SERMON TITLE: THE POTTER’S HOUSE
SUB TOPIC: A TEACHABLE MOMENT
Sermon Text:
1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2 “arise” and go down to the potter’s house and there I will cause you to hear my words.
3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was making something at the wheel.
4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.
5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
6 “O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter?” saith the LORD. Look as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in mine hand, O house of Israel.
Introduction:
I’d like to talk a little bit about “A TEACHABLE MOMENT.” Are you teachable? – do you have a teachable spirit?
Is your mind able to jump on another train of thought and easily consider another’s point of view?
Or is your mind a lot like mine? Does it get stuck on one track? Does it get stuck on one train of thought? And then not switch from one track to another? Being teachable is about allowing God to pilot us, to put us on the right course.In order for us to be teachable⦠we have to learn to be teachable⦠and allow GodTo mold us like a potter molds clay!
I. The Definition of a Teachable Moment
The concept of a Teachable Moment was popularizied by robert Havinghurst in his book Human development and Education in 1952. He says a teachable moment , in education, is the time at which learning a particular topic or idea becomes possible or easiest. A teachable moment is an unplanned opportunity that arises where a teacher has an ideal chance to offer insight to his or her students.
II. From a Spiritual Perspective (A Teachable Moment) :
Requires A Teachable Spirit
A teachable moment necessitates and requires a teachable spirit; otherwise one will miss out on the opportunity to be enlightened by divine revelation. God given knowledge and wisdom is always assigned to a particular person, in a specific place of position, and at a designated time or moment, for a divine purpose.
A teachable moment is when God decides to open our blinded eyes, unstop deaf ears, and speak of (hidden , forbidden), secrets better known as mysteries. Teachable moments are rare and few in between, have you had a teachable moment? Is God trying to tell you something? Is God trying to get your attention? Is God trying to show you something? Let me ask you something, are you broken? We may be broken in many ways, financially, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. You are of a contrite spirit if you are spiritually broken and if so you may be in a teachable moment and just don’t realize it, or know it. If you are of a contrite spirit, you’re in the right place to have a teachable spirit.
Psalm 34:18 The LORD [is] nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such a be of a contrite spirit.
The Historical Setting of Our Text Today is:
Jeremiah is the author or writer. Jeremiah is sometimes referred to as the weeping prophet because of his love and concern and deep compassion for the people of Judah. He would weep or cry over their unfaithfulness, obstinate disobedience, and idolatrous ways. In chapter 1 Jeremiah’s early call to the work and office of a prophet is stated. He was to be a prophet, not to the Jews only, but to the neighboring nations. He is still a prophet to the whole world, and it would be well if we would attend to these warnings. The Lord who formed us, knows for what particular services and purposes he has intended for us. But unless he sanctify us by his new-creating Spirit, we shall neither be fit for his holy service on earth, nor his holy happiness in heaven.
Let’s Take A Look At Our Text (exegesis):
In verse one the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, In other words God gave Jeremiah specific instructions and directions. FIRST he told him to go to a specific designated place (the potter’s house), SECONDhe told him something would happen or he would do something, God said he would cause him (or you) to hear His Words. In other words God would unstop his ears, he would open his ears. In verse three Jeremiah – acting in obedience went into the potter’s house and observed him making something at the wheel. Not only did God open his ears, but God also open his eyes, he was able to see, discern, and understand what the potter was doing.
Sometimes in life God has to let us experience the situation or the ordeal, he has to show us as we’re going through circumstance and scenarios how he is working the thing out. Then in verse five We’re ready to receive the word of the Lord, and understand that he is making us over again, and again, and again. Another one of my favorite childhood cartoons was Gumby. The clay man, he was very versatile, flexible, bendable, shapeable, changeable, breakable and moldable. He was always victorious, and successful. Whatever he needed to do, or whatever he needed to become he could reshape and change himself, his image, his statue, his look, and become something new and different. In other words he was pliable. That’s the key word in our text, for us to grasp and receive today. We have to be pliable in the hands of God, like clay – for he is the potter, and we are the clay.
Let Us Transition to The Present (Here and Now) :
We need to realize that we’re a work in progress; God is not finished with us yet.
Phil.1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:
We need to be pliable, and ask God to break us, make us, shape us, and mold us after his will and good pleasure.
We are saved (past tense) JUSTIFIED – by the blood of Jesus.
We are being saved (present tense) SANCTIFICATION – set apart, made holy or consecrated, a purification process.
We will be saved (future tense) GLORIFICATION – eternal inheritance.
Being Teachable is a spiritual issue, because God wants to shape us more and more into the image of Christ. In the 12 Chapter of Hebrews we find, God disciplines us so that we may “share in God’s holiness,” and produce the “peaceable fruit of righteousness.” And God has one basic course in spiritual formation for all of us . . . and that course is Life. And when we’re teachable we learn and grow in this life. God wouldn’t have it any other way.
Point # 1: We need a teachable spirit:
Without a teachable spirit we will be as said in [2 Timothy 3:7] “Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Proverbs 1:5 a wise [man] will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall
attain unto wise counsels
Proverbs 9:9 Give [instruction] to a wise [man], and he will be yet wiser: teach a just [man], and he will increase in learning.
Point #2: Divine Revelation comes within a teachable moment
2 Tim 2: 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
1 Tim 2: 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Point #3: We receive Spiritual Enlightenment: when we have a teachable spirit
I Cor. 2: 13 -14
13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
Point #4: Jesus is our example of having a teachable spirit
HEB 5: 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Phil 2: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Conclusion:
In closing,m let me make some simple statements about Being Teachable.
Having a Teachable Spirit is a freeing thing — it frees us form the overwhelming burden of always having to be right. Being teachable means that we realize that our knowledge is incomplete. Being teachable also means that we ask ourselves (silently in our hearts) what can each person I come into contact with teach me? What can I learn from this person? Every person that God ever created has something to teach us. Being teachable means that we truly believe that God isn’t finished with us yet. And therefore we offer ourselves to God in each and every circumstance, and ask to be taught and shaped more into the image of Christ. So that we may gain more of the mind of Christ, more of the life of Christ within us. So we need to practice being teachable. I guarantee you, life will give us opportunities to do so. We need to be learners, a curious observer and students of life.We need to be pliable like clay. AMEN…AMEN..AMEN.
Review of Points:
1. We need a teachable spirit:
2. Divine Revelation comes within a teachable moment
3. We receive Spiritual Enlightenment: when we have a teachable spirit
4. Jesus is our example of having a teachable spirit
SERMON TITLE: THE POTTER’S HOUSE
SUB TOPIC: A TEACHABLE MOMENT