June 16, 2024 | Pastor Brian King
Passage: Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
The Scriptures are for you. But they’re not necessarily about you.
“For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws…and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.” Deuteronomy 30:16
“The LORD, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.” 2 Chronicles 36:15-16
“(Nebuchadnezzar) carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors….” 2 Chronicles 36:20
Don’t measure God’s plans by your temporary contentment.
“‘Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you…They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,’ declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 29:8-9
See God’s plan through the promise of Jesus.
“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters…Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Jeremiah 29:5-7
Connect with God’s world until He returns
“By faith (the believer) is caught up beyond himself into God. By love he descends beneath himself into his neighbor.” – M. Luther
Series Information
Have you ever heard someone take a quote completely out of context? Maybe it was from an interview or someone remembering a conversation. It can be so disheartening or even infuriating to see someone’s words used in a way that misrepresents their idea or position. Even worse, it can harm their reputation or hurt a good cause.
You may not realize it, but we can have a tendency to do the same things with God’s Words. Too often, we can take a perfectly good sounding verse, pluck it right from the chapter and use it in way that feels right, but points people further away from the Good News we have through Jesus. Even worse, we can use these verses in ways that can misrepresent God’s heart for His people, and even reinforce evil, brokenness, and sin.
In this series, we are going to place these verses back in their chapters, see the fullness of what they mean. We will discover how these fuller passages can actually bring us to a better understanding of God’s heart for us and how we can live more fully as His people in our church, families, and community.
