Bethel Ontario Live September 7, 2025

Sep 08, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: God Shapes and Reshapes Us Like Clay

God is the master potter who lovingly shapes and reshapes our lives, never discarding us when we falter but patiently working with us to form something beautiful and new. Even when we feel marred or broken, God does not abandon us; instead, He continues to mold us, offering hope and renewal no matter how many times we need to start over. This image reminds us that our failures are not the end, but opportunities for God’s creative grace to work in us again and again. [24:18]

Jeremiah 18:1-6 (ESV)
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. Then the word of the Lord came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.”

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel “marred” or in need of reshaping? Can you invite God to work patiently with you in that area today?

Day 2: The Cost of Discipleship

Following Jesus is not just about joining the crowd or seeking recognition; it requires honest commitment, preparation, and a willingness to let go of what we hold most dear—even our own comfort, plans, or relationships. Jesus calls us to count the cost, to shoulder our own cross, and to remain faithful even when the journey is difficult or misunderstood by others. True discipleship means putting God above all else and being ready to sacrifice for the sake of love, justice, and compassion. [29:25]

Luke 14:25-33 (The Message)
One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self!—can’t be my disciple. Anyone who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can’t be my disciple. Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you’re going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: ‘He started something he couldn’t finish.’ Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other? And if he decides he can’t, won’t he send an emissary and work out a truce? Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple.”

Reflection: What is one thing you are clinging to that might keep you from fully following Jesus? What would it look like to surrender it today?

Day 3: We Are Wonderfully Made and Known by God

God knows us intimately—our thoughts, our paths, our very being—and has formed us with care and purpose from the very beginning. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, never hidden from God’s sight, and every day of our lives is known to Him. This deep knowledge is not meant to intimidate, but to assure us of God’s constant presence, love, and intentionality in our creation and journey. [14:57]

Psalm 139:1-6, 13-16 (ESV)
O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Reflection: How does knowing that God has formed and knows you intimately change the way you see yourself and your purpose today?

Day 4: Surrendering Control to God’s Hands

To be clay in the potter’s hands means surrendering our desire for control and being open to God’s reshaping, even when it stretches us beyond our comfort or requires breaking down old patterns. We do not get to dictate the ways of God; instead, we are called to remain pliable, trusting that God’s purposes are greater than our own plans. This surrender is not passive, but an active willingness to be reformed and used for God’s work in the world. [30:25]

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are resisting God’s shaping? How can you practice surrender and openness to God’s transformation this week?

Day 5: Becoming Vessels of Grace, Justice, and Love

God’s ongoing work in us is not just for our own sake, but so that we might become vessels of grace, justice, mercy, and love in the world. As individuals and as a church, we are called to be pliable and responsive to the Spirit’s leading, even if it means letting go of old ways or stepping into new, challenging roles. The promise is that God is crafting something beautiful and needed through us, for the sake of the community and the world. [33:43]

Micah 6:8 (ESV)
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Reflection: In what specific way can you be a vessel of God’s grace, justice, or love to someone in your community today?

Sermon Summary

Today’s gathering invited us to reflect deeply on what it means to be shaped by God and to follow Jesus with our whole selves. Drawing from the imagery of the potter and the clay in Jeremiah, we considered how God, as the master artisan, lovingly forms and reforms us. Just as a potter does not discard clay that has gone awry but instead patiently reworks it, so too does God persistently shape us, even when we falter or lose our way. This is not a word of fear, but of hope—God does not abandon us in our brokenness, but continues to mold us into vessels of beauty and purpose.

We also explored Jesus’ challenging words in Luke, where he calls us to count the cost of discipleship. Jesus makes it clear that following him is not a casual endeavor; it requires honest commitment, open eyes, and a willingness to let go of what we hold most dear. Discipleship is not just about walking in the parade when the crowds are cheering, but about faithfulness when the road is hard, when our values put us at odds with the world, and when love demands sacrifice.

Bringing these two threads together, we see that to be clay in the potter’s hands means surrendering control, allowing God to reform us—even if it means breaking down old patterns or comforts. Real transformation is costly, and discipleship may require us to leave behind old loyalties, prejudices, or securities. Yet, the promise is that we are not alone in this journey. God’s hands are always at work, shaping us into vessels of grace, justice, mercy, and love.

As a community and as individuals, we are called to remain pliable, open to being reshaped for God’s purposes in this moment. The challenge is to ask ourselves: Where is God reshaping me? What am I clinging to that keeps me from being pliable clay? Am I willing to accept the cost of discipleship in my daily life? May we have the courage to say yes, trusting that God is crafting something beautiful in and through us.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Persistent Grace: Like the potter who never discards the clay, God does not abandon us when we are marred or broken. Instead, God patiently and persistently works with us, reshaping us again and again, no matter how many times we falter. This is a profound word of hope—our failures are not the end, but opportunities for God’s creative love to work anew in us. [24:06]
2. Surrendering Control: The clay does not dictate its own form; it must remain pliable in the potter’s hands. In the same way, we are called to surrender our need for control and allow God to shape us, even when it means letting go of our own plans or comfort zones. True spiritual growth often requires us to be open to being broken down and rebuilt for a greater purpose. [27:22]
3. The Cost of Discipleship: Jesus’ call to “count the cost” is not meant to scare us, but to invite us into honest, intentional commitment. Discipleship is not about convenience or recognition, but about faithfulness, sacrifice, and sometimes standing at odds with the world’s values. We must be willing to let go of what we cling to most in order to be formed into vessels of God’s love and justice. [29:06]
4. Transformation Requires Letting Go: Real transformation is always costly. It may mean leaving behind old loyalties, prejudices, or securities, and being willing to be misunderstood or opposed. Yet, in letting go, we make space for God to create something new and beautiful in us—something that bears God’s image and love into the world. [31:00]
5. Community as Pliable Clay: As a church and as individuals, we are invited to remain soft and open to God’s reshaping. The Spirit may be calling us to let go of “the way we’ve always done it” in order to be vessels for God’s work in this moment. Our willingness to be molded together is essential for becoming the beloved community the world so desperately needs. [32:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:30] - Weekend Reflections & Gathering
[03:10] - The Potter and the Clay: Introduction
[03:45] - Call to Worship
[08:07] - Passing the Peace
[08:34] - Announcements & Homecoming Sunday
[13:36] - Psalm 139: God’s Intimate Knowledge
[18:15] - Luke 14: Counting the Cost
[20:48] - Jeremiah and the Potter’s Wheel
[22:39] - God’s Reshaping and Discipleship’s Cost
[24:06] - Hope in God’s Persistence
[26:44] - Surrendering Control: The Clay’s Lesson
[27:46] - Counting the Cost of Discipleship
[30:07] - Bringing It Together: Surrender and Transformation
[32:26] - Application: Community and Personal Reflection
[34:15] - Prayer for Transformation
[36:14] - Sharing Prayer Requests
[43:09] - The Lord’s Prayer
[43:42] - Offering and Dedication
[46:01] - Closing Song and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: Shaped by God, Counting the Cost

Bible Reading

Jeremiah 18:1-6 (ESV)
> 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. Then the word of the Lord came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.”

Luke 14:25-33 (ESV)
> Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

Psalm 139:13-16 (ESV)
> For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Observation Questions

In Jeremiah’s vision, what does the potter do when the clay becomes marred or spoiled? What does this show us about God’s approach to our mistakes? [[24:06]]
According to Jesus in Luke 14, what are some things a person must be willing to let go of in order to be his disciple? [[18:15]]
What does Psalm 139 say about how God knows and forms us? How does this connect to the image of the potter and the clay? [[13:36]]
The sermon mentions that the potter never discards the clay, but patiently reworks it. What does this say about God’s persistence with us? [[24:06]]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that God’s reshaping is not a word of fear, but of hope. Why might it be hopeful to know that God keeps working with us, even when we falter? [[24:06]]
Jesus talks about “counting the cost” of discipleship. What do you think it means to count the cost in your own life? Why does Jesus want us to be honest about this? [[29:06]]
The clay does not get to decide its own form. What does it look like for us to surrender control to God, especially when it means letting go of our own plans or comfort zones? [[27:22]]
The sermon says transformation is costly and may require us to leave behind old loyalties or securities. Why do you think real change often comes with a cost? [[31:00]]

Application Questions

The sermon asks, “Where is God reshaping me?” Take a moment to reflect: Is there an area in your life where you sense God is trying to mold or change you? What might it look like to be more open or “pliable” in that area? [[32:26]]
Are there things—habits, relationships, attitudes, or comforts—that you are clinging to, which might be keeping you from being shaped by God? What would it take to loosen your grip? [[32:26]]
Jesus says we must be willing to “let go of what we hold most dear” to follow him. Is there something you feel called to let go of, even if it’s difficult? How can you take a first step this week? [[18:15]]
The sermon talks about discipleship not just being about “walking in the parade when the crowds are cheering,” but about faithfulness when the road is hard. Can you share a time when following Jesus put you at odds with others or required a sacrifice? How did you respond? [[29:06]]
As a community, the sermon challenges us to let go of “the way we’ve always done it” to be vessels for God’s work now. Is there a tradition or routine in your life or in our church that might need to be re-examined or released? [[32:26]]
The potter’s hands are always at work, even when the clay resists. When have you resisted God’s shaping in your life? What helped you finally surrender, or what might help you now? [[33:15]]
The sermon says, “May we have the courage to say yes, trusting that God is crafting something beautiful in and through us.” What is one practical way you can say “yes” to God’s shaping this week? [[33:43]]

Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for open hearts, courage to surrender, and trust in God’s persistent, loving hands.

Sermon Clips

34s

#HopeInGodsReshaping

“Whenever the clay is marred, or spoiled, or something goes wrong, there's something to notice here. The potter does not throw it away. The potter doesn't discard it. Instead, the potter reworks it and shapes it into something new. So this is actually, instead of something to be scared of, this is a word of hope. It means that God does not abandon us when we mess up.”

23s

#PersistentGrace

“When we crack under pressure, when we fall short, when our lives lose shape, instead of throwing us away or discarding us, God continues to work with us patiently, persistently. God will do that again, and again, and again.”

18s

#SurrenderToThePotter

“Clay in the hands of the potter, does not decide its own form. In fact, usually when it starts kind of going off on its own, that's when the potter has to smash it back down and start over. We, like the clay, we don't get to dictate the ways of God.”

25s

#CountTheCost

“Jesus says, whoever doesn't carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. You've got to do the work if you want that recognition and that reward. The words aren't meant to scare us away. They're actually just inviting us to be aware, to have our eyes open, and to count the cost.”

33s

#IntentionalDiscipleship

“Jesus' example of the builder calculating the cost or the king weighing their chances of winning the battle, those things remind us that discipleship requires intention, it requires preparation, and it requires honesty. And we have to ask ourselves, are we willing to be reshaped? Are we actually willing to let go of what we cling to in order to be formed into vessels of God's love and God's compassion and God's justice?”

32s

#CourageToStand

“It may mean standing up for justice, when silence would be easier. Oh, I'm just going to be quiet. You know, I'm not going to help that bad guy, but, you know, I don't want to be making a show of myself. It may mean giving generously when the world tells us to hold tight. And it probably even means being misunderstood or opposed.”

23s

#NotAloneInTheProcess

“But the good news is that we are not alone. We are not abandoned to figure this out ourselves. We don't have to shape ourselves. We are in the potter's hands. The cost is real, but so is the promise. God is crafting something beautiful, useful, and something that bears God's image and love into the world.”

20s

#SpiritLedTransformation

“As a congregation, whether we're at our largest or our smallest, we are clay in the potter's hands. The Spirit may be reshaping us in ways we did not expect, challenging us to let go of the way we've always done it in order to be vessels for God's work at this moment.”

26s

#DailyCostOfDiscipleship

“And as individuals, we're invited to ask, where is God reshaping me? What am I clinging to that keeps me from being pliable clay? Am I willing to accept the cost of discipleship in my daily life? Not just my Sunday life, but my daily life, in my priorities, my time, my resources, my relationships.”

20s

#VesselsOfGrace

“To be disciples is to place ourselves fully in those hands of God. Knowing that it's going to cost us. Knowing it may reshape us in ways we can't predict. And also knowing that God is making of us vessels of grace, justice, mercy, and love.”

Ask a question about this sermon

Bethel Ontario This sermon · AI assistant

What does the potter and clay analogy reveal about God's shaping?

How does discipleship demand cost and commitment from believers?

In what ways does God reshape and restore us when broken?