Embracing Brokenness: The Beauty of God's Grace

 

Summary

In our journey together, we have explored the profound concept of embracing our brokenness, symbolized by the story of Jesus healing a man with a withered hand. This narrative teaches us that when we bring our most shameful and broken parts into the light, healing and grace can occur. We are not defined by our brokenness, but we must not hide it either. Instead, we should allow God's power to work through it. This series has examined various forms of pain and brokenness, whether they stem from external circumstances, personal failures, or deep-seated shame.

We discussed the theory of the shattered vase, which suggests that brokenness can lead to a more beautiful and valuable creation. This is exemplified by the Japanese art of kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired with gold, highlighting the beauty in imperfection. Similarly, God's grace shines through our brokenness, transforming us into something new and beautiful. Our brokenness, like the visible wounds of Christ after the resurrection, can be a necessary component of the new world to come.

We shared stories of personal struggles, such as addiction and loss, and how God's grace and love have been present in those journeys. These stories remind us that we all have brokenness in our lives, but God's grace is like a sunrise, inevitable and life-giving. The Apostle Paul speaks of having this treasure in jars of clay, emphasizing that God's power is made perfect in our weakness.

As we conclude this series, we are encouraged to cherish the treasure of God's love and accept our jars of clay, our imperfections. By doing so, we allow God's power to shine through us, making our lives a testament to His grace. We are the fellowship of the withered hand, and as we journey towards Christmas, we are reminded that God is with us.

Key Takeaways:

- Embracing our brokenness allows God's grace to work through us. When we bring our shame and imperfections into the light, we open ourselves to healing and transformation. This is not about denying our brokenness but allowing it to be a part of our story where God's power is made perfect. [00:47]

- The art of kintsugi teaches us that brokenness can lead to beauty. Just as broken pottery is repaired with gold, our lives can become more beautiful and valuable through God's grace. Our imperfections are not to be hidden but embraced as part of our unique journey. [02:21]

- God's grace is like a sunrise, inevitable and life-giving. No matter how deep our brokenness, God's love is relentless and transformative. It breaks through the walls we build around ourselves, offering healing and hope. [05:02]

- We have this treasure in jars of clay, highlighting the contrast between our human frailty and God's surpassing power. Our weaknesses are not a hindrance but a canvas for God's glory to be displayed. [06:50]

- Cherish the treasure of God's love and accept your jar of clay. By acknowledging our imperfections and relying on God's strength, we allow His power to shine through us, making our lives a testament to His grace. [07:22]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:32] - Fellowship with a Withered Hand
- [01:16] - Bringing Brokenness to God
- [01:50] - The Shattered Vase Theory
- [02:21] - The Art of Kintsugi
- [03:14] - God's Grace in Brokenness
- [03:48] - Transcending Brokenness
- [04:20] - Personal Stories of Brokenness
- [05:02] - God's Grace Like a Sunrise
- [06:18] - Treasure in Jars of Clay
- [07:22] - Cherish the Treasure, Accept the Jar
- [08:29] - Embracing Imperfections
- [09:16] - Sharing Stories of Failure
- [10:04] - The Beauty of God's Work
- [10:18] - Journey Towards Christmas

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Mark 3:1-5 (The story of Jesus healing a man with a withered hand)
- 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 (Treasure in jars of clay)

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Observation Questions:

1. In the story of Jesus healing the man with the withered hand, what was the significance of Jesus asking the man to stretch out his hand? How did this act lead to healing? [00:32]

2. How does the sermon describe the concept of "theory of the shattered vase"? What does this theory suggest about brokenness and beauty? [01:50]

3. What is the art of kintsugi, and how does it relate to the sermon’s message about embracing imperfections? [02:21]

4. According to the sermon, how does the Apostle Paul describe the relationship between human frailty and God's power in 2 Corinthians 4:7-10? [06:50]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does the act of bringing our brokenness into the light symbolize in the context of the sermon? How does this relate to the healing of the man with the withered hand? [00:47]

2. How does the concept of kintsugi challenge the way we typically view our imperfections and failures? What might this suggest about God's perspective on our brokenness? [02:21]

3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's grace is like a sunrise? How does this metaphor help us understand the nature of God's love and grace? [05:02]

4. How does the idea of having "treasure in jars of clay" help us understand the balance between acknowledging our weaknesses and recognizing God's power? [06:50]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a part of your life that you consider "withered" or broken. How can you bring this into the light and allow God's healing to begin? [00:47]

2. The sermon discusses the beauty found in brokenness through the art of kintsugi. Can you think of a time when a personal failure or imperfection led to growth or beauty in your life? How did you see God's hand in that process? [02:21]

3. How can you actively cherish the "treasure" of God's love in your life while accepting your "jar of clay"? What practical steps can you take to balance these two aspects? [07:22]

4. The sermon mentions personal stories of addiction and loss. How can sharing your own story of brokenness with others be a source of healing and encouragement for both you and them? [04:20]

5. Consider the metaphor of God's grace as a sunrise. In what areas of your life do you need to allow God's grace to break through and bring new life? [05:02]

6. How can you support someone in your life who is struggling with their own brokenness? What specific actions can you take to be a source of God's grace and love for them? [09:16]

7. As we journey towards Christmas, how can the message of "God with us" transform the way you view your own imperfections and the imperfections of those around you? [10:18]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Brokenness for Transformation
When we bring our brokenness into the light, we open ourselves to healing and transformation. This is not about denying our brokenness but allowing it to be a part of our story where God's power is made perfect. By acknowledging our shame and imperfections, we invite God's grace to work through us, leading to profound change. The story of Jesus healing the man with the withered hand exemplifies this truth, showing that our broken parts, when exposed to God's light, can become sources of healing and grace. [00:47]

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Reflection: What is one area of brokenness in your life that you have been hiding? How can you bring it into the light today to allow God's healing to begin?


Day 2: Beauty in Brokenness
The art of kintsugi teaches us that brokenness can lead to beauty. Just as broken pottery is repaired with gold, our lives can become more beautiful and valuable through God's grace. Our imperfections are not to be hidden but embraced as part of our unique journey. This perspective allows us to see our brokenness not as a flaw but as an opportunity for God's transformative work to shine through, creating something new and beautiful. [02:21]

Isaiah 61:3 (ESV): "To grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified."

Reflection: Consider a past experience where you felt broken. How can you see God's hand in transforming that brokenness into something beautiful today?


Day 3: God's Grace as a Sunrise
God's grace is like a sunrise, inevitable and life-giving. No matter how deep our brokenness, God's love is relentless and transformative. It breaks through the walls we build around ourselves, offering healing and hope. This grace is not something we earn but a gift that continually renews and restores us, much like the dawn of a new day. [05:02]

Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Reflection: In what ways have you experienced God's grace as a new beginning in your life? How can you embrace this grace more fully today?


Day 4: Treasure in Jars of Clay
We have this treasure in jars of clay, highlighting the contrast between our human frailty and God's surpassing power. Our weaknesses are not a hindrance but a canvas for God's glory to be displayed. By accepting our imperfections, we allow God's power to shine through us, making our lives a testament to His grace. This perspective encourages us to cherish the treasure of God's love and accept our jars of clay. [06:50]

2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV): "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."

Reflection: How can you view your weaknesses as opportunities for God's power to be displayed in your life today?


Day 5: Cherishing God's Love and Our Imperfections
Cherish the treasure of God's love and accept your jar of clay. By acknowledging our imperfections and relying on God's strength, we allow His power to shine through us, making our lives a testament to His grace. This acceptance is not about resignation but about embracing the unique way God has crafted each of us, with all our flaws and strengths, to reflect His glory. [07:22]

Psalm 139:14 (ESV): "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."

Reflection: What is one way you can cherish God's love and your own imperfections today, allowing His strength to be evident in your life?

Quotes


"Jesus going into a synagogue and there being a man that had a a hand that was withered that didn't work and Jesus asked him to do the one thing that he can't do and to make quite visible the most shameful part of his life and when he does there's healing and there's Grace and there's power and life is just that way we don't uh identify I am not my withered hand um but I have it I don't live in misery because of it I don't allow it to become my only identity but I don't live trying to hide it either and when I bring it into the light then power happens." [00:35:32]

"We talked about what one researcher calls the theory of the shattered vase um that when a vase is broken you can just pretend like it's not and live in the aisle or you can just trash it or you can reassemble it in a new way this is very interesting so I want to tell you about that um there's a artist Mak fujimura who uh used to be at Fuller Seminary Peter wayer writes about him and he's written a book called Art and Faith a Theology of making and he writes about the Japanese tradition of uh kintsugi kintsugi is the art of repairing broken pottery pieces with lacquer dusted with gold." [01:01:36]

"Applying that concept to theology M fujimura makes the point it's through our Brokenness that God's grace can shine through as in the gold that fills Fishers in kin sui and we may have some of those objects if you're watching this to be able to take a look at on the screen Jesus came not to fix us and not just to restore us but to make us something new if anyone is in Christ she he is a new creature even fixing what is broken is an opportunity to transcend the use of the object." [00:90:76]

"Thus our Brokenness in light of the wounds of Christ still visible after the resurrection can also mean that through making by honoring the Brokenness the broken shapes can somehow be a necessary component of the new world to come and these are the stories that you and I share together in one of them that one of you wrote in you said this the story I wanted did not include a pornog uh pornography addiction it did not include piles and piles of Lies spanning decades or my wife's utterly shattered trust that may never be reparable." [00:40:72]

"Every one of us is broken whether we acknowledge it or not whether it looks dramatic or not it's part of every one of our story this is the nature of sin this is the teaching of scripture the story I got uh you go on does include God's grace rising over my broken life like a sunrise inevitable Unstoppable inescapable warming hardening absolutely lifegiving it includes God's love like the tide beating against the island Fortress I built around myself it includes an ongoing journey of healing and Recovery that I struggle to believe still is possible." [00:91:56]

"Here's how Paul puts that he's been talking about how the God who said let a light shine in the dark has made his light shine in our hearts to give us light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Jesus the treasure is God's love that we see in the face and the person of Jesus but then Paul goes on we have this treasure in Jars of Clay we have this treasure this this contrast and that treasure is um God the face of Jesus supremely love that love is real and it's coming your way but we have it in Jars of Clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us." [00:76:52]

"Whatever it is that you need to accept about your jar of clay your body your appearance your history that addiction that divorce that habit that weakness that child that's going a direction that you didn't want them to that lost dream whatever that is is okay God that's part of my jar of clay I will meet you here I won't pretend I won't deny I won't hide I'll meet you here and then uh God you love me I can look in the face of Jesus and know that I for all my inadequacies and all my problems and all my failures I too am one who I'm loved." [00:78:60]

"When we reveal the broken parts the jar of clay I was talking to somebody yesterday long conversation and and part of what they were struggling with was feeling like a failure in their family and then I could say well let me tell you my story about my failure and my pain in my family and I don't understand how but somehow in just telling that story something flows I had a long conversation yesterday with somebody who is involved in church ministry and is so bright and has so much to offer and is going through so much pain right now and feeling like such a failure and should I just quit." [00:89:32]

"Don't quit don't quit don't quit we have this treasure in Jars of Clay and somehow the way that God works um the beauty of the treasure is made that much more glorious when it's in the most unlikely setting and that's your life cherish the treasure accept the jar We Are The Fellowship of the withered hand stretch out your hand I will see you in this Advent season and uh we will journey together towards Christmas and that great news that God is with us." [00:96:24]

"Jesus came not to fix us and not just to restore us but to make us something new if anyone is in Christ she he is a new creature even fixing what is broken is an opportunity to transcend the use of the object this again from art and Faith uh kugi Bulls are treasured as objects that surpass their original useful purpose and move into a realm of beauty brought on by the kin sui Master thus our Brokenness in light of the wounds of Christ still visible after the resurrection can also mean that through making by honoring the Brokenness the broken shapes can somehow be a necessary component of the new world to come." [00:90:76]

"Paul being perplexed confused disoriented not and yet here's this treasure and yet here's this jar of clay so as we come to the end of this series two words for you today and for us going forward um cherish the treasure and accept the jar you know if I think that all I have is a jar then there's no hope and I'm just stuck in my misery if I think that I'm all treasure I don't have a clue and then there's ego and and distance and hiding and pretense and denial we have this treasure in Jars of Clay and somehow the way that God works the Brokenness becomes a part of the story." [00:95:24]

"God you love me I can look in the face of Jesus and know that I for all my inadequacies and all my problems and all my failures I too am one who I'm loved and it helps me to tell you this because when I'm telling you this I'm telling myself it's the strangest thing we have this treasure in Jars of Clay to show that the all surpassing power and greatness is from God and not us and when we reveal the broken parts the jar of clay I was talking to somebody yesterday long conversation and and part of what they were struggling with was feeling like a failure in their family and then I could say well let me tell you my story about my failure and my pain in my family and I don't understand how but somehow in just telling that story something flows." [00:95:24]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?