So as you begin this journey of ministry together, the wisdom of this text is this: Don’t expect each other to be treasures. I love all the scripture passages referring to God as the “Potter” and humanity as the “clay”. Now that art has become available to watch on the internet. He says that “we have this treasure”—that is we have the Gospel of Jesus Christ—“in clay jars SO THAT it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us” (4:7). That story has come to encapsulate for me what it means for us to be the church together. A few years ago the winter was very cold and as a result the pot cracked but held together as you see in the picture. CRASH! Jars of clay also signify weakness and fragility. But you know—and I know—and Paul knows—and God knows that isn’t the case. So, it's terribly humbling to realize the APOSTLE PAUL tells us we are clay pots. He is the author of The Forgotten Books of the Bible: Recovering the Five Scrolls for Today (Fortress Press, 2018). The only way the world can see the treasure of Christ is when we are cracked or even broken in places and we allow the glory of Christ to shine out. Let Christ’s glory shine through you today. "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 9/11/2014 0 Comments I worry all the time. So, too, we can imagine that Park Hill Presbyterian Church is the most perfect church that has ever churched. Yet Paul doesn’t mean this to make us feel bad about ourselves. While we are walking back from the stream, you aren’t losing water—you are making the flowers grow! Here is a four minutes video showing an artist in action. On the way home, the cracked pot would lose half its water while the other pot remained full. Now sometimes for us Presbyterians it can be hard to admit our flaws, even though we know we have them. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. Treasure each other for all the quirks and cracks that make you who you are, through which you make known the true treasure that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, crucified and resurrected, so that all might have love and life abundantly. Of course, it’s not just Mercy Church. Because of our flaws, because of our brokenness, because of our frailty, God brings life into the world through us. It’s a great day for the Presbytery of Arkansas as we celebrate with you this new moment in our ongoing ministry together. Being the church together is difficult. A few years ago the winter was very cold and as a result the pot cracked but held together as you see in the picture. When they reached the house, the man said to the pot, “Did you notice that the flowers were growing only on one side of the path? God’s glory is made manifest exactly in our imperfection. But, if we’re honest, every single one of us is a cracked pot, too. You see, I knew about your crack, and so I planted flowers all along your side of the path. Robert Williamson Jr. is professor of religious studies at Hendrix College, founding pastor of Mercy Community Church of Little Rock, and cohost of the popular BibleWorm podcast. While I can’t tell it like Marie, it goes something like this: A man had two large pots that he used to carry water from the stream back to his house along a narrow path. 2 Timothy 3:1-7 At first glance this passage of scripture could sound like what you might have just read in the newspaper or saw on the ne... "Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father's house. The Women of Matthew’s Genealogy (Matthew 1:1-17), Catching Up to the Spirit: A Sermon (Acts 10), Vashti Exposes the Patriarchy (Esther 1:1-22), Solidarity and the Song of Songs (Song 5:2-9). God uses suffering in our lives to bring glory to Himself and to encourage others. Upon being placed in a warm area in the house, the wax melted and the crack appeared. But, despite their cracks, they bring so much beauty into the world, if only they—and we—could take the time to see it. It’s a great day for Park Hill Presbyterian Church, as you officially install one of the most committed and talented pastors I have ever known as your new minister. My favorite piece of pottery had just hit the floor by way of my rambunctious 2 year old. He calls us to show others our “cracks”. Sermon preached for the installation of Rev. Don’t expect each other to remain perfect, and shiny, and new. So, as we gather here on this installation Sunday, let us praise God for the imperfect ministry of Marie Mainard O’Connell! I am like that cracked jar of clay on our front yard. Like today, the people welcomed him with shouts of acclamation and joy! We can imagine that she preaches like Peter, evangelizes like Paul, and gives pastoral care like Mother Teresa. No one even tries to pretend. [] I have a message I want you to announce there. We are but jars of clay. While we walk back to the house today, I want you to look at all of the beautiful flowers along the path.” And sure enough, as they walked home the pot opened its eyes and noticed for the first time the beautiful array of flowers that decorated the journey home. On our front yard we have a large red pot as a decoration. It will reveal our flaws. While I say this half in jest, I do note that in today’s scripture from Second Corinthians, the apostle Paul explicitly compares his own time of ministry to the crucifixion of Jesus. Blog #sackcloth EI Worry. One of the pots was perfectly made and never leaked. Fragile clay pots. (2 Corinthians 4:7-12). Clay pots are not transparent like glass. We have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. The real power comes from God and not from us. When I first got to know Marie, we were both serving on the Visioning Team of Mercy Community Church of Little Rock, a little worshiping community we helped found back in 2015. Let us praise God for the imperfect congregation of Park Hill Presbyterian Church! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! You would be better off if I had no flaw. But, Paul tells us, that is the beauty of being the church together. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. We aren’t pearls of great price. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Paul tells us—and we ourselves know—that the life of ministry is hard. Now everyone who walks along the path looks at the flowers and thinks about how beautiful they are. Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! Why? Since then on my life's journey the Holy Spirit has been dwelling inside that cracked jar of clay. They have asked her to tell it over and over again, just about every time she would come to worship with us. Like today, they rolled out the red carpet for him, albeit a makeshift one made of cloaks and palm branches. Good News Translation Yet we who have this spiritual treasure are like common clay pots, in order to show that the supreme power belongs to God, not to us. But, how are others to see this treasure if it is in an opaque jar of clay? But the other pot had a crack in it. The image of pottery is it is fragile and can easily become cracked, chipped, or broken if dropped. The only way the world can see the treasure of Christ is when we are cracked or even broken in places and we allow the glory of Christ to shine out.