The Potter's House

“The Potter’s House”

Jeremiah 18:1-6

U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris

CP Walker, Taegu, South Korea

BIG IDEA: GOD DOESN’T GIVE-UP ON US.

REFERENCES: John 3:1-7; Jeremiah 18:1-11; Psalm 139:1-6,13-18; Deut. 30:15-20; 2 Cor. 4:7 (... earthen vessels in the KJV or Jars of Clay in the NIV); Rom. 9:21 (Hath not the potter power over the clay of the same lump to make one vesel unto honor and another unto dishonor); Isaiah 45:9-13 (... Potsherd strives with the potsherds ...)

I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Jeremiah 18:1-6

II. READ THE PERICOPE: JEREMIAH 18:1-6

III. READ THE TEXT: Jeremiah 18:4 (And the vessel that he made of

clay was marred in the hand of

the potter: so he made it

again another vessel, as

seemed good to the potter to

make it).

IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING – God is the Potter and we are the Marred clay; and He doesn’t GIVE-UP on us.

V. SERMONIC THEME: “The Potter’s House”

VI. Protaganist: The Potter, The Wheel, and The Marred Clay

INTRODUCTION: Who can ever forget the story recorded in the Fourth Gospel (John 3) about Nicodemus - the Secret Pharisaic Ruler of The Jews and Card caring Member of The Sanhedrin Court – who came to Jesus during the night uttering the NOW FAMOUS WORDS:

“Rabbi, we know that thou art a TEACHER come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN AGAIN, HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

*********************TAKE 5 BEATS**********************

MOVE 1: Now, clearly, my brothers and my sisters, Jesus (in John 3) takes on the role of TEACHER, EDUCATOR, AND THEOLOGIAN.

a. For He explains to NICodemus ... the THEOLOGICAL METAPHOR of HOW TO BE BORN AGAIN.

b. Jesus, like His Father (God) uses many things, methods, and techniques to teach His people.

c. For don’t you remember when Jesus was confronted by an angry group of ACCUSERS who had just caught a WOMAN IN THE VERY ACT OF ADULTERY (but somehow, selectively forgot to bring the gentleman that she was caught in the BED with ) ASKED JESUS ... to decide her fate based upon the LAWS OF MOSES ...

d. Jesus stooped down (according to John 8) and proceeded to conduct a BLOCK OF INSTRUCTIONS ON HANDWRITING; AND after their persistence (scribes and pharisees) JESUS INSTRUCTED THEM IN A CLASS entitled, ...

e. ROCK THROWING 101 ...ASKING beforehand that “THE STUDENT WITHOUT SIN, ... BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIT ... HER WITH THE FIRST ROCK.

f. The Bible tells us that AT THAT VERY MOMENT ... all of the accusers dropped “THE CLASS” ... For Jesus said unto the woman ... “...where are thou accusers ...go and sin no more.

g. Jesus, like his Father, was always teaching.

h. You may recall that God (in the Old Testament) used many things to TEACH HIS PEOPLE.

**********************TAKE 5 BEATS*********************

MOVE 2: LIKEWISE, IN OUR TEXT, THIS AFTERNOON GOD USES VISUAL AIDS from the Potter’s House TO TEACH Jeremiah.

a. Now, Biblical Research tells us that “Pottery was one of the oldest crafts in the Bible lands.” The place where potter’s clay was dug was called “potter’s field”.

b. The potter’s field, you may recall was a piece of ground (in the New Testament) which the priest bought with the money Judas received for betraying our Lord (in Matthew 27:7).

c. Pottery was shaped by hand on a potter’s wheel, powered by foot, and then dried and baked in a kiln. Many different items were made by the potter: basins, bowls, cups, dishes, jars, lamps, and pots to name few.

d. Careful study has been made of the historical development of pottery styles, so that experts can even date and place pottery with considerable accuracy.

e. In fact, many of you may recall CNN.COM running a new flash last year, (12 June 2003) regarding one of the most precious POTTERY from Iraq’s past was returned to the National Museum in Baghdad.

*********************TAKE 5 BEATS**********************

MOVE 3: Now, in our text this afternoon, Jeremiah sees the Potter making his vessels by using the wheel and the clay.

a. He was amazed by the results of THE GREAT POTTER. Because he could not see the IMAGE THAT THE POTTER HAD IN MIND. Still, the results were absolutely astonishing. The beautiful works of art were around him.

b. It was amazing just washing THE GREAT POTTER at WORK.

c. Jeremiah saw the Potter’s Wheel turning constantly, as it brought the clay against the potter’s hands.

d. Now, my brothers and my sisters, the wheel stands for the TURNING CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE under the control of the POTTER.