Studies from Jeremiah

Calling

The pursuit of beauty and physique

The pursuit of beauty and physique

Makes us feel ugly

The pursuit of popularity

The pursuit of popularity

Makes us feel lonely and insecure

The pursuit of stuff

The pursuit of stuff

Makes us feel we haven’t got enough

The pursuit of excitement

The pursuit of excitement

Makes us feel bored

The pursuit of happiness

The pursuit of happiness

Makes us feel dissatisfied

So what shall we pursue?

“They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.”

Jesus take my allTake my everything

I've counted up the costAnd You're worth everything

Jeremiah 21   The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: “This is what the LORD says: “‘I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown.”

Devotion:Loving God like a bride - Eager to be with

Appreciative of

Anxious to please

}

Jeremiah 213 “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

Jeremiah 213 “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

Cisterns: Cisterns: Large, buried water containersEssential for fresh water and lifeSymbol of life-giver

Jeremiah 213 “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

2 faults: 1. Abandoned God1. Abandoned God

Ignore

Ungrateful

Disregard

Jeremiah 213 “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

2 faults: 1. Abandoned God1. Abandoned God

Ignore

Ungrateful

Disregard

2. Sought fulfilment elsewhere2. Sought fulfilment elsewhere

Dissatisfying

Self destructive

Jeremiah 25  This is what the LORD says:

“What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves. 6    They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness,

Bitterness: Blaming God in disappointment

Jeremiah 25  This is what the LORD says:

“What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves. 6    They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness,

Bitterness:

Straying:

Neglecting church

Going soft on behaviour

Drifting from prayer

Jeremiah 25  This is what the LORD says:

“What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves. 6    They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness,

Bitterness:

Straying:

Chasing: Hunting happiness in useless places

Jeremiah 25  This is what the LORD says:

“What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves. 6    They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness,

Bitterness:

Straying:

Chasing:

Self-destruction: Pursuing that which destroys us

Jeremiah 25  This is what the LORD says:

“What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves. 6    They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness,

Bitterness:

Straying:

Chasing:

Self-destruction:

Ingratitude:Not appreciating what God has done

What do we want to pursue?

Devotion to God?

time with him

life lived for him

thankfulness to him Meaning

Eternal life

“I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me”

What do we want to pursue?

Devotion to God?

time with him

life lived for him

thankfulness to him Meaning

Eternal lifeor False ideas that lead us to

“I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me”

“They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns...”Worthlessnes

sDestruction

Jesus take my allTake my everything

I've counted up the costAnd You're worth everything