Shaped by Grace: Trusting God's Restoration in Our Lives
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound metaphor of the potter and the clay from Jeremiah 18, reflecting on how God, as the potter, shapes our lives. This imagery reminds us that God is sovereign, and we are the clay, meant to be pliable and surrendered to His will. Our lives, like clay, are shaped by the circumstances we face, both the highs and the lows, which God uses to mold us into vessels for His glory. We carry the treasure of God's glory within us, despite our imperfections and past mistakes.
We also discussed the importance of the upcoming "Christmas for Christ" service, where we are encouraged to bring a monetary gift for Jesus, symbolizing our commitment to keeping Christ at the center of the holiday season. This gift will support the rebuilding of orphanages in Thailand and Myanmar, demonstrating God's love in a tangible way to children in need.
The sermon emphasized that no matter how broken our lives may seem, God is in the business of restoration. Just as a potter can take broken pieces of pottery and reform them into something new, God can take the shattered parts of our lives and create something beautiful. This process requires us to trust God's heart, plan, and purpose for our lives. We must be willing to repent, surrender our brokenness to Him, and allow Him to work in us.
We concluded with an invitation to those who feel broken to trust in God's restorative power. By surrendering our lives to Jesus, we can experience His forgiveness and become vessels that carry His glory. This transformation is not just for our benefit but also for the purpose of sharing His love and grace with others.
Key Takeaways:
1. God as the Potter: God is the sovereign potter, and we are the clay. Our role is to be surrendered and pliable, allowing Him to shape us according to His will. This requires humility and trust, recognizing that His plans are higher than ours. [46:47]
2. The Wheel of Life: The wheel represents life's circumstances, both good and bad. God uses these experiences to mold us into vessels for His glory. It's in the valleys that we learn profound truths about God that we wouldn't discover on the mountaintops. [50:27]
3. Restoration from Brokenness: No matter how broken we feel, God can restore us. Like a potter reworking broken pottery, God can take the shattered pieces of our lives and create something new and beautiful. This process requires our willingness to trust and surrender. [57:45]
4. Trusting God's Heart and Plan: Trusting in God's love and His plan for restoration is crucial. He loves us even in our brokenness and desires to make us whole. This involves repentance and a willingness to let go of past mistakes, trusting that His grace is sufficient. [01:03:57]
5. Purpose Beyond Restoration: God's restoration is not just for our benefit but for His kingdom purpose. We are called to carry His glory and share His love with others, helping to restore those who are lost or have strayed from their faith. [01:15:36]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Introduction to the Series
[02:30] - Christmas for Christ Announcement
[05:15] - The Potter's House Metaphor
[10:00] - God as the Potter
[15:30] - We Are the Clay
[20:00] - Life's Circumstances as the Wheel
[25:00] - Restoration from Brokenness
[30:00] - Trusting God's Heart
[35:00] - Trusting God's Plan
[40:00] - Trusting God's Purpose
[45:00] - Invitation to Surrender
[50:00] - Prayer and Response
[55:00] - Closing and Worship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Jeremiah 18:1-6
- 2 Corinthians 4:6-7
- 1 Peter 5:10
---
Observation Questions:
1. In Jeremiah 18, what does the potter's house metaphor illustrate about God's relationship with us? How does this imagery help us understand our role as the clay? [46:47]
2. According to the sermon, what does the "wheel" represent in our lives, and how does it contribute to our spiritual growth? [50:27]
3. How does the sermon describe the process of restoration for broken lives, and what role does trust play in this process? [57:45]
4. What is the significance of the "treasure" mentioned in 2 Corinthians 4:6-7, and how does it relate to our imperfections? [51:45]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the metaphor of the potter and the clay challenge our understanding of God's sovereignty and our need for humility? [49:19]
2. In what ways do life's circumstances, represented by the wheel, teach us about God's character and our dependence on Him? [50:27]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of repentance and surrender in experiencing God's restoration? How does this align with the message in 1 Peter 5:10? [01:03:57]
4. How does the concept of carrying God's glory in "jars of clay" influence our perspective on our own weaknesses and past mistakes? [51:45]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like a broken vessel. How did you experience God's restorative power, and what steps did you take to surrender your brokenness to Him? [57:45]
2. The sermon emphasizes trusting God's heart and plan. What specific areas of your life do you find difficult to trust God with, and how can you begin to surrender those areas to Him? [01:03:57]
3. Consider the upcoming "Christmas for Christ" service. How can participating in this event help you keep Christ at the center of the holiday season, and what impact might it have on the children in Thailand and Myanmar? [02:01:14]
4. Identify a circumstance in your life that feels like a "valley." How can you seek God's presence and learn from this experience, trusting that He is using it to shape you? [50:27]
5. The sermon calls us to be vessels that carry God's glory. What practical steps can you take this week to share His love and grace with someone who feels broken or lost? [01:15:36]
6. How can you remind yourself daily of the treasure of God's glory within you, despite your imperfections? Consider creating a tangible reminder, like a scripture or symbol, to keep this truth at the forefront of your mind. [51:45]
7. Reflect on the process of restoration described in the sermon. What is one specific area of your life where you need to trust God's plan for restoration, and how can you actively participate in that process? [01:10:38]
Devotional
Day 1: God’s Sovereign Hand in Our Lives
God is the potter, and we are the clay. This metaphor from Jeremiah 18 illustrates the sovereignty of God in shaping our lives. As clay, our role is to be pliable and surrendered to His will, allowing Him to mold us according to His divine purpose. This requires humility and trust, recognizing that His plans are higher than ours. In the process of being shaped, we may face challenges and trials, but these are part of God’s design to refine us and make us vessels for His glory. Embracing this truth means acknowledging that our lives are not our own and that true fulfillment comes from aligning with God’s will. [46:47]
Isaiah 64:8 (ESV): "But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find it difficult to trust God’s sovereignty? How can you begin to surrender this area to Him today?
Day 2: Life’s Circumstances as the Potter’s Wheel
The wheel of life represents the circumstances we encounter, both good and bad. God uses these experiences to mold us into vessels for His glory. It is often in the valleys, during times of struggle and hardship, that we learn profound truths about God that we wouldn’t discover on the mountaintops. These experiences are not random but are part of God’s intentional design to shape our character and deepen our faith. By viewing life’s challenges as opportunities for growth, we can embrace them with a sense of purpose and hope, knowing that God is at work in every situation. [50:27]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: Think of a recent challenge you faced. How did it shape your understanding of God’s character and your relationship with Him?
Day 3: Restoration from Brokenness
No matter how broken we feel, God is in the business of restoration. Like a potter reworking broken pottery, God can take the shattered pieces of our lives and create something new and beautiful. This process requires our willingness to trust and surrender our brokenness to Him. It involves repentance and a willingness to let go of past mistakes, trusting that His grace is sufficient. God’s restorative power is not limited by our imperfections; rather, He delights in transforming our brokenness into something that reflects His glory. [57:45]
Psalm 147:3 (ESV): "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
Reflection: What is one area of brokenness in your life that you need to surrender to God for restoration? How can you take a step towards healing today?
Day 4: Trusting God’s Heart and Plan
Trusting in God’s love and His plan for restoration is crucial. He loves us even in our brokenness and desires to make us whole. This involves repentance and a willingness to let go of past mistakes, trusting that His grace is sufficient. By surrendering our lives to Jesus, we can experience His forgiveness and become vessels that carry His glory. This transformation is not just for our benefit but also for the purpose of sharing His love and grace with others. [01:03:57]
Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV): "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Reflection: Reflect on a past mistake that you have struggled to let go of. How can you trust in God’s plan for your life and move forward in His grace?
Day 5: Purpose Beyond Restoration
God’s restoration is not just for our benefit but for His kingdom purpose. We are called to carry His glory and share His love with others, helping to restore those who are lost or have strayed from their faith. This involves living out our faith in tangible ways, demonstrating God’s love and grace to those around us. By embracing our role as vessels of His glory, we can make a meaningful impact in the lives of others and contribute to the advancement of His kingdom. [01:15:36]
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: Who in your life needs to experience God’s love and grace? How can you be a vessel of His glory to them today?
Quotes
God is the potter. God's the potter. In this illustration, God's the potter, which helps us to know that God is God and you are not. You're not God. And I know we know that intellectually, but sometimes we live like we're God. [00:48:43] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
It doesn't matter how broken or how busted up your life may be right now. In fact, this may be a good representation of who you are or how you feel. It doesn't matter how busted or broken you are right now. [00:58:24] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
The potter's not done with you. You need to hear that. The potter, our God, is not done with you. In fact, our God is in the business of restoration. That's the kind of God that he is. [00:58:43] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
He's into this process of renovating our lives. And he can pick up all of the broken pieces and he can help us begin to put it back together again. And when he's done, there's a glory that he deposits in us. [01:02:18] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
You have to be willing to trust God's heart. The first thing that you're going to have to do is to trust his heart. And here's his heart for you. I want you to know that God absolutely loves you. [01:03:57] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Not only does God love you, but he's patient with you. He's patient with you. And his heart, his desire for you, what God's heart is for you, is that you would come to him and surrender your life to him. [01:05:41] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
And what I want you to understand is that not only does God have a plan to put your life back together again, to put the pieces of your life back together again, he has a purpose, a kingdom purpose for what he wants to do in you. [01:15:10] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Nov 19, 2024. Do you have any questions about it?