Memory Verse
2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
God’s people had split into two kingdoms, Israel in the North and Judah in the South. Both kingdoms were ruled by a series of evil king, but some kings, like Hezekiah and Josiah, were good kings and they led the people back to God. Josiah was king when God called a prophet named Jeremiah to speak to Judah.
Read passage
Jeremiah 1:4-10, 31:31-34
- God told Jeremiah that He called Jeremiah to be a prophet. According to Verse 5, when did God know that Jeremiah would one day send a message to the people of Judah
- (Verse 5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” God knew and picked Jeremiah to be a prophet before he was even born! In the same way, God knew us before we were born! God has a special plan for every single one of us that he had for us before we were even formed in the womb. God loves all His children and wants to use us all!)
- What was Jeremiah’s response when God called out to him?
- (In verse 6 Jeremiah responded by saying, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.” Jeremiah was scared and didn’t think he could do what God asked him to do.)
- If God called you to do something amazing, what would your response be?
- How did God encourage Jeremiah?
- (In verses 7-8 God said to Jeremiah, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you.” God told Jeremiah that He would be with him, what an amazing promise that God gave Jeremiah! When God calls us to do something, then God will be with us and protect us to do His work!)
- According to Verse 9, how did God “equip” Jeremiah to be a prophet?
- (God touched his mouth and put words into his mouth. Jeremiah was being used by God in a mighty way and God equipped him by giving him the words he needed to reach out to the people of Judah.)
- According to Jeremiah 31:31-34, what was the new covenant that God would make with His people?
- (That God would put His law in their minds and write it on their hearts, and that He would forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. What an amazing new covenant! This is God telling the people about sending Jesus to die for our sins and that we would be forgiven of all our sins if we asked Jesus into our hearts. Then He will send the Holy Spirit to write the words of His law on our hearts so that we would have the strength to resist sin. What an amazing God we serve!)
Jeremiah was set apart to be a prophet before he was even born. When he was called by God he was scared, but God comforted him and equipped him to share a message of hope for the people of Judah. Jeremiah made this amazing prophecy hundreds of years before Jesus was even born! Since then Jesus was born, lived a sinless life, then died on the cross for our sins. We can now ask Him into our lives and into our hearts, He will forgive our sins and send the Holy Spirit to guide us. Will you make a new covenant with Jesus today?
Kindergarten Corner
We can learn from people in the Bible who have done great things at God’s leading. Today’s lesson is about a prophet named Jeremiah. A prophet is someone who speaks, and delivers a message given by God. Jeremiah was chosen by God and told to share a message of hope to the people of Judah.
Focus on Jeremiah 31:34, where God declares a new covenant with his people.
- What was Jeremiah called? (a prophet)
- What did God ask him to do? (share a message with the people of Judah)
- What other promises has God made for us in the bible? (Open discussion. Also, encourage your child to think about God’s promise to send a Savior to die on the cross for our sins, etc.)
