More than 2,500 years ago, exiled Jews from Judah were eking out an existence in Babylon. No doubt some remembered how King Nebuchadnezzar had besieged Jerusalem in 605 B.C. and carried some of Judah’s gifted young men into exile. Later, more Babylonian troops transported additional Jews from Judah to Babylon and destroyed Jerusalem.

God caused these events because He loved His people too much to abandon them to their sinful ways. He used their hardships to discipline and teach them to obey Him. Only then, He knew, could they find true hope and purposeful living.

In Babylon, false Jewish prophets prophesied “false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds” (Jeremiah 14:14 NIV) and evidently told the exiles not to serve the king of Babylon and his people.

God, however, had other plans. As illustrated in this session’s film, through the prophet Jeremiah God spoke encouraging and unusual words that required the exiles to exercise great faith in God and do something unprecedented for exiles at that time in history to do.

• Read this film’s foundational verses: Jeremiah 29:1-14.

Take a few minutes to consider these scriptures and then watch the film.

Think about how when we are faced with crisis and difficulty God reminds us to return to the basics of caring for our families and our communities. Carry on with life and be productive and prosper. For as we prosper, so also do those we serve. Jeremiah 29:5-7. Sometimes we need to take stock of what we are doing and re-evaluate where we belong. Remembering that GOD gives us all certain distinct and unique talents, maybe now is a good time to look at your current job. How satisfied are you? Consider taking the Job Satisfaction Survey and see if you are truly in the right place. And if you aren't sure what you really want to do or would like more assurance that you have the right personality for the work you are doing try the online Personality I.D. Profile. Choose both from the buttons below.

The following Group Discussion questions allow you to add you own answers and notes online. Simply click the "Add notes" where you see them in the text below. At the bottom of the page you can add your email and have the notes sent to you. If you prefer to work entirely from paper just scroll to the bottom, add your email, send the notes and then print the email you receive. Please read and answer these questions before we meet. We'll discuss them after watching the film together.

After we end today's group session take just a few minutes to quietly reflect on these inward-directed questions. Do this right away while the topic just discussed is fresh in your mind and hopefully on your heart.

Be sure to add your email address at the bottom so all the notes from today's session will be sent to you. Save those notes and look at them again after some time has passed. See if any of your answers or reflections change.