Bible Text: 2 Corinthians 4:5–12 | Preacher: Pastor Andrew Okai

Treasure in Jars of Clay
Sermon text: 2 Corinthians 4:5-12
Sermon prepared by the Holy Spirit and Pastor Andrew T. Okai
Second Sunday after Pentecost
June 3, 2018
Introduction

Grace, mercy, and peace…

One of the hardest things that I have struggled with is God’s interest in mankind. I struggle with this because, according to our own philosophy, when we have interest in something, that thing should have a benefit for us.

So I started to dig a little deeper into this relationship that God has with mankind, seeking to find out what it is that he gets in return for all the love, the sacrifice, the patience, the grief, etc. And here is what I’ve found: NOTHING.

Spiritual
Spiritual man was dead without God. So the only thing in which we had a little hope is this body; but look at its worth—Paul even calls it a jar of clay.
Ills
Have you ever gone to the store to pawn or trade in something that you thought had a lot of value to it and got slapped in the face by what it was really worth?

I want to believe that King David did the same thing, which made him come up with this question: What is mankind, that God is mindful of us, that He cares for us?

So the first thing we gather from all of this is that we bring nothing to this relationship at all. And our second reading today shows the Apostle Paul addressing the Church of Corinth regarding this matter.

We are unworthy servants

We were undesired sinners

Two major things light does: Produces life and knowledge
The purpose of this light: God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ

We are unworthy vessels

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all—the surpassing power is from God and not from us.

There are some things that we need to consider as we ponder why in the Bible we are constantly referred to as clay.

Clay comes from the earth
Clay was always processed by a potter.
Clay can be remade after the will of the porter.

The clay does not seek its own glory. Today’s text tells us that we have this treasure in jars of clay.