For my people have committed two evils:
they have forsaken me,
the fountain of living waters,
and hewed out cisterns for themselves,
broken cisterns that can hold no water.

— Jeremiah 2:13

What is a cistern and what does it have to do with following Jesus? In biblical times, a cistern caught rain as a source of water—but they easily leaked or became stagnant. We are prone to look for that which is unlimited in limited sources. Often, we look for fountains in cisterns. Pastor Ryan Schlachter preaches a message from Jeremiah 2 about the sin that so easily distracts and entangles us, and how holding onto the Word reminds us of the truth of who God is. The cycle of sin is exhausting and tiring, but the grace of God calls us to source of life that is Jesus Christ.

When we forget the Word, we forsake the fountain.

• It’s hard to follow God when we don’t know who God is. Forsaking God’s word compromises our view of God’s character.
• Every time we gather on a Sunday or in a Dinner Party, it is centered around the Word of God.
• We need the Word to remind us of the One we are pursuing.

When we forsake the fountain, we drink from cisterns.

• When we forget that God is our source, we try to drink from other sources.
• Cisterns make us think we have water that’s good for us but it’s actually contaminated
• Sin makes us think it’s going to quench our thirst, but it actually just leaves us thirstier.

When we drink from cisterns, God brings the fountain to us.

• Jesus is not ignorant of our sin, but he does not deal with us according to our sin. That’s the kindness of God.
• Because Jesus knows our thirst, He brings Himself close and offers us that which we could not receive on our own.
• John 6:35 says, "Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.'"

Dinner Party Questions:

• What is your relationship like with Scripture right now? How does the Word remind you of who God is?
• What cisterns have you been drinking out of trying to satisfy your thirst?
• How have you seen God come close to you even in your sin?

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