A sermon idea based on Lamentations 3:19-26.
Lamentations 3:19-26 NRSV
[19] The thought of my affliction and my homelessness is wormwood and gall! [20] My soul continually thinks of it and is bowed down within me. [21] But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
[22] The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; [23] they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. [24] “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
[25] The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. [26] It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
Angle
The relevant topic I would be addressing, based on this text…
We often feel trapped in a world of suffering and negative thinking, but God gives us the ultimate cure – to redirect our thoughts to his eternal, unchanging goodness.
Anchor
Information about the text that matters to the message…
Ever get tired of watching the news? Of scrolling through social media? Of listening to the latest opinions about what is wrong with all of us?
You’re not alone. I believe we’re living in a moment of information overload, and since the information we ingest is primarily and mostly negative, we’re incredibly sad, depressed, and anxious.
The weeping prophet who wrote the book of Lamentations has encouraged us to look around, get a dose of reality, and weep over the brokenness of our surroundings. But he doesn’t stop there. He goes on to point us in the right direction to find the healing for the sadness of our souls.
The prophet challenges us to redirect our minds to that which is spiritual and eternal, beyond the moment, beyond our physical circumstances, and beyond our present emotional state – the goodness of God.
In particular, to meditate and to dwell on these eternal, spiritual truths:
- God’s love never stops
- God’s mercy never ends
- Every morning is filled with new mercy
- God is always faithful
- God is enough
- We always have hope
- God is good to all who wait for him
Application
The big call-to-action in the message…
Practice redirecting your thoughts, this week, to the unchanging good news about Jesus. God’s love never stops. His mercies are always fresh. He is always faithful. And he has proven this through the work of Jesus. Live in reality, but think about that which is eternal and spiritual.
Appreciate these notes?
Feel free to chip in $5.
About the Cover Art: Photo by Anthony Tori on Unsplash.
My Other Favorite Source of Sermon Ideas
MinistryPass offers excellent sermon series ideas, graphics, and resources for pastors and teachers, including expository, topical, textual, and lectionary-based ideas, plus calendars for organizing it all. MinistryPass is, in my opinion, the best all-around, complete sermon series planning resource on the web.