Heroes of the Faith, Part 8Sample

Endure Opposition

Bible story: Jeremiah - Jeremiah 1:4-19, 15:15-21, 26:7-16, 37:11-21, 38:6-10, 39:1-2, 39:11-12

Theme verse: Acts 4:29

In this lesson we will look at someone who faced opposition all his life and who God made strong. Jeremiah lived during the time of the last kings of the nation of Judah.

God called Jeremiah at a young age. God told Jeremiah that He knew him even before he was in his mother’s womb. That shows us that God knew you before you even existed, too! And God has set you apart to do the things He has for you to do.

God’s plan for Jeremiah was for him to prophesy, to speak on God’s behalf to the nations. God told him that He would make him strong, like a bronze wall. Jeremiah’s message throughout his life was to tell Judah to stop forsaking their God and that God was going to exile them into Babylon. The people ignored Jeremiah and opposed him all his life.

One time, Jeremiah got discouraged. He looked around and saw only what was going on around him, not seeing how God was upholding him. It’s very easy to start complaining when things seem bad and to lose sight of how God is taking care of you. God told him to repent and reassured him that He would save him. God told him again to be strong and not follow the ways of everyone around him.

Jeremiah endured lots of opposition. Once, they threatened to kill Jeremiah for his words. Jeremiah was thrown into a cistern for some time, then held in a prison. Though he was speaking on God’s behalf, they accused him of being a spy for Babylon. Just like Jeremiah was falsely accused, so was Jesus when He spoke on God’s behalf. There are always people in the world who reject Jesus’ words, and they will reject ours, too. After Jesus went up to heaven, the disciples preached the word of God clearly and many people came to follow Jesus. Soon, they faced opposition and were whipped and imprisoned.

Instead of giving in, like Jeremiah, they turned to God for boldness to keep speaking God’s word despite opposition (Acts 4:29). You can ask God for boldness, too.

After many years of prophesying the exile, Jeremiah’s words all came true. The Babylonians came and conquered Jerusalem, broke down its walls and burned it down. They took most of the people away from their homes and brought them to Babylon. But God never left His people. He spoke through Jeremiah, saying that God had sent the righteous people to Babylon, and He would be with them (Jeremiah 24:5-7).

When the Babylonians captured Jerusalem, they set Jeremiah free. God saved him just like He promised. Like Isaiah in the last lesson, Jeremiah was not concerned with this world but looking forward to God’s new home for him (Hebrews 11:13-16).

I choose to hold to God’s truth and speak God’s word and endure opposition.

Questions:

1. The Christian life is easy, right? And believers always have God’s protection, no?

2. How young can you be to receive God’s call in ministry?

3. What kind of opposition is there today?

Application to life:

Read the Bible every day this week, even if it is only for a few minutes. The book of John or Psalms are great places to start. If you missed a day, don’t beat yourself up for it. Simply try again every day. If you already read the Bible every day, well done! Keep reading it.

Want more?

This reading plan is taken from Equip & Grow's children's curriculum. Enjoy this plan at home, and then do the full curriculum at church with student books, games, crafts, songs, decorations, and more!

https://www.childrenareimportant.com/heroes/