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.