The passage

1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord during the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: 2“Go to the Rekabite family and invite them to come to one of the side rooms of the house of the Lord and give them wine to drink.” 3So I went to get Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons—the whole family of the Rekabites.

Also referenced today

The shape of the message

1. The real issue behind the alcohol question: authority and obedience
2. Judah and the Rechabites: two authorities, two responses
3. The temple setting and the public wine test
4. What God wanted Judah to see in the contrast (35:12–16)
5. A balanced biblical view on alcohol: liberty, warnings, and lordship
6. Pre-decided conviction versus selective submission, and the final question of lordship

Questions to hold while you listen

• When you ask “Can I?” what would it look like to reframe that as “Who is Lord over this part of my life?”
• Where are you most tempted to negotiate obedience under pressure, and what would it mean to “draw the line while you are strong”?
• What are examples of “selective submission” that can coexist with public worship, service, giving, or quoting Scripture?
• How do Romans 14:22–23 and the call to act from faith shape decisions about liberty and conscience?
• What is one area where you need a pre-decided conviction so you don’t revisit the same battle?

Notes

This week

Pre-decide one concrete line of obedience before pressure hits—“I will not cross this line, period”—and anchor it in obedience to Christ rather than in comparison or pride. Watch for any “hidden negotiations” and replace “Is this technically allowed?” with “Does this honor my King?”