Resident Aliens (Jeremiah 29:1-32)

Resident Aliens Jeremiah 29:1-32 Even though this world is not your home, you are called to seek its welfare as resident aliens. I. What’s Going On A. The Exile has Come (vv. 1-3) B. Instructions for Exiles (vv. 4-7) C. Warning about False Prophets (vv. 8-32) II. What all this Teaches Us about God A. He Led them into Captivity (For a Reason) (v. 4) B. His Faithfulness Means He’s not Done (vv. 10, 14) C. He is not Limited by Geography (or Chains) (vv. 6-7) D. He Seeks the Good of His Enemies (v. 7) III. What this Means for Us (vv. 5-7, 11) A. You’re Going to be here for the Foreseeable Future (vv. 5-6; cf. 1 Peter 2:11) B. Pray for those Who Afflict You (and those in Power) (v. 7; cf. Matthew 5:44; 1 Timothy 2:1-5) C. Remember how Your God Works (v. 11) Discussion Starters 1. Monday—Is Jeremiah 29:11 a familiar verse? Have you thought much about the context before? Has your understanding changed? How? 2. Tuesday—What does God tell his people to do while in exile? What are they to seek for their captors? 3. Wednesday—What were the false prophets telling the exiles? Why does God warn his people not to listen? 4. Thursday—What are somethings that this passage teaches us about who God is and how he works? 5. Friday—How does this passage speak to our present circumstances? In what way are we in exile? What is our attitude and practice to be like during our exile?