Love for Our Campuses

Bible Study 2: Love Your Campus

4 This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." 

8 Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them," declares the LORD.

10 This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity.  I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

— Jeremiah 29:4-14

Introduction

This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. This included the court officials, the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the artisans and other skilled workers.  Also, scholars like Daniel and his three friends. 

In what ways may the life and career of a student affairs professionals entail aspects of being transported to a different culture and context?  When might it feel like being ‘exiled’ or under the thumb of one who has you in ‘exile’?

Discussion Questions

Instructions to the Exiles (verses 4-7):

  1. What intriguing instructions does God give the exiles?
  2. What significance and value would each of these carry?
  3. As SA pros, what would it mean to seek and pray for the peace and prosperity of our campus? How have we seen our own positions prospering when we have sought the peace and prosperity of our department and/or campus?

Warnings to the Exiles (verses 8-9):

  1. The exiles are urged not to be deceived by teachings around them.  What kind of deceptions have we encountered in the university context?
  2. What impact can these deceptions have on us? On our students? On our colleagues?

Promises to the Exiles (verses 10-14):

  1. What promises does God give the exiles? What effect does God say these promises will have on us?
  2. Let’s hear these promises as if they are given to us today. Which of them have captured your attention or given you special encouragement? Please describe.

Let’s pray for each other and for peace and prosperity.

Learn more about the Four Loves of the Student Affairs Christian Network here.

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