CrossGroups Connection Guide

Today’s Scripture Focus: Mark 4:35-41

There are only two places in Mark that depart from the “action” to record actual sermons from Jesus. One of them is Mark 4, which is made up of parables. There are 60 parables recorded in the Gospels. Most of them are found in Matthew and Luke. A few are found here in Mark; there are none in John. A parable is an example from everyday life that clarifies a spiritual truth. Most of Jesus’ parables deal with the Kingdom of God, which He explains using fishing and farming, housekeeping and family life, royalty and banquets, etc. Unlike fables or allegories, parables are impossible to understand without the “insider knowledge” of faith in Christ. Ten times in Mark 4, the audience is commanded to listen! This involves hearing and obeying.

The chapter opens with Jesus gathered at the now familiar lake side, preaching to the ever present crowd. This time, the crowd was so large that Jesus preached from the water, seated in a boat. The first parable summarized everything that has happened in Mark thus far. A farmer wastefully scatters seed in a field, three fourths of which fails to produce a crop. However, the one fourth that finds good soil produces such a miraculous crop, it more than compensates for the bad seed. So it was with Jesus’ teaching, which planted truth in the world. The vast majority of the gathered crowd would never receive this truth, but the small minority of disciples would hear, understand, and feed the world.

Three more parables finish out the sermon. Jesus would speak to the crowd in parables, and then explain their meaning to the disciples, presumably gathered with Him in the boat. As it was getting dark, Jesus instructed the disciples to take Him to the other side of the lake, perhaps to preach in another location. Apparently they set out in a group of boats. In 1986, a fishing vessel was unearthed from the mud by this lake. Testing dated it from the time of Christ. It was 27 feet long, 8 feet wide and seated 15 people, with space for four rowers. Though not likely the same vessel used by Christ, it would have been very similar. As several of the disciples were veteran fisherman, travel by boat was a perfect way to travel.

The only time in the Gospels we hear of Jesus sleeping is during a storm. Due to its location 700 feet below sea level and surrounding mountains, the Sea of Galilee is famous for its fierce and sudden squalls. This must have been a particularly bad one. Rowing in such conditions would have been exhausting, especially after a full day of ministry to the crowd. Mark captures the disciple’s frustration with Jesus – “Don’t you even care if we drown?” Remember – Mark is about the authority of Jesus. Using the language He used to quiet the demons of Mark 3, Jesus told the storm to be quiet! It immediately dissipated. Ironically, this terrified the disciples more than the storm itself. They still have much to learn about this Jesus they are following.

Today’s sermon will assure us that Jesus not only cares about our storms; He can do something about them.

• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.

• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.

• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?

• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.

1. Have you ever had a problem you felt no one else could really relate to or understand? Did you try to get help, or just handle it on your own?

2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?

3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?

• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.

Today’s Sermon

Key Truths –

• The disciples were overwhelmed by the storm.

• Our storms can be overwhelming, too.

• Good news: Jesus cared about the disciples.

• Good news: Jesus cares about us.

This Week’s Assignment –

Having a CrossViewed life means accepting Jesus’ care, even when we don’t believe, understand, or even desire it. What cares do you need to allow Jesus to silence today? Write them here, and let Him help you.

CrossGroups Connection Guide

Today’s Scripture Focus: Mark 3:1-15

Mark 2 began with Jesus drawing criticism from the rabbis for claiming to forgive sins, then astounding them by healing a sinner. It closed with Jesus’ followers being accused of Sabbath violation. Mark 3 brings these elements together in dramatic fashion. Jesus is back in the synagogue. This is the same place where Jesus cast out a demon in Mark 1, so we can imagine a record crowd was present. The conservative rabbis had gathered in hopes of catching Him in breaking the Sabbath. Sure enough, a man with a useless hand was present. The man did not seek to be healed; he was probably self conscious and used to hiding his condition. Jesus saw him and commanded him to stand up!

Jesus used a common technique of the rabbis, which was to teach in question and answer format. He asked the congregation whether good or bad should be done on the Sabbath? He then used an interesting phrase – “to save life or to kill?” Sabbath tradition said medical treatment was unlawful unless a condition was life threatening. The man’s condition was clearly not an emergency, but in a culture in which you don’t eat if you don’t work, his outlook was dim. Those who freely criticized Jesus behind His back remained silent in the face of Jesus’ question. Angered, Jesus went ahead and healed the man. This prompted the Pharisees to begin conspiring with their sworn enemies – the supporters of secular King Herod – in order to murder Jesus.

For the first but certainly not the last time in Jesus’ ministry, the heat was on. Jesus left the area and went to the lake, most likely for a time of retreat. However, Jesus’ fame had already spread throughout the entire country and beyond. A great crowd of “locals” followed Him to the lake, as well as people from all over the region. They quickly became a mob, pressing so close to Jesus they risked crushing Him. Once more the crowd represents a hindrance to Jesus’ needed ministry, rather than a response to faith. Demons were present in many of those suffering, and Jesus’ presence called them to cry out “You are the Son of God” – something only God had declared at this point. Jesus quickly took authority, for the situation was about to become a riot.

After silencing the evil spirits, Jesus began climbing into the surrounding hills to escape the crowd. He summoned a group of disciples to join Him, giving twelve men from among them special authority. These were known as apostles (Greek – “sent ones”). This is the only time the word appears in the book of Mark. Apostles were called to do two things, both of which only Jesus had been doing up until this point – preach and cast out demons. By sharing this job with the apostles, Jesus was multiplying His ministry. It is no accident that twelve were chosen. There were twelve tribes in Israel when God set them apart as a people. Now, a new people had been set apart – a new Israel.

Today’s sermon will ask a serious question – are we in the crowd or above it?

• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.

• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.

• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?

• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.

1. Finish this sentence – “I would rather do anything in the world than go to the _______________ !”

2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?

3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?

• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.

Today’s Sermon

Key Truths –

• Jesus was surrounded by crowds.

• The world is crowded today.

• Good news: Jesus took followers up above the crowd.

• Good news: Jesus wants to take us up, too.

This Week’s Assignment –

Having a CrossViewed life means following Jesus to the top of the mountain, rather than staying in the crush of the crowd. You have been given authority to tell the story of Jesus. Tell someone this week some part of that story.

CrossGroups Connection Guide

Today’s Scripture Focus: Mark 2:13-27

In Mark 2, we find Jesus back at home in Capernaum after a brief preaching tour in the neighboring villages. Word had gotten out about Jesus’ authority, and a crowd soon filled the house and courtyard. In Mark, crowds are always an obstacle to finding Jesus, rather than a sign of success. Palestinian homes at this time included an outdoor staircase that led to a flat straw room, paved with mud. Four men of faith dug through this roof to lower their paralyzed friend to Jesus, who was so moved that He pronounced the man’s sins forgiven. This greatly offended the rabbis, who murmured that Jesus was a blasphemer – a sin punishable by death. Jesus proved his authority to forgive sins by instantaneously healing the man, astounding the critics and crowd.

The gospel of Mark is all about authority. Jesus’ miraculous actions – casting out demons and healing the sick – legitimized His authority as both Son of God (Mark 1) and Son of Man (Mark 2). In the rest of Mark 2, Jesus exercises authority over manmade customs. While teaching the crowds beside the lake, Jesus calls Levi (later Matthew), a hated tax collector. Tax collectors were secular Jews viewed as extortionists and collaborators. Levi immediately follows Jesus without question. Next, Jesus hosts an intimate banquet in Levi’s home with wicked people. The ultra conservative rabbis, who didn’t recognize Jesus’ authority, made Him guilty by association. Rather than quibble with them, Jesus merely reminds them it’s the sinners who need Him.

Jesus’ teaching represented something new, and something worth celebrating. There were two other popular movements at this time – John the Baptist’s disciples, and Phariseeism. We don’t know a lot about John’s disciples, but the Pharisees represented about 1% of the population, and were the only religious sect to survive the destruction of Jerusalem. Both groups regularly engaged in fasting – the practice of denying the body food in order to show serious devotion to God. The people questioned the disciples for feasting, rather than fasting. Jesus said for His followers to fast would be as ridiculous as wedding guests refusing to eat at a reception. The good news couldn’t be contained in old ways of thinking.

The final story in Mark 2 deals with the subject which most clearly defined Judaism: the Sabbath. The Sabbath was instituted in the fourth commandment. It lasted from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, and no work of any kind was allowed. Tradition covered every possible action on the Sabbath to categorize it as acceptable or unacceptable, even the setting of broken bones (unacceptable!) The Pharisees tattled on the disciples for plucking and eating heads of grain while they walked, considered “harvesting”. Jesus reminds the Pharisees that even David violated the Sabbath. This is the first of many times in Mark Jesus points to David, and it is no accident. Jesus is Son of David, and has authority even over the Sabbath.

Today’s sermon will focus on Jesus’ authority in matters of custom and routine.

• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.

• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.

• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?

• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.

1. Is there ever a time when your entire family eats together? What are some favorite dishes that are shared? Do you eat around the table, or another location? Do you do anything special afterwards?

2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?

3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?

• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.

Today’s Sermon

Key Truths –

• Customs were important to the crowds.

• Our customs are important to us today.

• Good news: Jesus took authority over Jewish customs.

• Good news: Jesus takes authority over our customs.

This Week’s Assignment –

Having a CrossViewed life means following Jesus, even if it messes with when we eat, who we hang out with, and how we worship. Are there any customs in your weekly routine that are more about your comfort than following Jesus? Do something different this week!

CrossGroups Connection Guide

Today’s Scripture Focus: Mark 1:1-13

Each year we spend twelve weeks in the gospels, divided up into three four-week periods. This year, we will focus on the Gospel According to Mark. John Mark is credited with its authorship. This is the same Mark from the book of Acts, whose mother’s house served as an early meeting place for Christians. He traveled with Paul and Barnabus, and eventually assisted Peter. After the destruction of the Temple and the death of the Apostle Peter, many Roman Christians felt the need for eyewitness accounts of Jesus to be recorded in writing. John Mark had served as a traveling companion of Peter, and tradition tells us he began to write down everything Peter preached about Jesus. Some have called Mark “The Gospel of Peter”.

For centuries, scholars treated Mark as a hurried copy of Matthew, which is why it appears second in the New Testament. We now know both Matthew and Luke used Mark as the source for their gospels. Matthew, Mark, and Luke make up what are known as the synoptic gospels. Using Mark and other documents now lost to us, Matthew wrote a gospel for Jews, and Luke for gentiles. Both these gospels contain almost all of Mark word for word. Mark was an excellent source for Jews and gentiles, since it was likely written for the racially diverse Roman church. Mark is the shortest of the gospels. It is a story of action. Where Matthew and Luke might take a chapter to tell of Jesus’ temptation, for example, Mark uses a sentence.

If Mark, then is the first gospel and introduces the New Testament, it is only fitting that it uses the same opening as the introduction of the Old Testament – “beginning”. From the first verse, Mark lets us know exactly who Jesus is – the Son of God, the Messiah. “Son of God” was a phrase used for Roman Emperors. Caesars were declared gods by the Senate, and the birthday of Augustus was required to be celebrated each year. When a male heir was born to the emperor, word was sent throughout the empire of the “good news”. Mark uses the exact same phrasing to announce the good news of Christ. For his Jewish readers, he uses the term “Messiah”, as well as the words of the prophet Isaiah to indicate this was the Savior promised by God.

Mark will spend the rest of the gospel proving this lofty claim. He begins with a brief telling of the baptism of Christ. God seemed to have been absent from Israel for hundreds of years, but the prophets said one day “Elijah” would return and prepare the way for God to once again move. John the Baptizer lived in the desert, wore the same clothes as Elijah the prophet had worn, and called the people to purification so God could come. People traveled from the city to respond to this call. Jesus came from the north to receive John’s baptism, but it served a different purpose than purification. Just as David had long ago been anointed as king of Israel, Jesus’ baptism served as “good news” that a new kind of kingdom had arrived!

Today’s sermon will celebrate the arrival of this good news in our lives.

• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.

• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.

• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?

• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.

1. Have you received any good news recently? How did you respond?

2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?

3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?

• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.

Today’s Sermon

Key Truths –

• For years, it seemed to Israel that God was silent.

• It often seems God is silent today.

• Good news: Jesus heard the voice of God!

• Good news: Jesus is God’s voice for us!

This Week’s Assignment –

Having a CrossViewed life means being celebrating the good news of Jesus all year. Though the decorations may be put away and the gifts unwrapped, focus on celebrating the good news this week. Memorize Mark 1:1.

CrossGroups Connection Guide

Today’s Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 23:1-16

• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.

• Let everyone who would like share anything exciting from their week.

• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?

• Ask these questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.

1. Why is Jeremiah often called the “weeping prophet”?

2. As Christians, do we have hope that the world situation can get better?

3. Jeremiah finally gets to give some good news in today’s scripture focus. What is it? How does it apply to us today?

4. How does the theme in the prophets of anticipating a future king remind us of the Advent/Christmas season?

5. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?

6. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?

CrossGroups Connection Guide

Today’s Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 20:7-13

“Go down to the potter’s house.” In Jeremiah 18, the prophet is given this instruction by Yahweh. The potter would have been in the southern part of the city near a water source, and would fashion vessels by working with clay on a disk which he spun with his feet. If the clay had an imperfection in it, the potter would simply smush it up and start over. God shows Jeremiah that this is exactly what is happening with Israel. God “formed” her (the same word used in Genesis for creating the earth and Adam), but Israel has done something no other nation has done – rejected her very creator in order to worship other creations! So God will simply destroy her and start over. Jeremiah attempts to deliver this message, but is met with severe opposition.

The theme of pottery carries over into chapter 19. Yahweh now commands Jeremiah to buy a vessel from the potter, gather the leaders of the people and the priests, and take them to Valley of Ben Hinnom, just outside the Potsherd Gate. This would likely have been the gate people would have used to take out the city’s trash. The valley had become a cultic site. It was used to offer child sacrifices to the god Ba’al. Jeremiah tells the leaders that due to this detestable practice, it will become a burial ground. All the evil of the people will come upon them here, and they will even be reduced to cannibalism! Then, Jeremiah is commanded to smash the pottery, symbolizing that judgment had been finalized. There was to be no turning back now.

The scene quickly changes as Jeremiah is commanded to take this message of destruction into the Temple. The religious establishment would have been reassuring the crowds with false messages of hope, but Jeremiah tells them the truth – devastation is at hand. A new character enters the story here. Pashhur was a priest with an important position, likely keeping order in the Temple courts. Jeremiah’s message threatened the peace and contradicted official statements. Pashhur had Jeremiah beaten and placed in stocks. Upon his release, Jeremiah boldly tells Passhur he will become an object of God’s wrath and scared of his own shadow. For the first time, Babylon is named specifically as the tool God will use to crush the vessel of Judah

Our scripture focus today is the last of the great confessions of Jeremiah. These are really laments – a form of Hebrew poetry expressing great anguish. They are most often found in Psalms and Job. Jeremiah accuses God of overpowering him; a term associated with child abuse. God had “formed” Jeremiah to be a broken vessel – to proclaim only messages of destruction. He was a constant target of men like Passhur, who abused, mocked, and spread false rumors about him. However, when Jeremiah tries to not tell God’s truth, it becomes physically painful to him, to the point he prefers the abuse of the wicked! Jeremiah decides to just praise God anyway. Though he may be miserable, he will tell God’s truth to God’s rebellious people.

Today’s sermon will offer Advent hope to those who carry God’s truth in troubled days.

• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.

• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.

• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?

• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.

1. What is your primary source of news? Television? Radio? Newspaper? None? Do you feel there’s more good news or bad news in the media today?

2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?

3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?

• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.

Today’s Sermon

Key Truths –

• Jeremiah couldn’t help himself.

• The Church can’t help itself.

• God would help Jeremiah.

• God will help the Church.

This Week’s Assignment –

Having a CrossViewed life means choosing to carry God’s painful truth to a world waiting for good news. During this third week of Advent, commit to being a vessel of truth when the world offers false messages. Speak up!

CrossGroups Connection Guide

Today’s Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 15:15-21

Sometime around 601 BC, Judah was stricken with drought – a period of several growing seasons with no rain. In Jeremiah 14, we read that the drought was so severe the people had gone into an official state of mourning, which involved wearing only black and sitting on the ground. Even the wealthiest were without water. The farmers couldn’t plant, and the herds were dying off. Remember in last week’s scripture focus, God had told Jeremiah not to pray for the people due to their repeated failure to repent. Jeremiah breaks this command, and cries out to God to remember the covenant. He asks God to be Savior. This is the name used for God that was associated with the deliverance from Egyptian slavery.

Normally after a prayer of lament like Jeremiah’s, God would respond with words of comfort. Instead, God once again forbids Jeremiah from praying for the people! While the nation has performed the rites of a national fast, they have not taken steps to forsake the worship of other gods. Therefore, God is determined to not only destroy them by drought, but by famine and sword. Jeremiah disobeys God and continues to pray for the people, reminding God that they are listening to false prophets who promise all will be well. God denies sending these prophets, and states in no uncertain terms they will perish for their lies. In the rest of chapter 14, God actually weeps for the people, and Jeremiah cries out for them again.

The back-and-forth between Jeremiah and Yahweh continues in chapter 15. One of the chief roles of the biblical prophet was intercession – praying on behalf of the people despite their wickedness or ignorance. The Jewish people considered Moses and Samuel to be their greatest prophets. Moses interceded for the people after they created and worshipped the golden calf, and Samuel prayed for them even when they demanded he be replaced with a king. God tells Jeremiah intercession will no longer work, even if Moses or Samuel were asking now! God had sent Moses to lead the people out of destruction and into the Promised Land – this is now reversed as Jeremiah is commanded to send the people away from God and Judah.

At this point, we know Jeremiah had become the subject of an assassination plot from his own family, a lawsuit, and constant ridicule from his “congregation”. Now, it seems even God is not allowing him to do the very job for which he was born – to intercede for the people. In bitterness and despair, Jeremiah laments that his mother even gave birth to him in the first place. God responds by promising to care for Jeremiah. The prophet reminisces about reading the covenant and how it affirmed his call, but wonders if God will be faithful to that covenant. God gently encourages Jeremiah to not worry about his enemies, but to focus on remaining faithful to God and his enemies will one day seek his help.

Today’s sermon will examine our call to pray for others.

• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.

• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.

• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?

• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.

1. Is there someone for whom you’ve prayed for years, and it doesn’t seem to help? How do you keep from being discouraged?

2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?

3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?

• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.

Today’s Sermon

Key Truths –

• Jeremiah got upset while praying for Judah.

• We get upset while praying for others.

• God encouraged Jeremiah to keep praying.

• God wants us to keep praying, too.

This Week’s Assignment –

Having a CrossViewed life means being faithful to pray for the most frustrating people in our lives, even when it doesn’t seem to do any good. Who do you need to keep praying for this week? Cry out to God for them daily. It might not change them, but it will change you.

CrossGroups Connection Guide

Today’s Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 11:1-17

Jeremiah 10 concludes another section of judgment predictions, once again in the form of poems. The first poem aims to point out the worthlessness of man-made idols as compared to Yahweh. It taunts the gods of Babylon and other surrounding nations. Israel is warned not to fear “signs in the heavens”. Cosmic events in the sky were viewed by ancient peoples as gods moving or clashing with one another. They induced great fear among those who worshipped idols, but God’s people had no reason to worry about natural movement among the stars and planets. The second poem is a mixture of words from the prophet and Yahweh, and it’s often challenging to keep up with who is speaking.

Our scripture focus today begins a new section in Jeremiah dealing with the covenant. Remember the covenant was a special agreement between God and the Jewish people that as long as they kept God’s commandments, they would be blessed. Covenant is a continual theme throughout Jeremiah, especially in reference to the most recent covenant renewal under King Josiah’s reform. When Judah repeatedly ignored or abused God’s commandments, curses would then fall upon them. Once again, this passage is a sermon. It foretells Yahweh’s curse on the people. It describes the covenant violation of the past and present generations, and then ends with a harsh word of judgment that seems to give no hope to the nation.

This is followed by a poetic lament or “confession” that reveals a plot against the prophet. God’s speech in vv 11:21-23 is a response to the cry of the prophet. Jeremiah’s next lament at the beginning of chapter 12 is most likely prompted by the plot against his life. Yahweh (the name most often used for God in Jeremiah) speaks again in response to the prophet’s lament. God promises to abandon Judah and turn her over to her enemies, making the land desolate. God speaks of abandoning His house (temple) and heritage (land). The following verses balance the harsh words of judgment with an announcement of Yahweh’s judgment on the enemies that destroy Judah. Even these enemy nations, however, will be built up if they seek God’s ways.

A continuous thread throughout this week’s scripture readings is “the nations.” God, through the covenant with Abraham, had raised up the Jewish people as a large, powerful nation. The people took pride in their nation-state status and the conquest of the land God had given them. However, their failure to keep covenant caused them to lose “nation” status. Ten of their “states” had already been obliterated through other nations, and the final two would soon face the same punishment from another nation to the north. The northern enemy nations are continually reminded they are being used by God. Should they make the mistake of Judah – pride in themselves – they will end up destroyed as well. History shows us they did not learn the lesson very well.

Our sermon ask us to consider how many chances God gives us today.

• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.

• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.

• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?

• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.

1. Have you ever had a close friend or family member who constantly got in a bind and needed your help? What’s the healthiest way you’ve found to deal with “repeat offenders” in your life?

2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?

3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?

• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.

Today’s Sermon

Key Truths –

• Judah had used up all her chances to do the right thing.

• Our world is running out of chances to do the right thing.

• God kept offering Judah one more chance.

• God offers the world another chance today.

This Week’s Assignment –

Having a CrossViewed life means doing the right thing while we still have a choice, rather than because we are out of options. During this Advent season, we have the gift of one more opportunity to really make Jesus the center of our celebration. How will you do the right thing instead of the same old thing this Christmas?

CrossGroups Connection Guide

Today’s Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 7:1-15

Jeremiah 2 and 3 describe Judah’s infidelity and idolatry.  God, or Yaweh, is portrayed as a scorned lover, desperately seeking the return of his unfaithful wife, Judah.  There are repeated calls for Judah’s repentance, with a reminder of the fate of the northern kingdom, Israel.  Restoration is also promised in this section.  This is mostly done using poetry.  Jeremiah uses what is known as the “lawsuit genre”, occasionally found in prophetic writing, to paint God as both plaintiff and judge.  Sometimes the term “Israel” is used to mean all of the twelve tribes, sometimes it refers to only the ten of the northern kingdom, already obliterated by Assyria at this point.  Sometimes it even refers only to Judah, the two tribes of the southern kingdom.

In Jeremiah 4-6, we find the announcement of judgment.  This is once again done through a series of oracles with a common theme – destruction will come to Judah from an enemy nation to the north.  Remember, north always represents disaster and destruction in Jeremiah. In contrast to the previous section, Yaweh is no longer a lamenting husband longing for his wife.  Now he’s a divine warrior preparing to wage war against Judah.  While sins of idolatry dominate the previous section, now it is the sins of injustice and greed the evoke God’s wrath.  God recruits the nation to the north to be His ally in the war for justice.  This northern enemy nation is a clear reference to the new power on the scene that had defeated Assyria – Babylon.

Today’s scripture focus in chapter 7 begins a new section in Jeremiah with a new theme – Judah’s corrupt worship.  Later in chapter 26, we find out that this was the sermon that brought Jeremiah to the attention of the authorities.  Much like Jesus’ clearing of the Temple, it was provocative and evoked an angry reaction.  Jeremiah was put on trial and threatened with the death penalty, accused of speaking against the Temple.  The sermon has three parts.  In the first part, the conditions are laid out for the people to continue living in the land.  The second part charges the people with making the Temple a den of criminals.  The third part – the part that really got Jeremiah in hot water – foretells the coming destruction of the Temple.

Anytime a prophet of God predicted coming judgment, the people would generally answer with the cliché “The Temple!  The Temple!  The Temple!”  In other words, Judah could never be wiped out because God would then have to destroy his own place of worship.  The Temple was considered so sacred that it had become an idol in and of itself.  The people felt they could break all of God’s commandments, act unjustly, and even worship idols as long as they participated in the rites of Temple worship.  Yaweh warned the people through Jeremiah that in the same way Shiloh, which had hosted the Tabernacle, had been destroyed, so would be the fate of Jerusalem.  The only remedy for this would ultimately be rejected – repentance and radical reform.

Our sermon will look at the “Temples” in our lives.

• Go around the table and share prayer requests.  Have someone lead in prayer.

• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.

• Did anyone do last week’s assignment?  What was the result?

• Ask these three questions.  Let as many answer each one as they would like.

1. What is your favorite part of coming to church on Sunday?
2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?
3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?

• Go over this week’s assignment (below).  Commit to work on it together.

Today’s Sermon

Key Truths –

• Judah trusted in the Temple.
• It’s easy for us to us to trust in “temples”.
• God demanded radical reform from Judah.
• God demands radical reform from us.

This Week’s Assignment –

Having a CrossViewed life means constantly being formed and reformed.  What temples in your life need radical refreshing and rethinking?  Write down one area that you  are willing to let God reform this week:

CrossGroups Connection Guide

Today’s Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 1:4-19

Every year during the six weeks leading up to Christmas, we focus on the genre of scripture known as Major Prophets (Isaiah-Ezekiel) and Minor Prophets (Hosea-Malachi). The major prophets weren’t considered more important than the minor ones during their time; however, either more of their prophesies were written down, or more of their writing survived. In Israel, a prophet is someone who, during periods of national crisis, was chosen by God to be a spokesperson. Prophets foretell and “forth tell”. They called the nation to remember God’s great deliverance in the past and His covenant with them. They foretold judgment for national sin and corruption. They comforted God’s people with visions of God’s vindication of the redeemed.

Jeremiah is the second longest book in the Bible, and the longest of the prophetic works. Jeremiah is quoted often in the New Testament, particularly in the Gospel of Matthew. Jeremiah’s ministry took place during the late seventh and early sixth centuries BC, when the major world powers of the ancient world (Assyria, Babylon, and Egypt) experienced great tumult, often with Judah caught in the middle. The son of a priestly family, Jeremiah was called to speak to Judean leadership about their soon coming destruction. He was viewed as a traitor by his people and was often mistreated. The book of Jeremiah seems to be arranged by theme rather than by order of events. The first half of the book is mostly warnings of judgment and calls to repentance.

Jeremiah 1 serves as the prologue to the book. The first three verses introduce Jeremiah as a priest from Anathoth, a priestly village in the territory of Benjamin. Jeremiah’s ministry began during the reign of Judah’s boy king Josiah, and lasted 40 years. In the rest of the chapter, we have Jeremiah’s call to ministry. God tells him he was set apart by God for this job before he was even born, and formed in his mother’s womb to be God’s prophet. Jeremiah is understandably reluctant to become a prophet, which most often led to persecution. God assured Jeremiah that He would be with him and give him the words to say. Verse ten is pivotal to the whole book. In Jeremiah, “tearing down” always means judgment, and “building up” means salvation.

This is followed by Jeremiah’s first two visions – an almond branch and a boiling pot tipping from the North. These visions are delivered in question and answer format, in which God asks Jeremiah what he sees. Notice when Jeremiah answers, God doesn’t ask Jeremiah “what does this mean?” In Palestine, almond blossoms are a symbol of watching, for they bloom in February, signifying the coming of spring. The North always represents destruction. Translation – God is watching for the certain coming destruction of Judah. Why has Judah been judged worthy of destruction? They worshipped idols. God reminds Jeremiah that in spite of this troubling vision, he will be protected as God’s messenger.

Our sermon will remind us of God’s protection during our proclamation.

• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.

• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.

• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?

• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.

1. How do you prepare when you know you may be receiving bad news? How do you prepare when you have to deliver bad news?

2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?

3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?

• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.

Today’s Sermon

Key Truths –

• Jeremiah was given a vision to proclaim.

• We have been called to proclaim God’s vision.

• God prepared Jeremiah for his proclamation.

• God prepares us for our proclamation.

This Week’s Assignment –

Having a CrossViewed life means staying focused on our calling when the world is focused on many other things. During this Advent season, how can you remain focused on proclaiming God’s truth to our culture?