COURAGE TO STAND IN A FALLEN WORLD

“The Potter and the Clay”

Pastor Duane Cross | 03.10.2013

“The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ‘Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.’ So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel as it seemed good to the potter to do.”  Jeremiah 18:1-4

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

GOD CAN DO WHATEVER HE WANTS WITH YOU.

“Does clay say to the potter, ‘what are you making?’” Isaiah 45:9

“If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I have intended to do for it.”  Jeremiah 18:7-10

“Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.”  Jeremiah 18:11

“ Yet my people have forgotten me; they burn incense to worthless idols, which made them stumble in their ways and in the ancient paths. They made them walk in bypaths and on roads not built up.” Jeremiah 18:15

“ As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.”  Psalm 103:13-14

God is the Potter. We are the Clay.

• He created us:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” Jeremiah 1:5

• He is shaping us:

• He is shining through us:

“ We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”
2 Corinthians 4:7(NLT)

GOING DEEPER QUESTIONS

For the Week of March 10, 2013

Pastor Duane Cross

These questions are designed to help you go deeper with the sermon during your week-to take a closer look at the Scripture and find fresh ways to live out the main points of the sermon. Going Deeper questions also are used for discussion in all of our Grow Groups at Hope.

Scripture Reading

Jeremiah18, Psalm 139, 2 Corinthians 4:1-10

Getting Started

What insight or principle from this weekend’s message did you find helpful, interesting or challenging? Explain.

Where do you see God’s exellence in creation? What part of creation moves you?

Have you ever created something with your own hands that you are proud of?

Pottery is both useful and beautiful. How does this metaphor speak to how God created you? How could it be misunderstood or misconstrued?

A Closer Look

Read God’s indictment against Israel in Jeremiah 18:1-12 and discuss the following questions:

• Although Israel believes they are autonomous, it turns out God is sovereign

and in control, he is the Potter. In what ways did they (and do we)

underestimate God’s power and control in the world?

• Although God is sovereign, Israel’s fate is not sealed. Jeremiah18:7-10 says

that God is willing to “relent”, “reconsider” or “change his mind” if a nation

changes their course of action. What does this mean? What does this tell us

about the importance of obedience individually and as a community?

• What does Jeremiah 18:4 tell us about God’s freedom and power in

judgement (cf. Isaiah 45:9-10) and mercy (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:7)?

According to I Peter 2:9-10 God says you are “chosen, royal, and holy”. How do you respond to God’s description of you?

Digging Deeper

As a nation, America seems to fit the context of Jeremiah 18:7-10. If you were a prophet today, what would you say to your nation?

Jeremiah 18 should strike holy terror into the heart of every mortal. Are there any defects in your life? Sinful attitudes? If so, what are the next steps toward repentance?

Read II Corinthians 4:1-10. Paraphrase this text and discuss how it applies to your life.