I Knew You

Jeremiah 1:4-10

Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal).

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In groups of two or three, respond to the following, “Who knows you best? Whom do you know the best?”

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). Read: Jeremiah 1:4-10.

• How might Jeremiah have felt when the Lord revealed to Jeremiah the extent to which the Lord knew him?
• Why do you think Jeremiah pointed to his inadequacies in verse 6? Do we do something similar when called upon by God?
• How does Jeremiah’s response recall other biblical figures’ responses to God’s call? [See Solomon’s response in 1 Kings 3:7; Moses in Exodus 3-4; and Isaiah in Isaiah 44:1-2.]
• To whom is Jeremiah appointed to be a prophet? [Verse 10 notes it is nations and kingdoms and thus not limited to Israel.]
• As Christians who are empowered by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 10:18-20), how are we (individually and collectively) like Jeremiah (v. 9)?
• (R) What does this passage tell us about God’s knowledge of us (individually and collectively)? What does this passage tell us about the role of the community of believers as prophets to the nations?

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End by praying the following or a similar prayer:

God of all nations, you call your church to be a light on a hill. Empower us to be the church you call us to be. Give us not only the words to speak life but also the hands of comfort and the arms of care that others might discover they are known and loved by you. Amen.