When failure means "stop."

Sometimes, we're just plain wrong.

Correction is something none of us enjoy, but have you examined the alternative? This week we'll talk about how to face our own shortcoming and the next steps after failure.

Study Guide
We’ll be talking about Jeremiah this week as we look at times when failure means “stop.” The prophets consistently offer this opportunity to God’s people- to hear the logical outcome of their choices and make changes before it’s too late.

1. Read Jeremiah 5:1-3. What kind of a search is this- who is God looking for? How bad are things with God’s people? How could they be “struck” and “crushed” and still pay no attention? What kind of rationalizing have you used to justify sin?

2. Read Jeremiah 5:3 again. Correction is always hard to hear. Think of a time you knew the right way, clearly, but refused to take correction. How do you respond to people who remind you of the truth? How do you take criticism at home or work? Pray today that you’d be open to helpful correction.

3. Read Jeremiah 5:30-31. God holds leaders to even higher standards because of the power they have over others. How are Israel ’s
religious leaders doing? In what ways do they reflect the culture around them? Pray for local and national leaders today. Ponder how to be a thermostat (setting the temperature) instead of a thermometer (reflecting the temperature of a room).

4. Israel did not listen to Jeremiah. Babylon invaded and destroyed them. Those who did not die were taken away as captives. But the captives refused to settle in that land, thinking of their stay as temporary. Jeremiah sends them the words of 29:4-14. How does failure change the landscape of our lives? How do we know when to build in this new place and when it’s temporary? How does being forgiven relate to dealing with the consequences of our sin (does forgiveness mean we’re exempt from consequences)?

5. One of the ways we change course is by admitting we’re wrong. Is there someone you need to apologize to? Try to write, call or speak to them this week.