Sermon Study Guide | Series: The Art of Showing Up | Sermon: Stay A While |
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:4-7 | Date: September 14, 2025

CONNECT - “A Personal Reflection”

This section is designed to help you relate personally to the theme of the sermon. It encourages you to reflect on your own life experiences and how they connect to the message.

We live in a world that values the quick fix and the constant upgrade—whether it’s our phones, homes, or jobs. Yet Jeremiah’s message to God’s people in exile reminds us that real growth and fruit come when we choose to stay, plant roots, and invest where we are. Take a moment to reflect: do you tend to approach life as a wanderer, a wisher, a wiggler, or a witness? As you consider your season right now, where do you sense God calling you to “stay awhile” instead of searching for the next thing? Share with your group

ENGAGE - “Exploring the Scripture”

This section invites you to dive into the biblical passage, discuss its meaning, and apply it to your life through thoughtful questions.

Read Jeremiah 29:4–7 together and discuss:

• What word or phrase resonates with you in this passage? Why?
  
  
• Jeremiah reminds the people that they weren’t in Babylon by accident—God sent them there. How does that perspective reframe the difficult or unexpected places in your own life?
  
  
• God tells His people to build, plant, marry, and multiply. Why do you think His command was so countercultural in exile?
  
  
• What’s the difference between living as a spectator versus a participant in your community, workplace, or church?
  
  • Name a time you’ve been a spectator
  • Name a time you’ve been a participant
    
    
• Which of the four postures from the message—wanderer, wisher, wiggler, or witness—best describes you right now?
  
  • Wanderer - our roots are shallow, and our role in life is shallow. We don’t take relational risks; we’re always looking for what’s next.
    
    
  • Wisher - we wish things were different, and maybe we’ve been around for a while so we can remember back to when they were different, but we’ve given up on making them better, we’re bitter and cynical about any positive change.
    
    
  • Wiggler -  we will do things to change something in our lives, but mostly for our convenience, and we’re keeping our options open in case something better comes along
    
    
  • Witness - a thoughtful witness knows that deep roots and taking on a role to make a difference are what will really help the communities we live in flourish

APPLY - “Putting the Scriptures into Action”

This section challenges us to take what we’ve learned and implement it in practical ways in our daily lives.

• Where is God asking you to invest more deeply—in your neighborhood, workplace, school, or church? Be specific. Write it down.
  
  
• What’s one step you could take this week to “plant” instead of waiting for better conditions? (e.g., hosting a neighbor, joining a volunteer team, starting a habit of prayer for your city.)
  
  
• How might your faith look different if you began to see your current place—not your ideal future place—as your God-given assignment?
  
  
• What’s one way you can seek the “welfare of your city” this fall, even in a small way?

PRAY - “Seeking God’s Guidance”

This section offers a short prayer to help us center our hearts and invite God to work in our lives through his scripture.

God, thank You that there are no coincidences in where You place us. Forgive us for the times we’ve lived as wanderers, wishers, or spectators instead of planting ourselves as thoughtful witnesses. Help us to see our neighborhoods, workplaces, and schools as assignments from You. Teach us to invest in people and places with faith that You are still writing a bigger story. Give us courage to stay, to plant, and to seek the welfare of the city, knowing that in its flourishing we will find life. Amen.

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