The Life Jesus Wants for His People (Eberhard Arnold)

• "Outdo one another in showing honor (Rom 12:10) 
• Live in harmony with one another (Rom 12:16) 
• Admonish one another (Rom 15:14) 
• Greet one another with a holy kiss (Rom 16:16) 
• Wait for one another (1 Cor 11:33) 
• Have the same care for one another (1 Cor 12:25) 
• Be servants of one another (Gal 5:13) 
• Bear one another's burdens (Gal 6:2) 
• Comfort one another (1 Th 5:11) 
• Build one another up (1 Th 5:11) 
• Be at peace with one another (1 Th 5:13) 
• Do good to one another (1 Th 5:15) 
• Put up with one another in love (Eph 4:2) 
• Be kind and compassionate to one another (Eph 4:32) 
• Submit to one another (Eph 5:21) 
• Forgive one another (Col 3:13) 
• Confess your sins to one another (Jas 5:16) 
• Pray for one another (Jas 5:16) 
• Love one another from the heart (1 Pet 1:22) 
• Be hospitable to one another (1 Pet 4:9) 
• Meet one another with humility (1 Pet 5:5)"

― Eberhard Arnold, Called to Community: The Life Jesus Wants for His People.

Called before Conception (Jeremiah 1)

"The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations'" (Jer 1:4-5).

• Review Isaiah 6.
• What was the God that Isaiah saw like (Isaiah 6:1, 5)? What/Who is God like to you? How do you feel about Him?
• How would you explain your own conversion/salvation (Isa 6:5-7)?
• What is God calling you to do with your life (Isa 6:8)? How do you understand God's call?

1. What role did "the word of the Lord" play in Jeremiah's call (Jer 1:2, 4, 9, 11, 13; 15:16; 20:9)?
2. What role does God's word play in your life and your calling (Ps 1:2; Isa 66:2b; Jn 6:63; Ac 17:11; 2 Tim 3:16-17; Heb 3:7, 15; 4:7, 12)? How does God's word define
• who you are?
• what you are to do?
• how you are to do it?
3. To respond to God's word/God's call why do you need
• ears (Jer 1:2, 4, 11, 13)?
• eyes (Jer 1:11, 13)?
• mouth (Jer 1:9)?
• courage (Jer 1:8, 17-19)?
• heart (Jer 4:19; 9:1)? What was Jeremiah known as?
4. What does it mean to you that God
• "formed you" (Jer 1:5a; Ps 113:13-16)?
• "knew you" (Jer 1:5b; Gal 4:9; 1 Cor 8:3)?
• "set you apart" (Jer 1:5d; Jn 15:16)...
• ...even "before you were born" (Jer 1:5c; Eph 1:4; 2 Tim 1:9)?
• "appointed you as a prophet to the nations" (Jer 1:5, 10; Mt 28:19; Mk 16:15)?
• What would you do differently knowing the above [the primacy of God]?
5. What was Jeremiah's excuse (Jer 1:6)? God's rebuke (Jer 1:7)? God's promise (Jer 1:8, 18-19)? Do you have objections to God calling you?
6. How was Jeremiah enabled and empowered (Jer 1:8-9, 17-19)? Do you experience the power of God (Rom 1:16; 1 Cor 1:18)?
7. What are the two visions about (Jer 1:11-16; Isa 6:11-13)?

Big idea:

1. God appoints his servants to difficult tasks but empowers them with his presence. So they don't cop out or bail no matter the difficulty or opposition.
2. God does not choose us because we are good. But because God chooses us He makes us good.

Key Themes:

• The word of God plays a critical role in Jeremiah's call.
• God choose Jeremiah to be his prophet even before he was born.
• God reassures Jeremiah by promising the power of his presence.
• The word of God Jeremiah proclaims will bring both destruction and restoration.
• God's presence will deliver Jeremiah from those who will oppose him and his message.

A Fire in My Bones. "But if I say, 'I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,' his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot" (Jer 20:9).

Aspire to be a Leader in the Church

It is good to desire and aspire to leadership. It is good and honorable work (1 Tim 3:1). While doing so, one should always guard one's heart from selfish ambition (Jer 45:5; Mt 18:1; Mk 9:34; Lk 9:46).

1. How consciously aware are you that God chose you (Jn 15:16)?
2. How do you live in a manner "worthy of God's calling" in your life (Eph 4:1), a life "worthy of the gospel" (Phil 1:27)?
3. Can you distinguish between what you want to do and what God wants you to do, between being self-centered and God-centered (2 Cor 5:15)?
4. Do you sense God probing your heart and training you (Ps 139:23-24)? How do you live by the Spirit (Gal 5:16, 25)?
5. What ambition, direction and goal for your future do you have as a Christian (Mt 6:33)?
6. What preparation do you need to grow and mature as a leader (2 Tim 2:15)? How is your daily devotion and discipline?
7. What does it practically mean for you to be a servant (Mk 10:42-44)?

Reference: Oswald Chambers. Spiritual Leadership. 1967. 2007.