Have you ever observed human behavior when someone pulls out a camera? Bodies straighten, chins jut out, hair gets tossed, eyes widen, shoulders broaden, and smiles appear. No one wants to appear at a disadvantage. We want to look attractive, composed, focused, and strong.
Yet, such a pose belies an ever-present reality that people are easily breakable – emotionally, relationally, financially, and in so many other ways. This fragility can cause us to lose heart. As Christians, we can wonder why God asks us to carry the glorious message of the gospel in vessels that are nothing special.
As we continue to trace the Apostle Paul’s argument through the first seven chapters of 2 Corinthians, he unveils a pointed metaphor that gets to the paradox of the Christian message and life: jars of clay.
Not Losing Heart
February 27, 2022 • Jon Morales • 2 Corinthians 4:1–6
The Tussle of True Relationships
April 10, 2022 • Jon Morales
Have you ever struggled in a relationship? Hopefully so! If not, the relationship probably wasn’t all that important. Truth is, the most transformative relationships are complex. On one hand, they bring comfort and joy. On the other, sorrow and pain. We tend to much prefer comfort and joy relationships. After all, when things run smoothly, relationships are easy. But when the sorrow and pain arrive it becomes very tempting to bail out. Since this relational complexity exists between the Apostle Paul and the Corinthian Church, let’s learn from them! In this final message of our Jars of Clay series, we’ll explore three things that mark the very best relationships.
Perfecting Holiness
April 3, 2022
Our world today is complicated. Many times, navigating how we are supposed to live out our faith in today's world can be even more complicated. As we continue in our series, Jars of Clay, we will discover how we should interact with the world around us and live among people who don't share our same convictions. Join us as we learn how we can perfect holiness.
When the Heart Shrinks
March 27, 2022 • Jon Morales
We all have people we love. They are dear to us and our actions toward them often reveal our sentiments. But things can happen that cause us to withhold our affection. On occasion, it is something they’ve done. More often, it is something going on within us. For some reason, we can no longer be transparent in the same way. An emotional distance has been created. The Apostle Paul sensed such a dynamic was occurring between the Corinthian believers and himself. That’s why every word through the first six chapters of his letter now culminates in a grand appeal that could change the trajectory of their church. It could change our trajectory as well!