Class Lesson February 8, 2026

 Culture Wars: Political Engagement

Jeremiah 29 reminds believers that political displacement, cultural hostility, and national instability are not new challenges. God’s people have always lived between kingdoms. This passage teaches that faithful political engagement is neither withdrawal nor worship of the state, but hopeful obedience under God’s sovereign rule. Christians are called to be present, prayerful, and purposeful — trusting God’s long-term plans while seeking the good of the world around them.

Jeremiah 29 was written to God’s people living in exile, under a government control they didn’t choose, facing a future they didn’t like — but still called to live faithfully.

Jeremiah 29:1-11

These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 This was after King Jeconiah and the queen mother, the eunuchs, the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metal workers had departed from Jerusalem. 3 The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. It said: 4 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. 8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, 9 for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the Lord. 10 “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Jeremiah 29:1-11

Discussion Questions

1. What stands out to you in this text?
2. Do you tend to be more engaged in politics or avoid it all together? Why?
3. How does God’s instruction to seek the good of Babylon in this passage challenge our natural instincts?
4. What does this passage teach us about God’s sovereignty over nations and governments?
5. What are warning signs that politics is becoming an idol in our lives?

Closing Thoughts

Living as faithful exiles requires community, humility, and prayer. Political engagement can easily divide believers, but God calls His people to unity rooted in truth and love. When the church is divided, the culture around us will look the same.

The best way for us to engage politically and culturally is to share the gospel with our words and our lives. Then, we must speak and stand where God has clearly spoken. This is how we seek the welfare of our communities.

END

Teacher Notes:

In today’s cultural and political climate, are you pulled more towards fear, anger, or hopelessness?

• Fear when the future feels out of our control.
• Anger when we feel morally outraged.
• Hopelessness when nothing seems to change.

Jeremiah 29 was written to God’s people who were exiled in Babylon as a message of hope.

If you remember, Red told Andy that hope 

was a dangerous thing...

Click Play to Watch

Red would come to say, I hope…

Jeremiah 29 was written to God’s people to

to give them Hope

but also,

to give them a purpose to live in the culture they were now in.

Jeremiah 29:1-4

These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. This was after King Jeconiah and the queen mother, the eunuchs, the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metal workers had departed from Jerusalem. The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. It said: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:

How do you see that as Christians, we too

are living in exile?

And would you say that we too are living

in Babylon today?

How should this shape how we

live each day?

Do you believe that God has determined the moment

we live in today?

If so, what does that mean to you?

In God’s infinite wisdom and sovereignty, each of us live in a specific political, cultural, and social context.

It is not by chance we are living in the Upstate of South Carolina in 2026.

Our place in this cultural moment is no accident; God assigns our witness.

Jeremiah 29:5-7

Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.  

How does Jeremiah 29 tell us to live in today’s culture?

Build strong godly families…what does that mean?

Seek to be a blessing to the world around us…what does that mean?

Pray for the world around us…what does that mean?

What does this say to how we are to engage the political discussions of today?

1. Speak as witnesses, not conquerors. Don’t try to take control; live as representatives of another kingdom. Our tone matters. Political conversations should sound like people who trust God, not people looking for power or control.
2. Prioritize faithfulness over effectiveness. Our goal isn’t to win a debate. It’s to reflect God’s character — truthful, just, patient, and loving — even when the conversation is tense or one-sided.
3. Hold convictions without contempt. We don’t need to demean those who differ. We can disagree clearly and still treat others with dignity.
4. Pray before, during, and after we speak. Jeremiah doesn’t tell the people to complain about Babylon — he tells them to pray for it. 

Jeremiah 29:10-11

“For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you My promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 

How do we engage the political

discussion?

Our only goal as we engage in political discussions of the day should be to point people to JESUS!

Click Play to Watch

Conclusion

We engage the culture:

By not conforming to this world, but by being transformed by the renewing of the way we think – through God’s Word.

By living holy, different, and set apart lives.

By not putting our hope in anything/one - other than JESUS!

By publicly declaring that JESUS is our Lord, Savior, and King.

Class Lesson for February 1, 2026

 Culture Wars 

Work & Worship

This is a thought provoking lesson in the fact that many people (Christians included) don't see the connection of these two words - work & worship. Work is secular, worship is spiritual. If you are retired, please share how you looked at this understanding before, and if you are still working, please share how you might still be wrestling with this connection. 

From the opening pages of Scripture, work is presented as a good gift from God. Before sin entered the world, God created humanity in His image and entrusted them with meaningful responsibility. Genesis 1–2 shows us that work is not accidental nor merely a means of survival; it is part of God’s original design.

God calls His people to steward what He has made, to cultivate creation, and to reflect His character through faithful labor. When our work is connected to God’s mission and aimed at God’s pleasure; it becomes an act of worship. Our vocation (wherever God has placed us) is one of the primary ways we live out our identity as image-bearers and participants in God’s ongoing work in the world.

Genesis 1:26-31 & Genesis 2:15

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created Him; male and female He created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Genesis 1:26-31; Genesis 2:15

 

Discussion Questions

1. How does Genesis 1–2 challenge the idea that work is a curse or a necessary evil?
2. Why is it important to remember that we are stewards, not owners, of our work and resources?
3. In what ways has your view of work been shaped more by culture than by Scripture?
4. How does seeing your work as worship change your motivation or attitude?
5. What might it look like to view your job, or daily responsibilities as a mission field?

 

 

Closing Thoughts

Work Where God Has Placed You.

God has intentionally placed you where you are — not by accident, but for His purposes. Faithfulness in your work is one of the primary ways you reflect Christ.

Be Salt and Light Through Stewardship.

Living on mission often looks ordinary: working with integrity, serving others, and honoring God in daily responsibilities. When done for His glory, ordinary work becomes extraordinary worship.

 

END

Teacher Notes:

Click Play to Watch

Do you work for God's pleasure?

Consider these 2 questions and common answers: 

Now consider this:

Short answer? No — most people don’t. And that’s true both in the culture at large and inside the church.

We’ve absorbed a sacred–secular divide. Many believers (often unconsciously) believe work is secular and worship is spiritual. So, worship gets confined to Sundays, while 40–60 hours a week feel spiritually disconnected. That idea isn’t biblical, but it’s deeply cultural.

Culture tells us work is about self. The dominant messages are:

•   Find your passion

•   Build your brand

•   Maximize income

•   Climb the ladder

That frames work as self-expression or self-advancement — not service to God or others. Even Christians swim in that water.

We equate worship with emotion. Worship is often defined by how it feels. Work rarely feels transcendent or joyful — especially ordinary or unseen work — so it doesn’t get categorized as worship. Scripture, however, defines worship as obedient offering, not emotional experience (Rom. 12:1).

 

What Scripture says instead: The Bible consistently presents work as worship when it is: done in faith, offered to God, and shaped by obedience and love. “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” (Col. 3:23)

Genesis 1–2 shows that God delighted in work before sin ever entered the world—and humans were invited into that same joy and responsibility.

Genesis 1:26-31 and Genesis 2:15

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created Him; male and female He created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

How does Genesis 1–2 challenge the idea that work is a curse or a necessary evil?

Work existed before the Fall

In Genesis 1–2, God gives Adam and Eve meaningful tasks before sin enters the world:

• “Fill the earth and subdue it… have dominion” (Gen. 1:28)
• Adam is placed in the garden “to work it and keep it” (Gen. 2:15)

That’s huge. Work isn’t a punishment for sin — it’s part of God’s good design for human life. The curse in Genesis 3 affects work (pain, frustration, toil), but it doesn’t create work.

 

God Himself works and calls it good

Genesis 1 repeatedly shows God working: creating, ordering, shaping, naming. Then He steps back and declares His work “very good” (Gen. 1:31).

Humans, made in God’s image, are invited to reflect Him by working too. Work is not beneath us — it’s one way we mirror our Creator.

 

Work is tied to purpose and dignity, not survival

Before there was scarcity, competition, or exhaustion, Adam was already working. That means work wasn’t about “earning a living” or avoiding hunger — it was about:

• Stewardship
• Creativity
• Responsibility
• Participation in God’s ongoing care of creation

Work gives meaning, not just money.

 

Genesis 1–2 teaches that work is a gift before it is a burden. Sin distorts work, but it doesn’t define it. Work is part of what it means to be human, created in God’s image and entrusted with His world.

Why is it important to remember that we are stewards, not owners, of our work and resources?

That distinction — stewards, not owners — is foundational, and it reshapes almost everything about how we live and work.

It keeps us humble and dependent on God

If we see ourselves as owners, success easily turns into pride and failure into despair. Stewardship reminds us:

What we have is received, not achieved (Ps. 24:1; 1 Cor. 4:7).

Our abilities, opportunities, and resources ultimately belong to God.

That humility guards the heart and keeps us reliant on Him rather than ourselves.

 

It reframes work as service, not self-promotion

• Owners ask, “How can this benefit me?”
• Stewards ask, “How does God want this used?”

When we remember we’re stewards, work becomes an act of worship (Col. 3:23), not merely a ladder for status, comfort, or control. Faithfulness matters more than visibility.

 

It loosens our grip on possessions

Ownership leads to fear — fear of loss, comparison, and scarcity. Stewardship leads to generosity and trust.

We hold resources with open hands.

We’re freer to give, share, and invest in what lasts.

This is why Scripture links stewardship with joy, not anxiety.

 

It gives meaning even to unseen or uncelebrated work

If we are owners, unrecognized work feels pointless.

If we are stewards, faithfulness matters even when no one is watching (Luke 16:10).

God measures success differently than the world does.

 

It points us forward to eternity

Stewardship has an end goal: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

We are managing what belongs to Another — for a time. That eternal perspective keeps work from becoming either an idol or a burden.

 

Remembering we are stewards, not owners, keeps work from ruling us or ruining us. It anchors our identity in faithfulness, frees us from control and fear, and aligns our labor and resources with God’s purposes — not just our own.

In what ways has your view of work been shaped more by culture than by Scripture?

How does seeing your work as worship change your motivation or attitude?

Seeing work as worship quietly but radically reframes why and how we work.

It shifts the audience

When work is worship, the primary audience isn’t a boss, a customer, or even yourself — it’s God (Col. 3:23).

That means:

• Integrity matters even when no one is watching.
• Faithfulness matters more than applause.

You’re no longer performing for approval; you’re offering your work to the Lord.

 

It reshapes motivation

Instead of working mainly for pay, recognition, or advancement, motivation becomes more about obedience and gratitude.

Work turns from “What do I get out of this?” into “How can I honor God through this?”

That kind of motivation is steadier — it doesn’t rise and fall with circumstances.

 

It redeems ordinary or unseen tasks

If worship only happens in church, then much of life feels spiritually empty.

But if work is worship, even routine, repetitive, or unnoticed tasks gain eternal significance (Luke 16:10).

No work done faithfully for God is wasted.

 

It changes your attitude toward excellence

Worship doesn’t mean perfectionism — but it does mean care.

Seeing work as worship encourages:

• diligence without obsession
• excellence without pride
• effort without idolatry

You work well not to prove your worth, but because God is worthy.

 

It softens frustration and hardship

Work is still hard in a fallen world. Worship doesn’t remove thorns — but it gives context.

Frustration becomes something you bring to God rather than something that defines you (Rom. 12:1).

 

It guards against burnout and resentment

When work becomes identity, burnout is inevitable.

When work becomes worship, rest becomes an act of trust, not guilt (Gen. 2:2–3).

You can stop working because your value isn’t on the line.

 

Seeing your work as worship transforms motivation from self-centered to God-centered and turns attitude from resentment to purpose — even when the work is hard or unseen.

What might it look like to view your job, or daily responsibilities as a mission field?

Viewing your job, or daily responsibilities as a mission field doesn’t mean turning everything into a sermon — it means seeing people and moments through God’s purposes rather than just your schedule.

Here’s what that can look like in real life:

Seeing people, not just roles

A mission field mindset asks:

• Who has God placed around me?
• What burdens, questions, or hurt might they be carrying?

Coworkers stop being obstacles. Customers stop being interruptions. They become image-bearers God deeply loves.

 

Excellence as testimony

Doing your work well is part of your witness — not to earn favor, but to reflect God’s character.

• Showing up prepared
• Working honestly
• Owning mistakes
• Treating authority with respect

This quietly communicates that your faith shapes how you live, not just what you say (Col. 3:23).

 

Prayerful awareness

Mission-minded people learn to pray:

• before the day begins
• during tense conversations
• after unexpected opportunities

Prayer tunes your heart to God’s work already happening around you.

 

A long-term perspective

Most mission fields aren’t one-time encounters — they’re relationships built over time.

Trust grows slowly. Influence deepens quietly. Seeds are planted long before fruit appears.

 

A mission field isn’t defined by geography — it’s defined by calling.

God hasn’t just sent you somewhere to work or learn; He’s placed you there to represent Him.

Closing thought:

When does work become worship?

• Work becomes worship when it is done for God’s pleasure, not personal glory.

Conclusion

Work Where God Has Placed You.

God has intentionally placed you where you are — not by accident, but for His purposes. Faithfulness in your work is one of the primary ways you reflect Christ.

Be Salt and Light Through Stewardship.

Living on mission often looks ordinary: working with integrity, serving others, and honoring God in daily responsibilities. When done for His glory, ordinary work becomes extraordinary worship.

Class Lesson for January 25, 2026

 Culture Wars

Every human life has inestimable value because it is formed, known, and loved by God from the womb.

In a culture that treats life as accidental, disposable, or self-defined, Psalm 139 reminds us that human life is sacred because it originates with God Himself. David reflects on God’s intimate involvement in every stage of human life, especially in the hidden place of the womb.

Psalm 139:13-16

13 For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Psalm 139:13-16

 

Discussion Questions

1. Where do you see culture challenging or redefining the value of human life today?
2. Why is it important that God defines life rather than individuals or society?
3. How does believing that God determines your worth affect insecurity, comparison, or pride?
4. What does Psalm 139 teach us about God’s presence in places we cannot see or control?
5. How should the belief that God directs every life shape the way Christians speak about and live out the sanctity of life?

 

Closing Thoughts

Believing that every life is fearfully and wonderfully made changes the way we live, speak, and love. To affirm the sanctity of life is not only a conviction we hold — it is a mission we live out together as the people of God.

 

Live with Gospel Conviction and Gospel Compassion.

We must hold firmly to the truth that life begins in the womb and is sacred to God, while also extending grace to those who carry wounds, regrets, or guilt related to abortion. Our posture is not one of condemnation, but of Christlike compassion and redemptive hope. The same God who forms life also forgives sin and restores the broken.

 

Be a Voice for the Vulnerable.

God repeatedly calls His people to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. This means advocating for the unborn, the marginalized, and the forgotten — through prayer, support, generosity, and presence. We do not remain silent in the face of injustice; we respond with courage rooted in love.

 

END