Becoming, Part 2: In the Potter’s Hands

Grant Fishbook, Lead Teaching Pastor

Jeremiah 18:1–6
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ² “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” ³ So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. ⁴ But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.
      ⁵ Then the word of the Lord came to me. ⁶ He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.

A breakdown of this passage:
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ² “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” ³ So I went down to the potter’s house…

³ So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel.

4 Lessons from the Potter’s House

1. I am in the hands of the

2. The necessity of

3. I have to

Recap: This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ² “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you, my message.” ³ So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. ⁴ But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands;

4. Marred vessels can be  

⁴ But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

Isaiah 43:1b-3a
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
      I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
      I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
      they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
      you will not be burned;
      the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
      the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

⁵ Then the word of the Lord came to me. ⁶ He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.”

Small Group Questions

1. What is the most prized possession you gave to your parents, as a child, OR what have you received from someone that was truly a “treasure” to you?
2. Do you have any experience with pottery? What spiritual lessons did you learn from this activity?
3. What happened in your heart when Grant shared the story about Dr. Robert Kleck’s “scar” experiment? How do your “scars” affect the way you interact with people?
4. Which of the four lessons are you learning right now?
5. What does it mean to you to accept the invitation of God to go to the Potter’s house? How are you actively taking Jesus up on His offer and invitation?
6. What do you need prayer for today?