Remodeling Our Lives: God's Transformative Process
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, church. Today, we gather with hearts full of thanksgiving, lifting our prayers to God for the gift of life and eternal life. We thank Him for His presence throughout the week and month, and we pray for healing for those unwell in our community. We also lift our nation and its leaders in prayer, asking for wisdom and guidance in the upcoming elections. As we worship, we ask for God's grace to be upon us, that our prayers and praises ascend to Him, and that we experience His presence both in the sanctuary and online.
Reflecting on the past month, we've been exploring the Book of Jeremiah, understanding that God is deeply interested in our future. He calls us to a fresh start, a clean slate, and a renewed covenant with Him. Today, we delve into the concept of remodeling, both in our lives and our church. Just as a potter shapes and reshapes clay, God continually molds us into better versions of ourselves. This process involves observation, discovery, and ultimately, transformation.
God's call to Jeremiah to visit the potter's house serves as a powerful metaphor. It reminds us that God communicates in ways we understand, using familiar symbols to reveal deeper truths. Observation is the first step; we must carefully watch and perceive what God is doing around us. This leads to discovery, where we gain new insights and revelations about God's plans for us. Finally, we enter the remodeling phase, where God shapes and reshapes us, even through brokenness, to fulfill His purpose.
In our brokenness, God works to bring us back to Him, molding us into His image. This process, though sometimes painful, is essential for our spiritual growth. We are reminded that God's authority over our lives is incontestable, and His power is absolute. As we submit to His will, we experience transformation and become vessels for His glory.
### Key Takeaways
1. Thanksgiving and Prayer: Begin each day with a heart full of gratitude, acknowledging God's gifts of life and eternal life. Lift up prayers for healing, guidance, and wisdom for our community and nation, trusting in God's grace to be upon us. [09:02]
2. God's Interest in Our Future: God is not only concerned with our past but is deeply invested in our present and future. He offers us a clean slate and calls us to renew our covenant with Him, reminding us that the future is now, and He is doing a new thing in our lives. [18:19]
3. The Process of Remodeling: Just as a potter shapes clay, God continually molds us into better versions of ourselves. This process involves observation, discovery, and transformation, where we must carefully watch and perceive what God is doing around us. [21:23]
4. God's Communication: God speaks to us in ways we understand, using familiar symbols and experiences to reveal deeper truths. By observing our surroundings and reflecting on our experiences, we gain new insights and revelations about God's plans for us. [29:52]
5. Transformation Through Brokenness: In our brokenness, God works to bring us back to Him, molding us into His image. This process, though sometimes painful, is essential for our spiritual growth. God's authority over our lives is incontestable, and His power is absolute. [46:02]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[09:02] - Thanksgiving and Prayer
[18:19] - God's Interest in Our Future
[21:23] - The Process of Remodeling
[29:52] - God's Communication
[46:02] - Transformation Through Brokenness
[55:16] - Announcements and Closing Remarks
[01:07:47] - Benediction
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Jeremiah 18:1-6 (NIV)
> "This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 'Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.' So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the Lord came to me. He said, 'Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?' declares the Lord. 'Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.'"
2. Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)
> "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
3. Psalm 51:17 (NIV)
> "My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise."
### Observation Questions
1. What does the potter do when the clay is marred in his hands according to Jeremiah 18:1-6?
2. How does Isaiah 43:19 describe God's work in our lives?
3. What kind of heart does Psalm 51:17 say God will not despise?
4. In the sermon, what metaphor is used to describe God's process of shaping and reshaping us? ([27:42])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God chose the potter's house as the place to give Jeremiah His message? ([29:52])
2. How does the concept of God doing a "new thing" in Isaiah 43:19 relate to the idea of a clean slate mentioned in the sermon? ([18:19])
3. What does it mean for God to have "incontestable authority" over our lives, as discussed in the sermon? ([39:29])
4. How can brokenness be a part of God's remodeling process according to Psalm 51:17 and the sermon? ([46:02])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like the clay in the potter's hands. How did God reshape you during that period? ([27:42])
2. In what ways can you start each day with a heart full of gratitude, as encouraged in the sermon? ([09:02])
3. How can you be more observant of what God is doing around you in your daily life? What steps can you take to improve your spiritual observation? ([31:01])
4. Think about a current challenge or brokenness in your life. How can you see this as part of God's process of molding you into a better version of yourself? ([46:02])
5. How can you actively participate in the "new thing" God is doing in your life or community? What practical steps can you take to align with His plans? ([18:19])
6. What familiar symbols or experiences in your life might God be using to communicate deeper truths to you? How can you be more attentive to these? ([29:52])
7. How can you support others in your community who are going through their own remodeling process? What specific actions can you take to encourage and uplift them? ([09:02])
Devotional
Day 1: A Heart Full of Thanksgiving
Begin each day with a heart full of gratitude, acknowledging God's gifts of life and eternal life. Lift up prayers for healing, guidance, and wisdom for our community and nation, trusting in God's grace to be upon us. Thanksgiving is not just a seasonal activity but a daily practice that aligns our hearts with God's goodness. When we start our day with gratitude, we open ourselves to recognizing God's presence in every moment, big or small. This practice not only uplifts our spirits but also strengthens our faith, reminding us that God is always at work in our lives.
As we lift our prayers to God, we should remember to include those who are unwell in our community, asking for His healing touch. Additionally, we should pray for our nation's leaders, especially as elections approach, seeking God's wisdom and guidance for them. By doing so, we acknowledge that God is sovereign over all aspects of our lives and our world. [09:02]
Psalm 100:4-5 (ESV): "Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."
Reflection: Who in your life can you pray for today, asking for God's healing and guidance? How can you incorporate a practice of daily thanksgiving into your routine?
Day 2: God’s Interest in Our Future
God is not only concerned with our past but is deeply invested in our present and future. He offers us a clean slate and calls us to renew our covenant with Him, reminding us that the future is now, and He is doing a new thing in our lives. This understanding should fill us with hope and anticipation, knowing that God has plans for us that are good and full of promise.
Reflecting on the Book of Jeremiah, we see that God is always calling His people to a fresh start. He desires to lead us into a future that is aligned with His will and purpose. This requires us to let go of past mistakes and embrace the new opportunities He places before us. By renewing our covenant with God, we commit to walking in His ways and trusting in His plans for our lives. [18:19]
Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV): "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to embrace a fresh start? How can you actively renew your covenant with God today?
Day 3: The Process of Remodeling
Just as a potter shapes clay, God continually molds us into better versions of ourselves. This process involves observation, discovery, and transformation, where we must carefully watch and perceive what God is doing around us. The metaphor of the potter and the clay illustrates that we are works in progress, constantly being shaped by God's hands.
Observation is the first step in this process. We need to be attentive to God's actions and presence in our lives. This leads to discovery, where we gain new insights and understandings about His plans for us. Finally, we enter the remodeling phase, where God shapes and reshapes us, even through our brokenness, to fulfill His purpose. This transformation is often challenging but ultimately leads to spiritual growth and maturity. [21:23]
Jeremiah 18:3-4 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: In what ways can you be more observant of God's work in your life? How can you embrace the process of being molded and reshaped by Him?
Day 4: God’s Communication
God speaks to us in ways we understand, using familiar symbols and experiences to reveal deeper truths. By observing our surroundings and reflecting on our experiences, we gain new insights and revelations about God's plans for us. This means that God is always communicating with us, often in subtle and unexpected ways.
We need to be attentive and open to these divine messages, whether they come through nature, relationships, or everyday occurrences. By doing so, we can better understand God's will and direction for our lives. This requires a posture of listening and a willingness to see beyond the surface of our experiences. [29:52]
Job 33:14-16 (ESV): "For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds, then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings."
Reflection: How has God communicated with you in unexpected ways recently? What can you do to be more attentive to His voice in your daily life?
Day 5: Transformation Through Brokenness
In our brokenness, God works to bring us back to Him, molding us into His image. This process, though sometimes painful, is essential for our spiritual growth. God's authority over our lives is incontestable, and His power is absolute. When we submit to His will, we experience transformation and become vessels for His glory.
Our brokenness is not a barrier to God's work but rather an opportunity for Him to demonstrate His power and grace. Through our struggles and challenges, God refines us and draws us closer to Him. This transformation is a testament to His love and sovereignty, reminding us that He is always in control and has a purpose for our lives. [46:02]
2 Corinthians 4:7-9 (ESV): "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."
Reflection: What areas of brokenness in your life can you bring to God for healing and transformation? How can you trust in His power and authority over your circumstances?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "God is interested not only in the past, but he's also interested in our present and our future. And God gave us a word from the first Sunday that the future is now. The future is not just in the distant past. God said, I am doing a new thing. We shall spring forth. And that means that the slate is clean, right? It means that when God gives us opportunity to start up fresh. It means that a slate is clean for us." [18:19] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God created you in the image of God's likeness. You are beautifully and wonderfully made. You were crafted. Every part of your being. You were crafted. Even your innermost being was crafted. Your physical body was crafted. Everything around you, from your heart to the soul of your feet, was very intentional. You were intentional in the mind of God. God created you." [27:42] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When God calls us, he calls us to perceive, to watch, to observe means to see carefully. Carefully, because it's one thing to see something, but it's another thing to take a deep look into it. God calls us into observation to pay attention to our surrounding, to our community. He said, go to the porter's house, go there and observe. Sometimes all we need to do is to just go to the places God is calling us and just watch around." [31:01] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "No matter how broken your life gets into, God has the power to bring the pieces together. God has the power to bring your life together and to remodel you into his original plan. New life comes even out of our bodies. New life comes out of our brokenness. Do you feel broken this morning? Do you feel disturbed this morning?" [47:17] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "When God calls you, he doesn't call you to the things that you don't know. God calls you to the same thing that you know but he opens your eyes to see the same thing in a different way. Do I have witness at all this morning that is the God that we are serving is a God that gives us opportunity to go and see." [29:52] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "When God calls us, the whole point is that he's bringing us into a season of re of shaping and reshaping us because the the truth is that there is always a better version of ourselves there is always a better version of the church there is always a better version of me I can become more and more better onto the coming of the Lord there is always a better version." [21:23] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Every season God gives to us, the meaning, the reason for new season is for discovery. The reason for every new season is for us to see something new. It's for us to see new, have new revelation. Have new specific revelation. There is what we call general revelation. Everybody knows about God. But there is a specific revelation for your life and for your family. There is a specific revelation for the church." [43:27] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Until God gets what God wants from your life, God will continue to shape you and reshape you until God gets the best out of you. Until you come to the place where you become like Christ, God is shaping and reshaping us and making us better. But the caveat is this. Sometimes when it's reshaping, it goes through brokenness. Sometimes the clay is broken. Sometimes our lives are broken." [45:28] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When God has our heart, then he has authority over our lives. He said, as the potter turns the wheel, can I turn you, Israel, shape you, Israel, into what I want? So we move from observation then we go into discovery. We go into depth with God. Oh, I didn't know this about God. Oh, I've worked with God for long. But now I see something different. I see a depth in God that is different." [42:01] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "When you see, God gives you a message out of that. When you see with the eyes of God, it registers with a new meaning, and it becomes more significant. There were so many archaeological sites in Israel, so many poetry that, so many remnants that was founded. So many things that were seen, so it wasn't a new thing. But God said, when you go, I will show you something that you do not know." [32:02] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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