Become like Jesus
Jeremiah 18:1-6 NIV
“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.”
God uses the imagery of a potter and clay to teach on Gods desire to shape us into the image and likeness of Jesus
God desires to shape us into the image and likeness of Jesus
Romans 8:29 “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”
Romans 9:20-21 “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ ” 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
God uses His word, church community and life’s circumstances to shape us.
Church community plays a vital role in our spiritual formation.
#1. Community is not optional
We cannot accomplish God’s mission and call on our life alone.
Genesis 2:18 “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9 “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work”
Stages of Community:
Perfection
Let Down
Realization
Jesus always lived in community.
#2. God uses community to shape us.
A healthy church community will accomplish two things in our life: Expose and Encourage
Expose - Community will expose weaknesses, motives, selfishness, and sinful behavior.
Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
Matthew 18:15 “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
Encourages - Community will support, care and celebrate alongside you.
Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
Community get’s below the surface and exposes and encourages us to grow spiritually.
#3. Community requires intentional effort and commitment.
Community doesn’t happen naturally. It requires work on our part.
For community to work we will have to make it a priority, and practice. Priority is the key.
Community will never work work if we are partial invested. Its all or nothing.
Don’t wait for community to come to knocking at your door. Go pursue it and find it.