Reflection Questions: Lamentations 1

For the message, None to Comfort given by Pastor John Ferguson

at New City Church of Calgary on March 12, 2017

These discussion questions are designed primarily to help you apply the message from the Scriptures
by helping you think through application to your personal life, your church life, and your citys life.
You can use these by yourself for reflection, or with your family or small group for discussion.
To review the sermon, go to NewCityChurch.ca/sermons

INTRODUCTION

Pray. Take a moment to pray asking God to guide you in reflecting upon the Scripture text.

Read the Scripture text: Lamentations

A summary of the sermon: The Poet tells us of the lonely city of Jerusalem who has been deserted by her lovers
(foreign governments and gods) and has been devastated by Babylon. We see her tears and hear her groans as there is
none to comfort her. She finds no resting place.

Key Points:

Lady Zion / Jerusalem had forsaken her husband (God) for other lovers.
Her husband grants her the divorce.
Now her other lovers have forsaken her.

Key Quotes:

Jeremiah 7:30, For the sons of Judah have done evil in my sightthey have set their detestable things in
the house that is called by my name, to defile it. And they have built the high placesto burn their sons
and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it enter my mind.

Jeremiah 6:15, Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed;
they did not know how to blush.

Jeremiah 7:9-10, Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go
after other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which is
called by my name, and say, We are delivered! only to go on doing all these abominations?

Bottom Line:

Looking for life apart from God results in slavery with none to comfort.

Matt. 11:28-30, Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and
learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Fro my yoke is easy, and my
burden light.

As you read this text, listen for the emotions and the repeated phrase, none to comfort her.

QUESTIONS

1. How does this text speak to your life?

What grabs your attention in this text? What do you see and hear that you find noteworthy.

Lady Jerusalem talks about how her transgressions (sins) were bound up like a yoke and cast upon her neck (1:14).
What does this imagery communicate?

How does this text help you to understand the good news of Jesus (cf. Matthew 11:28-30 above)?
2. How does this text speak to us as a church community?

How is this text inviting us to participate in a community that exists for something greater than our own wants and
needs?

Read Jeremiah 7:9-10 above. What danger is there in playing church but not really bringing our lives under the
lordship of Jesus?

What is the cost if we ignore the message of Lamentations 1?

3. How does this text speak to our city?

What questions do you think people in our city would ask of this text?

How does this text challenge the thinking of our city?

What kind of me does God want for his mission?

CONCLUSION QUESTION

What is the one thing you want to take away from this study to remember or to make a change in your life?

PRAYER

What are some ways you can turn what you are learning into prayer? List them as bullet points.

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