Posts with the tag “week-32”

Jeremiah 23:33-24:10; 29:1-31:14.  “Spoiled due to lack of Discipline”          “Spoiled children are more tolerated in homes than spoiled food.”         I read this quote and thought of the illustration in chapter 24 of the two baskets.  One is filled with good figs, and the other is filled with spoiled figs that could not be eaten.  God then explains what each basket of figs is representing.  Th...  Read More

2 Kings 24:5-9; 2 Chronicles 36:6-9; Jeremiah 22:24-23:32; 49:1-33.  “Judging the Shepherds”          “Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged by God with greater strictness” (James 3:1).         James knew there was nothing wrong with aspiring to teach but he was fully aware of an additional responsibility that came with the...  Read More

Jeremiah 16, 18, 35.  “Turning Clay”          I remember my first experiences at the potter’s wheel.  It wasn’t safe to be anywhere near me.  With the centrifugal force of the wheel, a chunk of clay can fly a long way.  Of course, even if something did stay on the wheel it didn’t mean it was going to look good.  Some of the things I first turned were too thick, and others too thin, and some were s...  Read More

Jeremiah 12-15.  “Clean Linen”          Jeremiah, being a priest, was familiar with linen as it was the material of which the priests’ garments were made.  The belt was worn close to the skin.  The linen belt was to be representative of an intimate relationship between God and Judah (13:11).         But then Jeremiah is instructed to bury it, then come back after a long time and recover it.  By th...  Read More

Jeremiah 8:4-11:23.  “A Broken Heart”          “Do not be afraid of showing your affection.  Be warm and tender, thoughtful and affectionate.  Men are more helped by sympathy, than by service; love is more than money, and a kind word will give more pleasure than a present.” - John Lubbock (1834-1913)         The illustration today is that of a broken heart (8:18).  We know what that depicts.  It’s...  Read More

Jeremiah 7:1-8:3; Daniel 2-3.  “Idols and Images”          The image of Daniel two is that of a statue with various layers representing various world empires.  However, a rock representing God’s kingdom crushed the entire statue.  King Nebuchadnezzar concludes that if his portion of the image in the dream was the head of gold which represented a limited time period then why not make an entire stat...  Read More

As a pastor I have often been reminded of the power and effectiveness of a fitting illustration.  As a student I am reminded of this principle time and again.  My capacity to learn, retain and understand things increases with illustrations.  As you read Scripture it is very apparent that God is aware of that tendency in us.  He is always using illustrations and word pictures, or just simply showin...  Read More

As a pastor I have often been reminded of the power and effectiveness of a fitting illustration.  As a student I am reminded of this principle time and again.  My capacity to learn, retain and understand things increases with illustrations.  As you read Scripture it is very apparent that God is aware of that tendency in us.  He is always using illustrations and word pictures, or just simply showing us how to do something.  For example; Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” (Mark 1:17)            The reading passages this week will each focus on a specific illustration, object lesson or visual aid.    Read More