Don't Leave Out a Word
Sermon preached by Pastor Julius Buelow on March 8, 2026 at Mt Olive in Lincoln, NE for the third Sunday in Lent.
This sermon explores the importance of sharing God's Word faithfully, the dangers of holding back, and how Jesus and Jeremiah exemplify boldness in proclaiming God's message. It emphasizes the power of God's Word to transform lives and the need for believers to be courageous in sharing it.
Sermon text: Jeremiah 26:1-15
In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, the following word came from the LORD.
2This is what the LORD says. Stand in the courtyard of the LORD’s house, and speak to people from the cities and towns of Judah who have come to worship at the House of the LORD. Tell them everything I have commanded you to tell them. Do not hold back a single word. 3Maybe they will listen, and everyone will turn from his evil way. Then I will relent and not bring about the disaster that I was planning because of the evil things they have done.
4You are also to say this to him.
This is what the LORD says. If you will not listen to me and follow my law, which I have set before you, 5and if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (but you have not listened), 6then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make the name of this city a curse word for all the nations of the earth.
7The priests, the prophets, and all the people listened as Jeremiah spoke these words at the House of the LORD. 8When Jeremiah had finished saying everything the LORD had commanded him to say to all the people, then the priests, the prophets, and all the people seized him and said, “You must die! 9Why do you prophesy in the name of the LORD that this house will be like Shiloh and that this city will be desolate with no one living here?” All the people crowded around Jeremiah in the House of the LORD.
10When the officials of Judah heard about these things, they came up from the king’s house to the House of the LORD and sat in the entrance of the New Gate of the LORD’s house.
11Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, “This man deserves the sentence of death because he has been prophesying against this city, as you heard with your own ears.”
12Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and to all the people, “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the things that you have heard. 13Now reform your ways and your actions, and obey the LORD your God. Then the LORD will relent and not bring about the disaster he has pronounced against you. 14But as for me, look, I am in your hands. Do with me whatever seems good and right in your eyes. 15But you can be certain of this. If you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live here, for it is true that the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”
Holy Bible: Evangelical Heritage Version (Milwaukee, WI: Northwestern Publishing House, 2019), Je 26:1–15.
