Seeking the Peace of the World
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Tim Chang
Sermon Series: The Gospel and the World
Jeremiah 29:4-14 (ESV)
4 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. 8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, 9 for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the Lord.
10 “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
Sermon Outline
1. The challenge of seeking the peace of the world
v. 4: Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon
v. 8-9: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the LORD.
2. The call to seeking the peace of the world
v. 7a: But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile.
v. 5-6: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease.
v. 7: But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
3. The power to seeking the peace of the world
v. 10: For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place.
v. 11: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
v. 14: I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
v. 12-13: Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Prayer of Confession
Our gracious God, you call us to seek the peace of the world, but we would rather seek our own peace. Forgive us for failing to obey your call to cultivate your shalom in our world. We confess that we lack the power and energy to do this well. Obeying your will is overwhelming at times and we struggle with guilt for not meeting your standards. Help us to look to Jesus as he has restored shalom to us and gives us the power to cultivate your shalom. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
What connected with you from the sermon or the passage?
What challenges do you face when considering the call to seek the peace of the world? In what ways do you struggle with consuming the city and not serving it?
Where have you personally experienced the lack of shalom in the city?
What have you seen and experienced as real evidence of shalom in the city?
If we seek the peace of the city well, we will have a more positive reputation with those around us. How can this be more true of us?
In verse 10-14, where do you find the encouragement to pursue this call to seek the peace of the world?
What do you sense God calling you to do from this passage?