Treasure in Clay Jars Devo - 2 Cor 4: 1-18

July 27th, 2020

Devotional

“Treasure in Clay Jars” -

        2 Cor 4: 1-18

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Ministry” - 2 Cor 4: 1-2

Paul does not play around with words in the today’s passage - this is God’s ministry. They are engaged in it because of God’s mercy alone. What leads Paul to make such a true and bold statement? Probably because people are starting to get discouraged. If it is all about us and what we produce to determine our call and our worth, it becomes really is to lose confidence and heart

But Paul reminds us that our call and confidence come from God. If other people get ahead by engaging in behavior that doesn’t honor God - it isn’t worth it. If we have all of the success in the world, but we fail to follow God - it isn’t worth it. 

This section of scripture starts out as an invitation of sorts. An invitation to remember that what we do is to please God and bring glory to God’s name. 

  What is the ministry that you are called to?

Prayer: God, we thank you that you choose to use us as part of your mission and ministry in the world. We are humbled, O Lord, and we want to live lives that please you. Let us chase after you alone, O Lord, we pray. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Veiled” - 2 Cor 4: 3-6

When you think of veils, what comes to mind? For me, it is the veil that brides wear at weddings, that is flipped back to reveal their happy faces after walking down the aisle. 

With that image in mind, approach this piece of scripture in a different way. While the Gospel is veiled to those who are perishing, does that mean it has to be veiled forever? No! Light can still seep through the material, inviting people to flip it back in order to be able to fully see. 

God’s work is not stopped by the veil that is over our hearts and spiritual eyes. That is why we keep proclaiming the message of Jesus over and over and over again. We don’t know the exact moment when the veil will be uncovered so people can see the light of God. 

What images come to mind when you hear the word “veil”?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that sometimes we become discouraged when it comes to sharing you Good News. We tell people about you a handful of times, but when they do not respond with immediate boldness, we quickly move on. Help us, O Lord, to stay the course, remembering that you are doing something in the hearts and lives of others, even if we cannot see it. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Clay Jars” - 2 Cor 4: 7-12

  Not many people like the idea of being compared to a clay jar. Why? Because clay is fragile. After it sets or is fired, it becomes hard, but it is not hard to the point of being unbreakable. It can crack and chip and look fractured. 

But while we may not like the image, does that make the image untrue? No. The image Paul is lifting up here is accurate. We too, are fragile. We, too, are breakable. We, to, can chip and crack in so many ways.

Yet, the light of God continues on. Through all of those ways that the world would define as broken, we continue to shine forth the hope of Jesus Christ. Jesus is made visible in our brokenness, because it is a reminder that it is Christ’s message we are sharing, not our own. And we share it by Christ’s power, not our own. 

How has the power of Christ been proclaimed through your fragility or cracks?

Prayer: God, we confess that sometimes we would really like to be able to say that we did something by our own power. But, we also know that this is not true. That which we do that shines light and love and truth and mercy and hope into the world comes from your power alone. Help us to rely on your power, we pray. Amen. 

Thursday: “Faith” - 2 Cor 4: 13-15

  The faith that Paul is speaking of is in Christ alone. Because we have died in Christ, we are made newly alive for Christ. And that is a gift that we are given by God’s love and mercy. 

We find this elsewhere in scripture, like Psalm 116:10, which says, I kept my faith, even when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”.

In other words, our scriptural faith is not dependent upon outer circumstances, but instead it is built upon the rock of our salvation. 

  What is your faith built upon and why?

Prayer: Lord, when we want our faith to rest on you alone. We want a faith that can withstand the afflictions that may come our way. Lord, strengthen us, we pray. Amen. 

Friday: “Preparing Us” - 2 Cor: 16-18

  Paul is calling the Corinthians in this section of scripture to keep heart, to keep pressing on, and to mature. Not to keep heart in themselves or to keep pressing on to their desires, but towards Christ alone. Not to mature by their own standards, but in Christ.

Paul is encouraging them to be strengthened both inwardly and outwardly by Christ alone, for that is the one they (and we) are called to proclaim - not themselves. 

But that doesn’t make it easy. Maturity is a hard process. It is not as natural as growing up. It comes by being attentive and seeking to be continually changed by Christ. Nor does that strength come without patience and practice. But as we are stretched and transformed, we know that it is preparing us for what is to come. 

What has lead to your maturation in Christ?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for not leaving us where we are, so that we wold be unprepared for that which is to come. Thank you for inviting us to go deep and stretch wider for the sake of your Kingdom. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Walk by Faith not Sight” - 2 Cor 5: 1-21

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: 2 Cor 4: 1-18

From the Sermon:

Kintsugi is __________ objects being repaired with gold. 

It is by our own human choices that we _____ the Gospel.

Our God is the God of _______________________.

For Paul, this isn’t just physical light that we see with our eyes, but the light of the _____________ of God that can shine into the darkness of our ________.

What the world would define as ________ - that is what God uses for blessing. And what the world defines as whole, that looks like _______________ to God.

When we have died in Christ, we become a new _____________.

You have a ____________ to share.

Reflection Questions:

Have you ever known someone who had the light of Christ shining out of them?

What prevents us from shining the light of Christ?

Are we going to let our brokenness stop us from proclaiming the light and love of God?

Prayer:

Lord, teach us to see ourselves as you see us. If there are places in us that are broken and have caused harm in our relationship with you, let your Truth come to be known so healing can take place. If there are things about us that the world says are broken, may we be reminded that those cracks allow us to share your treasure with the world. Use us, O Lord, we pray. Amen. 

Forgiveness Devo - 2 Cor 2: 1-10

July 19th, 2020

Devotional

“Forgiveness” -

      2 Corinthians 2: 1-10

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Painful Visit” - 2 Cor 2: 1-2

At the end of last week’s devotional, we reflected on how Paul was supposed to come and visit the Corinthians, but something prevented him from doing so. He believed that it was the will of God that he did not come visit. 

In today’s passage, he further unpacks that sentiment, stating that it would have been a painful visit. Which is not to say that the letters that the Corinthians received were not painful letters. But the question is how to speak to them in a way where they can best hear Paul and receive his admonishment to correct some of their behaviors.

No one likes to be corrected. But Paul did so out of love for the Corinthians and concern for them. And because he knows of Christ’s love for them, which he wants them to lean on to sustain them. While correction is hard, Paul chose to do it in a way that he felt was the most loving. 

  How do you respond when you are corrected out of love?

Prayer: God, we thank you that you do not desire for us to remain as we are. Instead, you invite us to be transformed through the love of Jesus Christ. Speak to the places in our hearts, Dear God, where we need to be transformed the most, we pray. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Abundant Love” - 2 Cor 2: 3-4

Perhaps what we need, like the Corinthian Church needed, is a reframing of what correction means. For some they respond defensively because they feel that they are being attacked. Others retreat out of fear or pain. Still others become paralyzed by what they hear and do not know how to respond. 

But what would happen if we saw correction as coming from a deep place of love? Would that change our response at all? 

Paul clearly tells the Corinthians that he does not want them to suffer pain because of him. But he also recognizes that something in the community caused him distress and anguish and that it needs to be addressed. Not from a place of hurt, but rather because of the abundant love that he has for them. 

What does correction in love look like to you?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that we would love to live in a world where no one causes one another any pain - but that simply is not our current reality. O Lord, as others cause us pain, may we figure out how to respond with your love, as you have responded to us when we were yet far from you. We pray this in Jesus’s name. Amen. 

Wednesday: “All of You” - 2 Cor 2: 5-6

  Think back to one of the well-known passages from 1 Corinthians. Paul compares the body of Christ to a physical body, where all parts are needed. But here is the other part of the body - when one part suffers, the whole body suffers. 

Think about when you have a cut on your hand. If you do not address the cut on your hand, does it stay just a problem with the hand? Probably not. If it is severe enough and is left untreated long enough, an infection can go through the whole body.

So it is with pain that we cause one another in the body of Christ. If it festers, often people will try to draw others in to their side so they can “win” the argument, which results in an even larger problem. It would seem like this is the case in Corinth, as Paul is not recommending that they deal with the issue one person to one person, but rather the body needs to deal with it because the body is involved. 

How can pain to one person become pain to the body of Christ?

Prayer: God, we confess that at times we are no better at dealing with conflict and hurt within the local church than people are in the outside world. Lord, remind us that we are bound together by your Lordship, and therefore, we need to treat each other as one body. Teach us to love anew, we pray. Amen. 

Thursday: “Forgive” - 2 Cor 2: 7-8

  All of a sudden Paul makes a hard pivot towards forgiveness. At one moment he is speaking about punishment, and in the next he is calling for the body to forgive and console this member that is causing pain.

Paul is essentially asking the body what will do the most good for the body as whole. Is it better to seek justice or to show mercy? What do they hope to achieve and how can healing be possible.

It is interesting that Paul is the one calling for forgiveness, because some scholars believe that the person being written about has wounded Paul - probably by calling into question his teachings. But Paul is quick to remind people that when one suffers, all suffer. 

  Can you think of a story that reflects the idea that when one suffers, all suffer?

Prayer: Lord, when we want to be people of justice. We like the idea of people being punished - as long as it isn’t us. If we are wronged, we often want vengeance. And when someone hurts a person we love, we want to seek justice on their behalf. Yet, you speak through your apostle of forgiveness and mercy. O Lord, have mercy on us, in our struggle with forgiveness, we pray. Amen. 

Friday: “Your Sake” - 2 Cor 2: 9-10

  Paul again affirms that all he has done, he has done out of love for the Corinthians. What he wrote them, he did so out of love. Not being able to come in person, was done out of love, for it would cause more pain. And now, calling them to forgive, that is also done in love.

What we need to remember is that all that is done in love, is not by our own strength or power. Instead, it is done through Christ, who first loved us. The love that is reflected by Paul throughout this passage is the love of God, that is only possible through us, as fallen human beings, by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. 

What allows you to love?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving us. And thank you, even when it is hard, for inviting us to love and forgive others. May we find true freedom, the freedom to love, through your grace, we pray. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Treasure in Clay Jars” - 2 Cor 4: 1-18

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: 2 Cor 2: 1-10

From the Sermon:

Emotional hurts are a direct result of Adam and Eve __________ God.

_________________ is essential to life.

Jesus ultimately _______ as he _________, forgiving even the people who called for him to be crucified and those who mocked and beat him as he hung on the cross.

The Apostle Paul is speaking to the Church in Corinth about following Jesus’s ________ when it comes to forgiveness.

Forgiveness becomes easier the more we practice it and the more we remember that we are forgiven by _______.

Reflection Questions:

When you pray “forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us” what does that mean to you?

How have you experienced God’s forgiveness in your life?

Prayer:

Lord, we confess that we struggle with the topic of forgiveness. We are not sure if we really want to let go of our grudges and hurts, especially if they have defined us. Invite us, O Lord, into a new way - your way - of living, we pray. Amen. 

Consolation Devo - 2 Cor 1: 1-11

July 12th, 2020

Devotional

“Consolation” 

                  2 Corinthians 1

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Suffering” - 2 Cor 1: 1-7

Why do bad things happen to good people? This is a question that people have wrestled with for centuries. As we heard in our previous sermon series on Job, there was a prevalent thought in ancient Israel that bad things only happened to bad people - so if you were suffering you must have some unconfessed sin in your life. 

Fast forward to the time of Paul. People may not have articulated it the same way, but some in the church in Corinth felt that Paul must not be a true apostle, because his sufferings abound. He has been beaten up, put in jail, chased out of town. For some it became message that he could not truly be sent by Christ. Fast forward even more to today where we also struggle how to explain suffering. 

For Paul, neither these theologies were correct. For him, suffering allows us to be consoled or comforted by God. And as we are comforted by God, so we are able to comfort others. In other words it is precisely because he has suffered so much that he can bring the Good News in a way that reaches people’s hearts. 

  How has your suffering helped you to comfort others?

Prayer: God, we thank you that you can redeem our suffering. For in our trials, we feel the peace and comfort of your presence, which we are able to proclaim to others in their own sufferings. Thank you, O Lord! Amen. 

Tuesday: “Rescue” - 2 Cor 1: 8-11

Paul had a gift for not avoiding tough topics. He knew what some people were saying about his lack of credibility as an apostle because of his suffering, but instead of shying away from it, he leans in. Telling of exactly how much he suffered in Asia.

But even that suffering held a gift from Paul, because it taught him that it is God alone who rescues. Which is a message he can now boldly proclaim to the Corinthians. And because of that, Paul can have hope in all situations. For his hope doesn’t rest in the ways of man, but in God alone. 

What has taught you to hope?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that sometimes life seems to press in on us to the point of despair. Yet, even in those times you invite us to hope. To not hope in the situation itself or the ways of the world, but instead hope in the help that can only come from you. Save us, we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Testimony” - 2 Cor 1: 12-14

  In the last few weeks I have had a few funeral services. What always strikes me about preparing to celebrate someone’s life is what their family members have to say about them. What they have to proclaim about why this person’s life deeply mattered to them and to the world. 

Paul does not wait until he has perished in this world to talk about the meaning of life. Not just his life, but the lives of those who he is in ministry with. He says outright that they have behaved with frankness and godly sincerity. And they want to pass on the wisdom and grace of God. 

Some day we will all have someone who speaks of us when we are gone. If not at a funeral service perhaps in an obituary. If not in an obituary, perhaps around the table, passing down stories to the next generation. What do you want them to proclaim about how you lived? How is your life right here and now a testimony?

What do you want people to say about the faith you lived when you are gone?

Prayer: God, we want to be people who are known for our love of you and our love of others. Use us in such a way that others cannot help but know of your Good News through the way that we live our lives. Amen!

Thursday: “Yes and No” - 2 Cor 1: 15-22

  We live in a world where it is assumed that someone is going to break a promise to you at some point in time. We learn this lesson very early on, when our parents promise to take us somewhere, only to have plans change. We carry it into our adult lives, where we double and triple book ourselves because we say “yes” in such a way that it actually means “no.”

Not so for Paul. Living in an honor shame society, not keepings one word was not tolerable. It would make people lose respect in you and speak poorly of your name.

Paul is speaking to the Corinthians about not just making their word matter, but to seek first the Word of God. God has said “yes” over each of us in a way that speaks to our calling. And now we are to say “yes” back to God, without reserve, in a way that brings God all the glory!

  How often do you say “yes!” To God?

Prayer: Lord, sometimes we seek to please other people more than please you. We say “yes” to everyone, only to disappoint them. And we rarely say “yes” to you, which is also disappointment. Lord, teach us how to boldly say “yes” to you, all for the sake of your Kingdom. Amen. 

Friday: “Did Not Come” - 2 Cor 1: 23-24

  It would seem that news is traveling around that Paul was to come to Corinth, but that he never made it. His point, however, is clear. He did not make it, because it was not in God’s timing. While Paul may have desired to be there, it was better that he was not. 

Because Paul was absent, it taught them to stand firm in their faith. Because Paul was absent, they had to learn how to share the Good News without him, in a faithful way. Because Paul was absent they had to learn to serve God on their own. 

It is hard to find joy in the fact that our plans are sometimes not God’s plan. And yet, Paul brings that joy out, boldly, for the Corinthians, pointing out they were blessed even in his absence. Next time something does not go as plan, what would it look like to seek the blessing of God in the change?

Tell of a time when things did not go as you planned and it was a blessing. 

Prayer: Lord, we thank you that you are God and we are not. We thank you that your ways are better than our ways. Let these not just be words that we say, but that which we believe with all our hearts. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Forgiveness” - 2 Cor 2: 1-10. 

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: 2 Corinthians 1: 1-11

From the Sermon:

The traditional use of the term  ___________ was held for those who walked with Jesus while he was on this earth.

For Paul, he knew that he was commissioned and sent by God to bring the _____________.

We, too, are called to _______________ and ___________________.

In _______________,  we are moving closer to God and we are embodying the love we receive from God in the world.

________________ is moving away from God.

Reflection Questions:

How does God want us to serve him in this season of our life? How are we to proclaim the Gospel with our lips and our lives?

Have we made serving Christ and sharing the Gospel the priority?

Prayer:

Lord, we want to be a people who seek after your heart and your Way. Make it clear to us the next step we should take and give us a spirit of obedience to respond. Amen. 

Job 41: 1-8, 42: 1-17 Devo

July 5th, 2020

Devotional

“Job - The Ending”

              Job 41: 1-8, 42: 1-17

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Can You?” - Job 41: 1-8

One of the struggles with Scripture is it doesn’t have direction notes. It does not say “read this verse in this tone” or “say this verse in this voice”. So it leaves a lot to be interrperted. As a result there are a few different ways to approach this section of the book of Job. One is to say that God is challenging Job. Asking the questions that we see in today’s passage in a booming voice. Another way to read it is God asking Job questions that make him reconsider and think deeply.

But no matter what tone you imagine these questions being posed, the result is that God invites Job to remember that he does not know everything. There is no way he can - for he is not God. 

God created the seas and everything in them. Job has zero control over the creatures in the ocean, just as Job feels like he does not have control currently in his own life.

When we feel like we are not in control we tend to feel a surge of stress. But this passage serves as reminder that there are things that we cannot see or understand at work. Just because we do not understand does not mean that God is uncaring or absent. 

  How do you feel when your life is out of control? How do you approach God during these times?

Prayer: God, we thank you that you are God and we are not. We thank you that you created and ordered the whole universe. When our experience is beyond our understanding, may we lean into your love, we pray. Amen. 

Tuesday: “I Had Heard” - Job 42: 1-6

This one statement is one of my favorites in the entire book of Job - “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.” I want you to take a moment and think how you came to know of the love of Jesus. For me it was wonderful parents and grandparents, Sunday school teachers, choir directors, and church folks who taught me about Jesus. 

The key word being taught. 

I heard what they said. 

But at some point I had to come to know that love for myself. The type of knowing that moves from the head to the heart. And that can only come from experiencing Jesus in my own life. 

So it was for Job. Up until this point his faith was solid in what he had heard, but now he has heard God’s voice for himself and it changed his whole experience. 

How did you go from hearing about Jesus to knowing Jesus personally?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that sometimes we are so dependent on what other people have told us about you that we fail to look to have a relationship with you all our own. Forgive us, O Lord. May we respond like your servant Job that we have now experienced you ourselves. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Prayer” - Job 42: 7-9

  A lot of folks would prefer to skip right over this section of Job because it calls us to the hard work of forgiveness. God calls Job’s friends into account for all that they said to Job during this difficult time. They had not said the truth about God, so now God demanded a sacrifice. 

And what did God require of Job - to pray for these people who he thought were his friends. To pray for these men who had sat and said horrible things to him. They brought a sacrifice for a burnt offering, but it is God that prayed for him. 

And the Lord accepted Job’s prayer. 

How many of us could pray for those who have hurt us in this way? How many of us could pray that God would forgive them? Sometimes that task seems so daunting. To not only forgive them ourselves, but to pray to God for their forgiveness as well. Yet, this act was just as healing for him as it was for his friends. 

Do you find it difficult to pray for those who hurt you? Why or why not?

Prayer: God, we confess that sometimes we would rather not pray for those who have who wronged us. Or if we pray, we pray for them to get what they deserve. Yet, you invite us to pray for their forgiveness. Invite us, again and again, to come before you in such an attitude of prayer, we pray. Amen. 

Thursday: “Sympathy and Comfort” -Job 42: 10-11

  In stark contrast to Job’s friends stand his brothers and sisters who came to Job’s house and ate with him. They sat in his presence and showed him sympathy and comfort. They went on to bless him with riches. 

I wonder what it would look like if we simply sat with people who are grieving a little bit more and talked a little bit less. I know so many people who do not call or comfort those who mourn because they are afraid of saying the right thing, when really nothing needs to be said at all. Simply being there with someone in sympathy and comfort is a true gift.

What if being present with someone in their grief is actually the richest gift we could give during such a time? Not a gift of money, but a gift of simply being there, praying for someone, and embodying love. What could change in our community and our world if we showed up this way for each other?

How do you best approach those who grieve?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you that when we grieve we are not left alone. You have gifted us with a community of care. Let us be part of that community for others, simply by showing up and being present, we pray. Amen. 

Friday: “Blessed” - Job 42: 12-17

  This ending section of the book of Job is full of pecularities. First, it speaks of Job being blessed richly, with new animals. New sons. New daughters. But the truth is, this blessing does not take away the sting of what he lost. You cannot replace children with others. Therefore, the blessing does not take away the pain, but rather proclaims the glory of God. 

Also, in a day and time when daughters did not inherit anything, Job gave his daughters an inheritance like his sons. This speaks to the benevolent nature of Job’s heart and wishing to share his blessings with the world. 

So it is with our lives. We, too, are blessed to bless others. We, too, glorify God. We, too, grieve that which we have lost. In the story of Job we find a picture of our own fragile humanity, but also a call to worship our God. 

How do you worship God?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for reminding us that restoration does not mean simply replacing that which we grieve. Instead, it is a call to worship you in all times and circumstances. Restore us, O Lord, we pray. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Consolation” - 2 Cor 1: 1-11

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: Job 41: 1-8, 42: 1-17

From the Sermon:

In Job 41, we hear about God’s _________  in a series of questions to Job.

Job responds to God saying “I had heard of you by the hearing of the _____ , but now my _____ sees you”.

In other words, God, I thought I knew you before, but really I only knew what I had _______ about you.

For John Wesley, we couldn’t really have assurance about something until we had a personal _____________.

Job had this new experience of God coming and _________ with him, and it ___________ him.

God can handle our ________.

Reflection Questions:

What were experiences that you had with God that changed you?

How did these experiences draw you closer to God?

Prayer:

Lord, we confess that at times we have made you and your love so small. We have failed to draw close to you, because we do not notice your presence. Forgive us, O Lord, and remind us of your vast love for us. Amen.