in view of Your patience, take me away; know that for Your sake I endure reproach. [16] Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. [17] I did not sit in the circle of merrymakers, nor did I exult. Because of Your hand upon me I sat alone, for You filled me with indignation. [18] Why has my pain been perpetual and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will You indeed be to me like a deceptive stream with water that is unreliable?”
     “[19] Therefore, thus says the LORD, “If you return, then I will restore you— before Me you will stand; and if you extract the precious from the worthless, you will become My spokesman. They for their part may turn to you, but as for you, you must not turn to them. [20] “Then I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; and though they fight against you, they will not prevail over you; for I am with you to save you and deliver you,” declares the LORD. [21] “So I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem you from the grasp of the violent.”” 


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Sunday Sermon Outline: Jeremiah 4

“A Circumcised Heart”
Jeremiah 4

I.  The Desire for the People's Repentance vs. 1-4
     ““If you will return, O Israel,” declares the LORD, “then you should return to Me. And if you will put away your detested things from My presence, and will not waver, [2] and you will swear, ‘As the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice and in righteousness; then the nations will bless themselves in Him, and in Him they will glory.” [3] For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, “Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns. [4] Circumcise yourselves to the LORD and remove the foreskins of your heart, men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, or else My wrath will go forth like fire and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your deeds.””

 Luke 13:3, 5


II. The Declaration of the People's Ruin vs. 5-13
     “[5] Declare in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say, “Blow the trumpet in the land; cry aloud and say, ‘Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the fortified cities.’ [6] Lift up a standard toward Zion! Seek refuge, do not stand still, for I am bringing evil from the north, and great destruction. [7] A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations has set out; he has gone out from his place to make your land a waste. Your cities will be ruins without inhabitant. [8] For this, put on sackcloth, lament and wail; for the fierce anger of the LORD has not turned back from us.” [9] “It shall come about in that day,” declares the LORD, “that the heart of the king and the heart of the princes will fail; and the priests will be appalled and the prophets will be astounded.” [10] Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Surely You have utterly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, ‘You will have peace’; whereas a sword touches the throat.” [11] In that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, “A scorching wind from the bare heights in the wilderness in the direction of the daughter of My people—not to winnow and not to cleanse, [12] a wind too strong for this—will come at My command; now I will also pronounce judgments against them. [13] “Behold, he goes up like clouds, and his chariots like the whirlwind; his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us, for we are ruined!””


III. The Depravity of the People's Rebellion vs. 14-18
     “[14] Wash your heart from evil, O Jerusalem, that you may be saved. How long will your wicked thoughts lodge within you? [15] For a voice declares from Dan, and proclaims wickedness from Mount Ephraim. [16] “Report it to the nations, now! Proclaim over Jerusalem, ‘Besiegers come from a far country, and lift their voices against the cities of Judah. [17] ‘Like watchmen of a field they are against her round about, because she has rebelled against Me,’ declares the LORD. [18] “Your ways and your deeds have brought these things to you. This is your evil. How bitter! How it has touched your heart!””

Hebrews 3:12-14


IV. The Description of the Prophet's Regret vs. 19-21
     “[19] My soul, my soul! I am in anguish! Oh, my heart! My heart is pounding in me; I cannot be silent, because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. [20] Disaster on disaster is proclaimed, for the whole land is devastated; suddenly my tents are devastated, my curtains in an instant. [21] How long must I see the standard and hear the sound of the trumpet?”


V.  The Deserving of the People's Rebuke vs. 22-31
     “[22] “For My people are foolish, they know Me not; they are stupid children and have no understanding. They are shrewd to do evil, but to do good they do not know.” [23] I looked on the earth, and behold, it was formless and void; and to the heavens, and they had no light. [24] I looked on the mountains, and behold, they were quaking, and all the hills moved to and fro. [25] I looked, and behold, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens had fled. [26] I looked, and behold, the fruitful land was a wilderness, and all its cities were pulled down before the LORD, before His fierce anger. [27] For thus says the LORD, “The whole land shall be a desolation, yet I will not execute a complete destruction. [28] “For this the earth shall mourn and the heavens above be dark, because I have spoken, I have purposed, and I will not change My mind, nor will I turn from it.” [29] At the sound of the horseman and bowman every city flees; they go into the thickets and climb among the rocks; every city is forsaken, and no man dwells in them. [30] And you, O desolate one, what will you do? Although you dress in scarlet, although you decorate yourself with ornaments of gold, although you enlarge your eyes with paint, in vain you make yourself beautiful. Your lovers despise you; they seek your life. [31] For I heard a cry as of a woman in labor, the anguish as of one giving birth to her first child, the cry of the daughter of Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands, saying, “Ah, woe is me, for I faint before murderers.””

Jeremiah 49:16




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Sunday Sermon Outline: Jeremiah 3

Jeremiah 3
“An Opportunity to Return”

I.  A Guilty Wife vs. 1-10
     “God says, “If a husband divorces his wife and she goes from him and belongs to another man, will he still return to her? Will not that land be completely polluted? But you are a harlot with many lovers; yet you turn to Me,” declares the LORD. [2] Lift up your eyes to the bare heights and see; where have you not been violated? By the roads you have sat for them like an Arab in the desert, and you have polluted a land with your harlotry and with your wickedness. [3] Therefore the showers have been withheld, and there has been no spring rain. Yet you had a harlot's forehead; you refused to be ashamed. [4] Have you not just now called to Me, ‘My Father, You are the friend of my youth? [5] Will He be angry forever? Will He be indignant to the end?’ Behold, you have spoken and have done evil things, and you have had your way.” [6] Then the LORD said to me in the days of Josiah the king, “Have you seen what faithless Israel did? She went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and she was a harlot there. [7] I thought, ‘After she has done all these things she will return to Me’; but she did not return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it. [8] And I saw that for all the adulteries of faithless Israel, I had sent her away and given her a writ of divorce, yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear; but she went and was a harlot also. [9] Because of the lightness of her harlotry, she polluted the land and committed adultery with stones and trees. [10] Yet in spite of all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but rather in deception,” declares the LORD.”

Mark 10:27; Isaiah 48:4; Ezekiel 3:7


II. A Gracious Invitation vs. 11-14
     “[11] And the LORD said to me, “Faithless Israel has proved herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. [12] Go and proclaim these words toward the north and say, ‘Return, faithless Israel,’ declares the LORD; ‘I will not look upon you in anger. For I am gracious,’ declares the LORD; ‘I will not be angry forever. [13] Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against the LORD your God and have scattered your favors to the strangers under every green tree, and you have not obeyed My voice,’ declares the LORD. [14] Return, O faithless sons,’ declares the LORD; ‘For I am a master to you, and I will take you one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.’”


III. A Grand Inheritance vs. 15-19
     “[15] “Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding. [16] It shall be in those days when you are multiplied and increased in the land,” declares the LORD, “they will no longer say, ‘The ark of the covenant of the LORD.’ And it will not come to mind, nor will they remember it, nor will they miss it, nor will it be made again. [17] At that time they will call Jerusalem ‘The Throne of the LORD,’ and all the nations will be gathered to it, to Jerusalem, for the name of the LORD; nor will they walk anymore after the stubbornness of their evil heart. [18] In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and they will come together from the land of the north to the land that I gave your fathers as an inheritance. [19] Then I said, ‘How I would set you among My sons and give you a pleasant land, the most beautiful inheritance of the nations!’ And I said, ‘You shall call Me, My Father, and not turn away from following Me.’”

Galatians 4:24-31


IV. A Great Confession vs. 20-25
     “[20] “Surely, as a woman treacherously departs from her lover, so you have dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD. [21] A voice is heard on the bare heights, the weeping and the supplications of the sons of Israel; because they have perverted their way, they have forgotten the LORD their God. [22] Return, O faithless sons, I will heal your faithlessness.” 
     “Behold, we come to You; for You are the LORD our God. [23] Surely, the hills are a deception, a tumult on the mountains. Surely in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel. [24] But the shameful thing has consumed the labor of our fathers since our youth, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters. [25] Let us lie down in our shame, and let our humiliation cover us; for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even to this day. And we have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.””


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