Jars of Clay

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!

Are you reconciled to God?

March 20, 2022 • Jon Morales • 2 Corinthians 5:11—6:2

“So…what’s new with you?” Certainly, you’ve been on the receiving end of this simple conversation starter. Everyone has. What’s our usual response? “Oh…not much.” But is that true? As followers of Jesus, there is always something new with us. If God’s mercies are “new every morning” and we are a “new creation” in Christ, newness will be our daily experience. But if it’s not, what’s missing? What are we not understanding about being “in Christ” and what it means to be reconciled to God? From this week’s passage, we’ll discover the ways in which reconciliation transforms our lives and the lives of those around us.

An Eternal Body?

March 13, 2022 • Jon Morales • 2 Corinthians 5:1–10

How many times a day do you let out a groan? Sometimes the source of the groan is physical – you’re sore from a recent workout, or you’re getting older and are attempting to tie your shoes. Sometimes the source is emotional – sadness at world affairs, or the frustration from having to suffer fools. But every groan is, in some way, an expression of longing; not just the reprieve of a burden we currently carry, but a profound desire for something new, and something better. This week’s passage will leave you with confidence that God hears our longings and intends to fulfill them, but in the most amazing way.

Light Troubles. Eternal Glory.

March 6, 2022 • Jon Morales • 2 Corinthians 4:7–18

Anyone who achieves greatness and glory sees things a little differently. Take the Olympic athlete. You and I see someone who may have great talent, great resources, great lineage, or great privilege. And some or all of these external things may be true. But we don’t see how hard they work, how much they sacrifice, or their singularity of focus on a distant prize. For four minutes we focus on what we see. But for four years, they’ve focused on something unseen. In this week’s passage, the Apostle Paul challenges God’s church not to dwell on the difficulties of living in our present age, but to discover the power God unleashes through jars of clay.

Not Losing Heart

February 27, 2022 • Jon Morales • 2 Corinthians 4:1–6

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.

February 27 – April 10, 2022