Born to Lead: From Complacency to Calling

By Sara Estevez

Born to Lead is an inductive Bible study through the book of Jeremiah. It is journey that starts with complacency and ends with calling. It challenges us to face our true purpose and live out the design God has set before us before we were even born.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973660071

Sara Estevez

Sara Estevez holds a Bachelors in Business Administration with a concentration in International Business from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Sara is an active member of Officer Christian Fellowship and Bible study teacher to the Coast Guard Academy as well as a curriculum writer. She created Simple Truths Ministries with the purpose of sharing the Bible’s simple truths about Jesus Christ with military cadets and women at her local church. Her passion is to help people fall in love with Jesus by helping them understand how to study the Bible more thoroughly. Sara is a homeschool mom to three children and a step-mama to a beautiful step-daughter who just received Jesus as her Lord and Savior at Emory University. She is blessed to call Carlos her husband and together they live in Southeast Connecticut.

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Copyright © 2019 Sara Estevez.

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Cover art credit: Ruth Griggs

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLV are taken from the New Life Version, copyright © 1969 and 2003. Used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6006-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6007-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019904814

WestBow Press rev. date: 4/23/2019

Contents

Introduction

How to Get the Most Out of This Study

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Introduction

This bible study is a 10-week expository study through the book of Jeremiah.

This fascinating book gives us a glimpse into a time in history that God used one man to intercede for a fallen nation.

We see the relationship between God and his chosen leader, God and his sinful people, God and our enemies and God’s chosen leader and the people he so desperately hopes for.

My prayer is that as you read the chapters of Jeremiah and use this study guide as a companion to get through it you will experience our Lord in a new way, that you will learn things about him you might not have known before and that you grow in intimacy with him.

Looking forward to the next 10 weeks together!

Sara

How to Get the Most Out of This Study

As you take this journey with Jeremiah the Holy Spirit will want to teach you new things. Guard your schedule so that life change can occur. During the next 10 weeks it is vital to make this study a priority so that you can grow in your faith. It is also important so that you can encourage your group members and they can encourage you. This book is a leadership manual. If you desire to be a more effective leader for Christ, a more effective follower of Christ and a more effective Christian this bible study is for you! Jeremiah teaches us what it means to be set apart in a fallen and broken world.

Each session is 5 chapters long. You can read a chapter a day and answer the questions in the study. Since it is 5 chapters long you have 5 days to complete but you can do them at your own pace. Discussion and teachings times will be held once a week.

The chapter to read will be located at the top of each page under the title and quote.

The symbol (v.1-3 e.g.) will prompt you to read that verse in the current chapter. If the verse is written in v.1-3 form it is assumed you are in Jeremiah and in the current chapter located at the top of the page.

All other books, chapters and verses to be read will be located throughout the study guide and will read, ‘Read: John 3:16 e.g.’

The other two elements of personal application in the bible study:

1. Fighter verse: Pick a verse that stood out to you, one that spoke to you. Some will be filled in with a verse I picked out to pray over or use for memorization. When the area is blank fill it in with a verse of your choice from the current chapter.

2. Prayer: This is a place in the study that you get personal with God. Find a time and place to pray through what God is revealing to you for that day.

If you are looking for a bible study that helps you grow in Christ and know him more than you should commit your time accordingly. This is a 10-week bible study and requires bible-reading time daily. Life change happens when we commit to read and study the word daily.

May the Lord open your heart to all the truths He is about to teach you as you journey with Jeremiah through the broken Promised Land!

JEREMIAH

BORN TO LEAD

Chapter 1

God is the God of ‘right now.’ He doesn’t want you sitting around regretting yesterday. Nor does He want you wringing your hands and worrying about the future. He wants you focusing on what He is saying to you and putting in front of you … right now. ~Priscilla Shirer

Read: verses 1-5

Jeremiah was young and unsure of his capabilities when he was called by God. It was the year 628 BC and the kings of Israel had grown complacent in their faith, disobedient, and evil. He ministered to God’s people for more than 40 years. His journey is an example of how we are called into leadership, equipped for the journey, and used by God for His glory. As you read through the book of Jeremiah put yourself in Jeremiah’s place. Hear the Word of the Lord and think of God’s people the way God does. Let this book be an encouragement to you. God has work for you to do and he can’t wait for you to get started!

1. Read Psalm 139:13-16

How does it make you feel that God had a plan for you before you even entered you mother’s womb?

2. What purpose do you think you have? List them?

3. On a scale from 0-10 how confident do you feel about leading someone to God or closer to God? Explain.

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Verse 6

4. What inadequacy did Jeremiah have concerning his calling?

Verse 7

5. How did God respond to Him?

Verses 8-9

6. How did God promise to equip Jeremiah to lead?

Compare these great men of God and discover their inadequacies/insecurities.

7. Do you have any inadequacies that keep you from responding to God’s calling in your life? What are they?

8. What the hindrances that keep you from responding to God’s calling in your life?

Circle all that apply:

Fear        Anxiety        Laziness        Complacency        Busyness        Personality        Indifference

Other:_____________________________

Verse 10

9. What mission did God give to Jeremiah? Fill in the chart with your answers.

During this training process to become a godly leader there will things in you that will be uprooted, torn down, destroyed, and overthrown; maybe it’s old ideologies about God, misinterpretations about scripture, sin patterns in your life or complacency. Whatever the case may be you will also be built-up and planted, to prepare and pursue the mission God has hand-picked just for you!

10. After reading 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, how does it affect your view on your ability to lead?

Verses 9-16

11. How do these scriptures reveal the way we become prepared for our mission?

Verses 17-19

12. What commands and promises does the Lord give Jeremiah as he prepares to lead God’s people?

13. Name a time when you allowed fear to keep you from serving God?

14. Is there a specific ministry you feel called to but doubt and worry keeps you from it?

Fighter Verse:

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, please open the eyes of my heart, I want to see you through these pages. I want you to reveal yourself to me through my study time. Don’t let my age, my past, my profession or lack thereof be a qualifier to completing the job you have for me. Let me see my true purpose and be ready to fulfill it.

JEREMIAH

BORN TO LEAD

Chapter 2

Verses 1-3 How easily we forget!

After God rescued the Israelites from the grasp of Egypt’s Pharaoh it was a love story God had always hoped for- a people who loved and served Him. But it wasn’t long until complacency settled into