Hurts Heal

Hurts Heal

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” 2 Corinthians 4.7-12 NIV

Intro: It is great to see you here today . It is humbling to be part of this community of faith.

To be pastor of a really great church, a growing church.

There is so much opportunity and potential for God to awesome things in this place.

You can’t help but feel better and uplifted and encouraged when you are here

and that is what church is really all about.

The title of today sermon is “Hurts Heal.”

I am the father of two grown children. They both loved to play football.

There is almost a four year difference in their ages.

So I was very involved in football for over a decade.

I worked the concession stand as a dad and did my tour as President of the Football Boosters.

My oldest son Brandon could not get enough football.

Out of high school he played for the Knoxville Knights a simi-pro branded team.

Here is a picture of Brandon

Another picture of Brandon with the love of his life my granddaughter. She is on her way to becoming 6 now.

Trent is my youngest son and he also loved to play football:

Here is a picture of his junior year of high school.

See his name at the top team lift 585 lb.

That makes my whole body hurt just to say that.

He is a beast.

(He played rugby at Eastern Kentucky University)

Here is another picture of Trent and his girl friend Taylor.

I shared all of this because I know what it’s like to ride the roller coaster of losing and winning.

Everything from stupid offside penalties to injuries on the field.

To ice water being dump on the coaches after a District Win.

One time we had to rush to the hospital at half time to find out my son had a concussion.

To watching my son take a knee on the field

After he tackled another player on the other team.

The other player was a senior.

It was senior night and the other player was taken off the field with a broken leg.

It was a clean tackle.

It was an accident but it still got emotional to the beast of my son.

That he had injured another player especially a senior player.

Sports is just like life. It is filled with ups and downs.

Life is filled with highs and lows. Breaks and break-ups.

There are times when you ignore the injuries

There are times when you play through the pain and hurts.

Life is just like that.

One night there was this lady who surprised a burglar in her kitchen late one night.

She was home alone

She didn’t have any weapons. She didn’t know what she would do.

She thought to herself. I will just say a scripture verse.

She shouted out Acts 2:38

The burglar suddenly froze in this track…, wouldn’t move.

Soon the police arrived they were a amazed at a woman with no weapon could do this.

They said to the burglar what was it about that scripture that had such an effect on you?

He said, Scripture? What scripture? I thought she said she had an ax and two 38’s.

I want to talk to you today about how to get over some of the fears, frustrations and hurts in life.

We all have had negative things happen to us.

In life we often charge forward in spite of both physical pain or emotional pain.

It is interesting that in the scripture text the bible teaches us , our physical bodies are as “jars of clay.”

But God doesn’t focus on the perishable container

But on the priceless content.

That is you. The priceless content.

The person on the inside.

It really doesn’t matter whether you are a tuff guy, a beast, cheerleader, coach or average person.

The bible uses this broad brush to describe us a “jars of clay.”

As you were greeted this morning.

Hopefully you were welcomed and greeted by someone in the church.

You were probably asked something like: How are you this morning? How was your week?

I expect you answered something like, “doing great, went fine, pretty good week.”

And for many of you that was a lie.

If you were honest you would say, “I am dying on the inside.”