These Discovery Questions are for use with this week’s Lookout Bible Lesson, “Hope in God’s Faithfulness” (Jeremiah 33:1-11, 15-26), by Mark Scott.
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1. Over the past week, with whom did you share God’s desire to be in relationship with us?
2. Use the following sentence to tell us about your week: The bad news is ___, but the good news is ___.
Ask two people to read aloud Jeremiah 33:1-11, 15-26 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Then ask a third person to briefly summarize the passage.
3. Summarize this passage using the following sentence: As sure as day follows night, God will . . .
4. Why might the people have needed to know both the bad news circumstances that were to come (vv. 1-5, 10a), and the good news of the future (vv. 6-9, 10b-11, 15-26)?
5. Jeremiah made prophetic reference to Jesus, the “righteous Branch . . . from David’s line . . . the LORD Our Righteous Savior” (vv. 15-16). In what ways is Jesus the fulfillment of all God’s good promises?
6. What do you learn about God from this passage?
- What do you learn about yourself?
7. Don’t overlook the vital transition words God used: nevertheless (v. 6) and yet (v. 10). As you look at your current (and even future) circumstances and God’s faithfulness, share something from your own life using one of those words. For example, “Because of my injury, I will probably always walk with a limp. Nevertheless, God has given me health and healing as well as peace and hope in him. And someday, I will not only walk without a limp; I’ll run on streets of gold!”
8. With whom will you share your bad news/good news story this week?
You can also include God’s bad news/good news story: “For the wages of sin is death, BUT [Nevertheless] the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
9. Based on our study and discussion, complete the sentence: “I will . . .”
10. What do you need from God to live in his “nevertheless” this week?
For Next Week: Read and reflect on Nahum 1:1-15 as we begin a new unit on 7th-century minor prophets with the theme, “Justice Will Come.” You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.
Author: Michael C. Mack
Michael C. Mack is editor of Christian Standard. He has served in churches in Ohio, Indiana, Idaho, and Kentucky. He has written more than 25 books and discussion guides as well as hundreds of magazine, newspaper, and web-based articles.
