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Jeremiah continued to warn the people of Judah that their nation would be destroyed if they did not repent (say they were sorry and change their ways) and follow God. The Lord commanded Jeremiah to write these warnings on a scroll and read them to the people. Jeremiah dictated the words to his secretary, Baruch, and then told him to go to the temple and read it to the people. Eventually, the scroll was read to King Jehoiakim. He did not want to repent, so he cut the scroll into pieces and threw the pieces into a fire. He wanted Baruch and Jeremiah arrested, but the Lord kept them safely hidden. Jeremiah and Baruch wrote the scroll again and began preaching that the nation of Judah would be destroyed because the king and the people did not repent.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Jeremiah 36

Outline:

1. Baruch transcribes Jeremiah’s words onto a scroll and then reads it before the people. (Jeremiah 36:1-10)
2. King Jehoiakim burns the scroll. (Jeremiah 36:11-26)
3. God has Jeremiah and Baruch recreate the scroll. (Jeremiah 36:27-32)

Tips for teaching children: 

• Make a scroll. Children can write “Jeremiah 36:2” on the scroll. Older children can write out part or all of the verse: ““Jeremiah, get a scroll. Write on it all the words I have spoken to you about Israel and Judah and all the nations. Write everything I have spoken to you since Josiah was king until now.”
• Research Hebrew letters and copy them onto the scroll
• Talk about the concept of repentance and turning to God. It may be helpful to use a road sign that depicts a “U-turn”.

Tips for teaching adults:

• As a teacher I would plan on using props for this story.  You may use a PowerPoint slide of a fire burning in a brazier. And bring a large sheet of paper with writing on it and rolled up as a scroll, and a box-cutter knife.
• Divide the reading up into sections.  You can use the outline in the show notes.  Choose a few readers to read the story. When the reading gets to the place where Jehoiakim cuts the scroll, one person will cut strips from the scroll and let them fall to the floor. He can keep cutting as the text is read until the whole scroll is cut.
• Here are some questions for discussion: 1) what do you think Jehoiakim was thinking when he was cutting up the scroll and throwing the strips into the fire? 2) Why did he respond like this instead of fear?
• Read Jeremiah’s comment on King Jehoiakim in 22:13-19.  What did God expect the king of Judah to be like?  What would make him a good king?  What can we learn about this for our lives?

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson:  Jeremiah and the Scroll

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

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