Sermon Outlines for
the book of Jeremiah

Rev. David P. Horrocks, Th.M., Pastor
Christ Community Church

Jeremiah 1:1-19 (5/20/07)
Jeremiah 2:1-3:5
(5/27/07)
Jeremiah 3:6-6:30
(6/3/07)
Jeremiah 7:1-10:25
(6/10/07)
Jeremiah 11:1-12:17 (06/17/07)
Jeremiah 13:1-27 (06/24/07)
Jeremiah 14:1-22 (07/15/07)
Jeremiah 15:1-21 (07/22/07)
Jeremiah 16:1-21 (07/29/07)
Jeremiah 17:1-27 (08/05/07)
Jeremiah 17:19-27 (09/02/07)
Jeremiah 18:1-23 (09/09/07)
Selected (09/16/07)
Selected from Jeremiah (9/23/07)

 

 

Jeremiah 1:1-19

Introduction:  “The clouds and the sun”

The days of Jeremiah

The ordinary person (1:1-9)

            A priest by birth, a prophet by calling
            The doubtful reluctance of youthful inexperience
            An obedient spirit, a trusting will, and a tender heart

The extraordinary work (1:10)

            Revival to the godly
            Repentance to the sinners
            Retribution to the wicked

The extraordinary Lord (1:11-19)

            He chooses His servants
            He gifts His servants for their service
            He defines their work
            He governs His word
            He will certainly judge the sin of idolatry
            He defends His servants

MESSAGE:

“THE EXTRAORDINARY LORD USES ORDINARY PEOPLE
TO DO THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK OF SPREADING
RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE WORLD.”

 

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Jeremiah 2:1-3:5

Introduction:  “Silver…gold…diamonds”

Judah’s sin cost her God’s blessings (2:1-3)

Judah’s ingratitude led to her apostasy (2:4-8)

            The nation turned from God
            The nation turned towards that which was not God

Judah took an irrational path to spiritual adultery (2:9-13)

            From true religion to false religion
            From streams of living water to leaking buckets of mud

A gallery of pictures of the consequences of Judah’s sin (2:14-37)

            The poverty of plundered slaves (14)
            The land is overrun by gentiles (15-17)
            A thirsting nomad in search of water (18-19)
            An unruly animal resisting restraint (20)
            The disappointment of a degenerate vine (21)
            A body stained with the deeds of sin (22-23a)
            A wild animal in heat looking for a mate (23b-25)
            A thief captured in his crime (26-28)
            A family album of incorrigible children (29-37)

Judah can not return to the Lord in her present condition (3:1-5)

            Spiritual adultery continues
            Divorce is final
            Blessings will be withheld
            More judgments are coming

MESSAGE:
“FORSAKING THE LORD IS A SIN THAT DAMAGES OUR CONDUCT,
OUR CONSCIENCE, AND OUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORLD.”

 

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Jeremiah 3:6-6:30

Introduction:  “Monday, June 20, 1960”

Jeremiah’s mission:  To destroy… (1:10)
Jeremiah’s first sermon:  Israel forsook the Lord… (2:17)
Jeremiah’s second sermon:  Judah too will be judged… (3:6-6:30)

            A call to the remnant of Israel to repent (3:6-25)

                        Judah is worse than her sister Israel (6-10)
                        The call to repent with blessings to follow (11-20)
                        The weeping of Israel for her sin (21-25)

            Invasion from the north against sinful Judah in the south (4:1-31)

                        The call for Judah to repent (1-4)
                        The enemy is on the way (5-18)
                        The agony of Jeremiah (19-22)
                        The cosmic catastrophe described (23-26)
                        The desolation of Judah (27-31)

            Judah’s total corruption (5:1-31)

                        Condition:  They are ungodly (1-6)
                        Condemnation:  They are ungrateful (7-9)
                        Conclusion:  They are unfaithful (10-19)
                        Consequences:  They are unconcerned (20-31)

            The Lord Himself sends His judgment upon Judah (6:1-30)

                        The Lord declares war (1-5)
                        The Lord directs the attack (6-15)
                        The Lord details the verdict (16-23)
                        The Lord describes the outcome (24-30)

MESSAGE:
“SIN FOLLOWED BY REPENTANCE LEADS TO BLESSINGS
,
BUT SIN WITHOUT REPENTANCE BRINGS TROUBLES.”

 

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Jeremiah 7:1-10:25

Introduction:  “A prophet in the sanctuary”

Jeremiah’s mission:  To destroy… (1:10)
Jeremiah’s first sermon:  Israel forsook the Lord… (2:17)
Jeremiah’s second sermon:  Judah too will be judged… (3:11)
Jeremiah’s third message:  The Lord is just in His judgment (7:1-10:25)

            Idolatry is the sin of false worship (7:1-8:3)

                        The Temple will not save you (1-11)
                        The Temple cannot even protect you (12-20)
                        The cause of Judah’s sin is disobedience (21-31)
                        The calamity of Judah’s judgment will be upon the city (32-8:3)

            Idolatry is based on false relationships (9:2-26)

                        A sinful society in need of correction (2-9)
                        The Lord’s correction is judgment (10-16)
                        The Lord’s judgment is severe (17-22)
                        The Lord’s judgment is just (23-26)

            Idolatry is the folly of following false gods (10:1-25)

                        Idols are man-made (1-5)
                        The Lord is man’s maker (6-16)
                        The Lord, not idols, is the judge of the world (17-22)
                        The Lord, not idols, is the Savior of sinners (23-25)

 

MESSAGE:
“THE LORD SEEKS REALITY IN OUR RELIGION,
FOR THERE IS NO RITUAL THAT IS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PERSONAL GODLINESS.

 

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Jeremiah 11:1-12:17

Introduction:  “Wrestling with…the Lord”

Wrestling with ourselves

            Spirit versus the flesh
            Spirit versus the soul

Wrestling with our neighbors (11:1-23)

            They are opposed to the Lord’s message

                        Judah is to obey the Mosaic covenant (Responsibility) (1-5)
                        Israel failed to obey (History) (6-8)
                        Judah has become just like Israel (Idolatry) (9-10)
                        Judah too is destined for judgment (Reality) (11-13)
                        Judah’s judgment is inescapable (Finality) (14-17)

            They are opposed to the Lord’s messenger

                        The plot against Jeremiah was disclosed (18-20)
                        The judgment for their sin was declared (21-23)

Wrestling with the Lord (12:1-17)

            Jeremiah’s appeal for justice (1-4)
            The Lord’s response to Jeremiah’s appeal (5-17)

                        It is hard serving Me, and it is going to get harder (5-6)
                        I have given Judah over to be judged (7-13)
                        Judah and her neighbor nations will be exiled (14)
                        Judah and her neighbor nations will be restored (15)
                        Repentant Judah and converted nations will be blessed (16-17)

MESSAGE:
“IN OUR MATURING AS CHRISTIANS,
WE WRESTLE WITH OURSELVES, WITH OUR NEIGHBORS,
AND SOMETIMES EVEN WITH THE LORD.”

 

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Jeremiah 13:1-27

Introduction:  “Pride in Christians…”

Jeremiah’s action sermons (13:1-14)

            Judah has become worthless to the Lord (1-11)

                        Judah was once like a pure linen waistband for the Lord
                        Judah has become like a wasted waistband to the Lord

            Judah will be judged for her worthlessness by the Lord (12-14)

                        The people of Judah are like jugs of wine
                        The jugs of wine will be smashed in judgment

Jeremiah’s cry for repentance (13:15-17)

            Take heed to the Lord’s warnings (15-16)
            Weeping will follow rejection (17)

Jeremiah’s pictures of the coming judgment (13:18-27)

            Dethroning of the king of a declining nation (18-19)
            Invading forces and disappearing people (20)
            The certain sorrow of secular covenants (21)
            Great punishment is the result of great sin (22)
            Unrepentant sinners are as straw in the wind (23-24)
            When you forsake the Lord you are forsaken (25-27)

MESSAGE:
“WHEN THOSE WHO ARE BLESSED THE MOST SIN THE WORST,
GOD’S JUDGMENT IS SURE AND SEVERE.”

 

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Jeremiah 14:1-22

Introduction:  Judah’s dust bowl”

Judah’s drought described (1-6)

Judah’s quick confession and the Lord’s negative response (7-12)

            Judah’s quick confession  (7-9)

                        We have sinned – show us your power (7a)
                        We have sinned – but You are absent (7b-9)

            The Lord’s negative response (10-12)

                        Judah responded to blessing with rebellion (10a)
                        Judah is sinful and soon to be judged (10b)
                        Judah no longer has favor with Me (11-12)

Jeremiah’s appeal for Judah and the Lord’s negative response (13-18)

            Jeremiah’s appeal - The false prophets mislead the people (13)

            The Lord’s negative response (14-18)

                        False prophets will be judged for their sins (14-15)
                        The people are wicked and will be judged for their sins (16)
                        God is both a loving Father and a just Judge (17-18)

The lessons that came to Judah too late (19-22)

            There is a limit to the Lord’s patience (19)
            Sin crosses generations (20)
            The Lord’s investment in His people is great (21)
            Only the Lord can save us (22)

MESSAGE:
“THE LORD USES TROUBLES TO TEST OUR FAITH,
TO GROW OUR CONFIDENCE, TO CORRECT OUR WALK,
AND TO JUDGE US FOR OUR BAD BEHAVIOR.”

 

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Jeremiah 15:1-21

Introduction:  Judah is a road kill on the highway of history”

Judah’s death is described (1-9, 12-14)

            Judah is under God’s judgment

            Rejected by God
                        Destined for death with dishonor
                        A witness to the nations of the Lord’s power
                        Abandoned by all
                        Ransacked of her treasures

Judah is guilty for all of her sins

                        The sin of King Manasseh
                        The sin of forsaking the Lord
                        The sin of refusing to repent

Jeremiah’s complaint is declared (10-11, 15-18)

            My life is a miserable failure. (10)
            You promised me significant success. (11)
            You promised me protection from my enemies. (15)
            Doesn’t obedience deserve better?  (16-17)
            Will my faith in You be met with disappointment?  (18)

The Lord’s rebuke is decisive (19-21)

            Repent of your unbelief
            Be saved from all your fears

MESSAGE:
“TO KEEP STANDING FIRM AGAINST THE SINS OF THE WORLD,
YOU MUST KEEP STANDING FIRM IN YOUR FAITH IN THE LORD.”

 

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Jeremiah 16:1-21

Introduction:  “First responders”

Jeremiah prepares for the coming national judgment (1-9)

            Establishing a family is not God’s will (1-4)
            Comforting those who need comfort is not God’s will (5-7)
            Rejoicing with those who rejoice is not God’s will (8-9)

The Lord explains the coming national judgment (10-13, 16-18)

            The cause of the judgment is idolatry (10-13)

                        The past sin (10-11)
                        The present practice (12)
                        To provide a future place (13)

            The course of the judgment is captivity (16-18)

                        There is no escaping judgment (16)
                        There is no escaping the Lord (17-18)

Jeremiah looks beyond the coming national judgment (14-15, 19-21)

            Israel will be restored to the land (14-15)
            Israel will be returned to the Lord (Implied)
            Nations will come confessing to the Lord (19-20)
            Nations will be converted to the Lord (21)

MESSAGE:
“THOSE WHO FOLLOW FALSE GODS
ARRIVE AT SEVERE JUDGMENTS FOR THEIR SINS,
BUT THOSE WHO FOLLOW THE LORD
ARRIVE AT THE GREAT BLESSINGS OF SALVATION.”

 

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Jeremiah 17:1-27

Introduction:  “The three second collapse”

The cause of Judah’s collapse is her sin (1-27)

            Idolatry will result in captivity (1-4)
            Unbelief will result in curses (5-8)
            Greed will result in the onset of poverty (9-11)
            Forsaking the Lord’s presence will result in being forsaken (12-13)
            Rejecting God’s Word will result in being rejected  (14-18)
            Profaning the Sabbath will result in national destruction (19-27)

The cause of Judah’s sin is in her heart

            The sinful heart is a mystery to man

                        The sinful heart is deceitful
                        The sinful heart is diseased
                        The sinful heart is depraved

            The sinful heart is known by the Lord

                        He searches the thoughts of the heart
                        He tests the desires of the heart
                        He appropriately rewards the works of the heart

            The sinful heart is made new by the Lord

                        The mind is made new by the Word of God
                        The will is made new by faith in Christ
                        The emotions are made new by the power of the Holy Spirit

MESSAGE:
“AT THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM OF SIN
IS THE PROBLEM OF SIN IN OUR HEARTS.”

 

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Jeremiah 17:19-27

Introduction:  “A wake up call…”

Stop using the Sabbath day for work (19-23)

            The Sabbath day was being violated
            Five times the correction was given
            Correction had been given in the past and ignored in the past

Start using the Sabbath day for rest and worship (24)

            Give attention to the Lord
            Give obedience to His word

There are blessings for obeying (25-26)

            Jerusalem will be established forever

                        Established politically
                        Established militarily
                        Established domestically
                        Established religiously
                        Established spiritually

            Jerusalem will lead the world to the Lord

There are judgments for disobeying (27)

            Judah will be judged
            Jerusalem will become a burnt sacrifice

MESSAGE:
“SPENDING THE SABBATH IN THE SANCTUARY
SHOULD MAKE A GREAT DIFFERENCE
AS TO HOW YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE IN THE WORLD.”

 

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Jeremiah 18:1-23

Introduction:  “And then there were 12…”

The sovereign rule of God revealed (1-11)

            Illustrated in a potter’s shop (1-4
            Applied by the Lord (5-10)
            Declared by Jeremiah (11)

The sovereign rule of God refused (12-17)

            Refused by Judah (12)
            Resulting in judgment (13-17)

                        Judah refused what was right [13-14]
                        Judah chose what was wrong [15]
                        Judah will suffer the consequences of her choices [16-17]

The sovereign rule of God rejected (18)

            Jeremiah’s message was rejected (18a)
            Jeremiah’s life was rejected (18b)

The sovereign rule of God remembered (19-23)

            Jeremiah prayed for protection from the wicked (19-20)
            Jeremiah petitioned for punishment of the wicked (21-23)

MESSAGE:
“IF YOU HAVE FAITH IN THE SOVEREIGN RULE OF GOD,
THEN THE RIGHTEOUS RULES OF GOD SHOULD BE SHAPING YOUR LIFE.”

 

 

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Selected

Introduction:  “How to study the Bible”

We meet Jesus in Jeremiah

            Jesus is there prophetically in Jeremiah’s sermons

                        He is the promised new governor (Jeremiah 23:1-6)

                                    He is the shepherd Savior
                                    He is the shepherd King

                        He rules over the promised new government (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

                                    Forgiveness is by faith in the Redeemer
                                    Holiness is by the power of the Holy Spirit

            Jesus is there personally in Jeremiah’s life

                        Both were priests and prophets of God
                        Both declared judgment and offered salvation
                        Both were opposed by the false religion of their day
                        Both were tender-hearted
                        Both poured out their lives on loneliness
                        Both suffered for the sins of others
                        Both were justified by history

Others should meet Jesus in our lives, too

            A different governor – Jesus is Lord
            A different government – Walk by the Spirit
            A different goal – Changed heart changed life

                        Destiny changing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
                        The love of the Holy Spirit for others
                        Sacrificial service to the body of Christ
                        An eternal hope that is shaping daily conduct

MESSAGE:
“JESUS HAS SAVED YOU; JESUS IS CHANGING YOU;
AND JESUS WANTS TO MEET OTHERS THROUGH YOU.”

 

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Selected from Jeremiah
Life principles from Jeremiah

Introduction:  “Being defeated is not giving up”

God is Lord of the earth and King of all nations.

True patriotism is not blind to national sin.

In difficult days, we need to hear and to heed the word of God.

True messengers of God are usually (if not always) persecuted.

God’s servants often have their doubts and failings.

The important thing is not success but faithfulness.

The greatest reward in serving the Lord is becoming like Jesus Christ.

 

MESSAGE:
“THE SAME LORD IS CALLING US.
THE SAME WORLD IS OPPOSING US.
THE SAME FAITH IS REQUIRED OF US.
THE SAME GREAT GOAL IS ALWAYS BEFORE US.

 

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