Jeremiah Encouraged God's People:    

The focus of this family time is to use five easy steps to teach your family that God did not abandon His people. The prophet Jeremiah encouraged God’s people. He said God was going to save His people from captivity and raise up a new King—a forever King—from David’s family.

MEMORY VERSE: 

“The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will be quiet in his love. He will delight in you singing.”

John 1:29

Learn the Memory Verse together and say it throughout the week to help your family remember and apply what they have learned.

STEP 1. GATHER!

Use this time to begin Family Worship Night and have fun!

Play “Simon Says” as a family; however, when “Simon” says to do something, everyone should do the opposite. Make the motions simple for younger kids but increase complexity as the game progresses. Talk about how the Israelites faced consequences when they didn’t listen to God. End the discussion by reminding kids that Jesus took our punishment and provided us a way to be brought back to God’s presence!

STEP 2. WORSHIP!

• Sing and have fun while worshiping then pray. Take a moment here to thank God for your family and your time together!! 

STEP 3. BIBLE!

Watch the Bible story video or read Jeremiah 29 - 30 from the Bible:

Preschool:

Elementary:

STEP 4. DISCUSSION! 

Use these questions and points to have a conversation with your children about the Bible story. 

Preschool Discussion:

• The people in the Southern Kingdom of Judah did not obey God. Even though God was angry with His people, did God still loved them? Yes!
• God sent Jeremiah to warn the people to stop making wrong choices and obey God. Do you make wrong choices sometimes?
• God punished the people because they did not listen. He sent the king of Babylon to take over Judah. 
• God promised to bring His people back to Judah. Does God keep His promises? Yes!
• God said, “I know My plans for you. My plans are for your good. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me.” 
• Jeremiah told the people God’s message: “I will give you a king. Do not be afraid. I will save you and be with you. You will be My people, and I will be your God.”
  

Elementary Discussion

• If you visit your church’s nursery, you might hear a baby crying because he didn’t want his mommy and daddy to leave him. Even though parents promise they’ll come back after the service, the baby continues to look for and anticipate when his parents will return. When the parents return, the baby is overwhelmed with joy because they kept their promise! 
• Because God’s people didn’t listen and continued to sin, God allowed their enemies to take them captive. While the people were living in in exile, God sent the prophet Jeremiah to remind His people that He would not abandon or leave them. They would have to wait for the time when God would bring them back home. They would face more hard times and would have to wait for 70 years, but God promised that He would bring the people back to the land of Judah. 
• The people of Israel were comforted by the promise that God shared through Jeremiah. Through Jeremiah, God told the people how He would raise up a new King from the family of David. God had a plan for His people. They would soon learn that God is faithful and always keeps His promises. God kept His promise and sent Jesus, a descendent of David, to be the eternal King! 
  
• God did not abandon His people. The prophet Jeremiah encouraged God’s people. He said God was going to save His people from captivity and raise up a new King—a forever King—from David’s family.

STEP 5. Pray!

• Pray: God, thank You for always keeping Your promises. We can know that Your plans for us are good. Help us to seek You with all our heart and trust that You will do all that You promise. Amen.