Pastor Matt spoke out of Jeremiah 2:12-13 and showed that God's mercy for us is unending—no matter what we've done. We are not defined by what we do. We are children of God's mercy.
MY STORY
Without naming anyone, compare yourself with a notorious sinner.
WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO HEAR?
"Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the Lord, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water." (Jeremiah 2:12-13)
Why do you think the Lord told the angels to be appalled at what they were seeing? Why would they be so shocked?
Do a quick word association with these three terms—what's the first phrase that comes to mind when you hear, (1) shocked; (2) desolate; (3) forsaken?
What kind of self-serving "cisterns" were the people of Israel building for themselves?
What does God want us to hear? Based on the passage and the questions above, what "takeaways" do you think God has revealed to you?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO DO?
What kind of self-serving "cisterns" (or "wells") are the people today building for themselves? How does this show that they're forsaking God?
Why is it easy for some people to trust in themselves for their own salvation?
What is absolutely true about how God sees us, regardless of what we have done?
React to this quote …
"No parent gives mercy better than one who is convinced that he desperately needs it himself." ― Dr. Paul David Tripp
How can believers experience the mercy of God, no matter what they've done?
What does God want us to do? Flowing out of our reading and interpretation, what action does this passage or the Spirit's leading, call us to?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO?
Write or discuss a few ways you can remind yourself daily that you are not defined by your mistakes or misdeeds – you are a child of mercy.
In prayer, thank God for his mercy, and perhaps any inner turmoil about God's forgiveness of yourself and of those who may have wronged you.
Be creative and figure out a new way to demonstrate the profound mercy of God this week—not only to yourself, but others
What does God want ME to do? What is the personal application and action step God is calling you, personally, toward?
Message Notes
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