Single lesson
God Calls Jeremiah
Jeremiah 1:1–19
Jeremiah 1:1–19 introduces Jeremiah’s call from Yahweh. Students will follow the passage in order, examine Jeremiah’s hesitation, and identify the commands, warnings, visions, and promise that shape his task.
Before you teach
The passage opens by naming Jeremiah as a priest from Anathoth and locating Yahweh’s word during the reigns of Judah’s kings, ending with Jerusalem’s captivity. It then records Yahweh’s call of Jeremiah, Jeremiah’s objection, two visions with explanations, and a final command to speak without fear.
Students will be able to sequence Jeremiah 1:1–19 and explain that Yahweh appointed Jeremiah, commanded him to go and speak Yahweh’s words, and told him not to be afraid because Yahweh was with him to rescue him.
Welcome: Locate Jeremiah’s call
6 minRead Jeremiah 1:1–3 aloud. Ask students to note who Jeremiah is and when Yahweh’s word came to him. Explain that the passage begins with real names, places, and kings, then moves into Jeremiah’s calling. Tell students they will track both the order of events and Yahweh’s exact words to Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 1:1, Jeremiah 1:2, Jeremiah 1:3
Read and explain: Appointed and answered
9 minRead Jeremiah 1:4–10. Highlight the order carefully: Yahweh knew Jeremiah, sanctified him, and appointed him as a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah objected that he was a child and did not know how to speak. Yahweh answered with commands to go, speak what he commanded, and not be afraid, then touched Jeremiah’s mouth.
Jeremiah 1:4, Jeremiah 1:5, Jeremiah 1:6, Jeremiah 1:7, Jeremiah 1:8, Jeremiah 1:9, Jeremiah 1:10
Discuss the visions: What Jeremiah saw
8 minRead Jeremiah 1:11–16. Students list the two visions in order: an almond branch, then a boiling cauldron tipping away from the north. Keep the explanation tied to the passage itself. Yahweh says he watches over his word to perform it, and that northern kingdoms will come against Jerusalem and Judah because of the people’s wickedness and idolatry.
Jeremiah 1:11, Jeremiah 1:12, Jeremiah 1:13, Jeremiah 1:14, Jeremiah 1:15, Jeremiah 1:16
Make and respond: Seven-step sequence cards
10 minIn pairs, students make seven small cards showing these moments: Yahweh’s word comes, Jeremiah is appointed, Jeremiah objects, Yahweh commands him to go and speak, Yahweh touches his mouth, Jeremiah sees the almond branch, and Jeremiah sees the boiling cauldron. Students place them in order and label each card with a verse reference.
Jeremiah 1:4, Jeremiah 1:5, Jeremiah 1:6, Jeremiah 1:7, Jeremiah 1:9, Jeremiah 1:11, Jeremiah 1:13
Closing: Speak without fear
7 minRead Jeremiah 1:17–19. Explain that Yahweh ends the call by telling Jeremiah to get ready, arise, and say all that he is commanded. The passage does not hide opposition, since kings, princes, priests, and people will fight against him. It also gives Yahweh’s promise that they will not prevail, because Yahweh is with Jeremiah to rescue him.
Jeremiah 1:17, Jeremiah 1:18, Jeremiah 1:19
Questions to explore
What did Yahweh say about Jeremiah before he was born, and what job did he give him?
Use the exact words in Jeremiah 1:5 about being known, sanctified, and appointed as a prophet to the nations.
Jeremiah 1:5
How did Jeremiah respond to the call, and which three instructions did Yahweh give in reply?
Compare Jeremiah’s objection in Jeremiah 1:6 with Yahweh’s commands in Jeremiah 1:7–8 to go, speak what he commands, and not be afraid.
Jeremiah 1:6, Jeremiah 1:7, Jeremiah 1:8
What did the boiling cauldron vision mean according to the passage?
Include both the summary that evil would break out from the north and the detail that northern kingdoms would come against Jerusalem, its walls, and the cities of Judah because the people had forsaken Yahweh.
Jeremiah 1:13, Jeremiah 1:14, Jeremiah 1:15, Jeremiah 1:16
Make, think or respond
Jeremiah’s Call in Seven Cards
What you’ll need
- Plain paper or scrap card
- Pens or textas
- Scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Read Jeremiah 1:4–19 and identify seven key moments from the passage.
- Cut paper into seven cards and draw or write one moment on each card.
- Mix the cards and work in pairs to place them back in order.
- Add the matching verse reference to each card and check the order from the Bible.
- Share which card best shows Yahweh preparing Jeremiah to speak.
This activity helps students follow the passage step by step and notice how Yahweh appoints, commands, warns, and strengthens Jeremiah.
Adapt for your group
- For younger or less confident readers, provide the seven moment titles and let them focus on ordering the cards and matching verse references.
- For older or more confident students, ask them to add a short note under each card explaining whether it shows appointment, objection, vision, warning, or promise from the passage.
An optional closing prayer
You could pray: “Lord Yahweh, thank you for speaking to Jeremiah. Please help us listen carefully to your word, speak truthfully, and remember your commands in this passage. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Jeremiah 1
1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.
2 Yahweh’s word came to him in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.
4 Now Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.”
7 But Yahweh said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you.
8 Don’t be afraid because of them, for I am with you to rescue you,” says Yahweh.
9 Then Yahweh stretched out his hand and touched my mouth. Then Yahweh said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.
10 Behold, I have today set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”
11 Moreover Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”
12 Then Yahweh said to me, “You have seen well; for I watch over my word to perform it.”
13 Yahweh’s word came to me the second time, saying, “What do you see?” I said, “I see a boiling cauldron; and it is tipping away from the north.”
14 Then Yahweh said to me, “Out of the north, evil will break out on all the inhabitants of the land.
15 For behold, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north,” says Yahweh. “They will come, and they will each set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its walls all around, and against all the cities of Judah.
16 I will utter my judgments against them concerning all their wickedness, in that they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands.
17 “You therefore put your belt on your waist, arise, and say to them all that I command you. Don’t be dismayed at them, lest I dismay you before them.
18 For behold, I have made you today a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land.
19 They will fight against you, but they will not prevail against you; for I am with you”, says Yahweh, “to rescue you.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.
Source passages
Something to make together
These activities connect with the passage. Choose one that suits your group and the time you have.
