In The Potter’s Hands

In the Potter’s Hands

June 7, 2009 Morning Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Focus Passage: Jeremiah 18:1-6

Supplemental Passage: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Introduction:

I. God’s Purpose

a. The potter has a purpose in mind for his work. (v. 3)

i. Jeremiah watched the potter as he molded the clay into the object he wanted.

b. God has a purpose for our lives.

i. Humanity’s highest wisdom is to seek and fit into that purpose.

II. Our Failure

a. The potter’s design can be spoiled (v. 4a).

i. As Jeremiah watched, some imperfection in the clay caused it to be marred in the potter’s hand.

b. Through sin we distort God’s purpose for our lives.

i. Having distorted that purpose, there seems to be little hope for us.

III. God’s Redesign

a. Renewal is possible at the hand of the potter (vv. 4b-6)

i. The potter did not discard the spoiled clay: he reworked it.

b. God, the Potter, can take a ruined life and make it into something incredible.

i. The only thing that stands in the way of God’s renewing hand is a stubborn heart.

Invitation: