Jeremiah Prophesied a New Covenant
Jeremiah 17:1-10; 31:31-34
“I will give them one heart and put a new spirit within them.” Ezekiel 11:19
Dear Parents,
Shortly after God had rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, He made a covenant with them at Mount Sinai. The terms of the covenant are found in Exodus 19.
God said through Moses, “If you will listen to Me and carefully keep My covenant, you will be My own possession out of all the peoples, … and you will be My kingdom of priests and My holy nation” (vv. 5-6). God’s people responded, “We will do all that the LORD has spoken.”
But the people did not do all that the Lord had spoken. The people had God’s law, but they were not able to obey Him because of the sinfulness of their hearts. God punished His people for their unfaithfulness, eventually sending the Northern Kingdom into exile. But God was faithful; He preserved two tribes, keeping His promise to establish David’s house forever.
The Israelites in Jeremiah’s day broke the covenant just like their ancestors before them. The prophet Jeremiah told about a new covenant. He prophesied about a coming day when God would forgive sin and write His law on the hearts of His people. This prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus. Jesus did not come to get rid of the law. (See Matt. 5:17.) Through His sinless life, Jesus fulfilled the demands of the old covenant.
Jeremiah told about a day when God would forgive sin and change people’s hearts. Jesus made these words come true. God forgives our sin through His Son, Jesus. He changes us and gives us power through His Spirit to obey His commands.
Help your kids understand that obedience only comes from a heart changed by God and it is always a response to God’s goodness and love for us.
Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week.
KEY PASSAGE: Ezekiel 11:19
BIG PICTURE QUESTION:
- Why should we obey God? We obey God because He loves us.
BIBLE STORY: JEREMIAH PROPHESIED A NEW COVENANT
- God’s people broke their covenant with God.
- Jeremiah said sin makes people’s hearts tricky.
- God promised a better covenant.
- God promised to change people’s hearts and give them power to obey His commands.
FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS:
- What does it mean for God to write His law on your heart?
- What makes the new covenant better?
- How did Jesus make the words of the new covenant come true?
FAMILY ACTIVITY:
- Replace your smoke detector batteries. Talk about how the battery gives the detector power to do what it was designed to do. Remind children that God gives us power through His Spirit to obey Him.
NEXT WEEK “Judah Was Taken into Captivity” (2 Chronicles 36:1-21)
