Bible Study Discussion Guide: Jeremiah 17 – “Don’t Just Follow Your Heart”
Bible ReadingJeremiah 17:1-14 (NKJV) 1 “The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; With the point of a diamond it is engraved On the tablet of their heart, And on the horns of your altars,
2 While their children remember Their altars and their wooden images By the green trees on the high hills.
3 O My mountain in the field, I will give as plunder your wealth, all your treasures, And your high places of sin within all your borders.
4 And you, even yourself, Shall let go of your heritage which I gave you; And I will cause you to serve your enemies In the land which you do not know; For you have kindled a fire in My anger which shall burn forever.”
5 Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord.
6 For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited.
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord.
8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
10 I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.
11 “As a partridge that broods but does not hatch, So is he who gets riches, but not by right; It will leave him in the midst of his days, And at his end he will be a fool.”
12 A glorious high throne from the beginning Is the place of our sanctuary.
13 O Lord, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You shall be ashamed. “Those who depart from Me Shall be written in the earth, Because they have forsaken the Lord, The fountain of living waters.”
14 Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Observation Questions- In Jeremiah 17, what does God say about the person who trusts in man or in himself? What is the imagery used to describe this kind of life? ([14:19])
- According to Jeremiah 17:7-8, what is the difference between the person who trusts in the Lord and the one who trusts in himself? What does the “tree planted by the waters” represent? ([17:05])
- How does Jeremiah describe the human heart in verse 9? What does he say about our ability to know our own hearts? ([24:31])
- In the sermon, what was the significance of the Sabbath for the people of Judah, and what did it show about their relationship with God? ([44:49])
Interpretation Questions- Why does God use such strong language (“cursed”) for those who trust in themselves or in human wisdom? What does this reveal about the consequences of self-reliance? ([13:29])
- The sermon says the heart is “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” What are some ways our own hearts can deceive us, even when we think we have good intentions? ([25:53])
- The “tree planted by the waters” is able to withstand drought and heat. What does this say about the source of resilience and true satisfaction in a believer’s life? ([17:05])
- The Sabbath was described as a visible sign of trusting God as the source and provider. In what ways can setting aside time for God today serve as a similar sign of trust and surrender? ([44:49])
Application Questions- The sermon gave examples of people being told to “follow your heart” when making big decisions. Have you ever been in a situation where your heart wanted something, but you sensed God was leading you differently? How did you respond? ([01:38])
- Jeremiah warns that our hearts are not just weak, but actively deceptive. Are there areas in your life where you have realized your heart was leading you away from God’s best? What helped you see the truth? ([25:53])
- The difference between the shrub and the tree is not the absence of hardship, but the presence of deep roots in God. What are some practical ways you can “plant” yourself by God’s living water this week? ([17:05])
- The sermon said that true satisfaction comes from “dethroning self and enthroning Christ.” What does it look like for you, personally, to let Christ lead in your daily decisions? Is there a specific area where you need to surrender control? ([33:34])
- Honoring God with your time and worship is a practical way to let Him lead your heart. What are some habits or routines you can build into your week to make space for God, even in a busy season? ([44:49])
- The Sabbath principle was described as a countercultural act of trust. In a world that glorifies busyness, what would it look like for you to visibly declare that God is your source and rest? ([44:49])
- The sermon ended with a call to “let God lead your heart.” What is one decision or area of your life where you need to stop following your own desires and start seeking God’s direction? How can the group pray for you in this? ([54:53])
Closing Thought: Don’t just follow your heart—let God lead it. Whether in big decisions or daily routines, trust in the Lord with all your heart, acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will direct your path.
