Sunday Sermon Manuscript – September 7

Title: In the Potter’s Hands

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1–11

Introduction: The Season of Creation and Our Response

1. From September until Advent, we observe the Season of Creation. The Season of Creation is a time to remember that God created the world and is still renewing it today, and to keep this season with a heart that cares for our lives and our environment.

2. Last Monday, during the youth retreat, Elder Jeon Eun-Heon was seen at church re-sorting trash for recycling. I happened to be at church and helped with the task, and that moment stayed with me for a long time. I thought to myself that I could not match the elder’s heart for the church and that I should stop doing recycling carelessly and do it properly.

3. So, I immediately purchased new trash bins. Now you have an environment where it is easier to separate recyclables from general trash, so I hope that together we will make an effort not to do the work twice, and even better, that it becomes a good habit so that we preserve and protect, even in small ways, the world God created.

4. The passage we read today tells us that God is always at work for us, and that how we respond determines how God reshapes us. Perhaps our response or effort may not stand out right away, but I believe that through our response God will renew our lives, our church, and the world. Let us keep this in mind as we share the Word together.

Exegesis: Lessons Learned at the Potter’s House

5. Jeremiah 18 begins with Jeremiah hearing God’s word and going down to the potter’s house. Verse 2: “Go down at once to the potter’s house; there I will let you hear my words.”

6. God told Jeremiah to hear God’s word not at his desk, but in the place where people actually live out their lives. In today’s terms, it could be like saying, “Go to a gas station” or “Go to a coffee shop.”

7. When Jeremiah went down, he saw the potter forming a vessel out of clay.

8. Verse 4: “And when the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, he reworked it into another vessel…” The translation we read says, “when the vessel was spoiled,” but the original Hebrew uses the word ve-nishchat, which means “completely ruined.” The verb used is in a form that shows the action continues — it does not end with being ruined but is followed by being reshaped into another vessel.

9. The potter that Jeremiah saw did not stop when the vessel was ruined but continued the process to make it right. What we must notice here is that being ruined does not mean a final decision that cannot be reversed; rather, it can lead to being reshaped again.

10. We must remember that this action continues — that the ruined thing is being made new again.

11. In verse 6, God speaks: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you just as this potter has done? says the Lord. Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.”

12. God, the sovereign one, says that He is like the potter. And we are like this clay. This means God continually shapes us, and if He is not pleased, He crushes and reshapes us until He is satisfied.

13. Then why would God be displeased? Or why would the vessel get ruined? The potter’s skill is the same — the problem lies in the condition of the clay. If the clay is too wet, it cannot hold its form. If it is too dry and hard, it is difficult to shape. It needs the right amount of moisture and plasticity to form the desired shape. If stones, sand, or organic matter are mixed in, it can break during shaping or burst in the kiln. The shrinkage rate during drying and firing must be even, or the vessel will warp or crack. The clay composition determines the final strength, color, and surface texture.

14. All these factors must be considered to make a good vessel. God is shaping us, but if we are not like suitable clay, we will inevitably be crushed. This means that how we prepare and respond is also important.

15. Most importantly, even if we are crushed because we were not well-prepared, God does not give up but continues to shape us until we become the vessel He desires. We must remember that this is the meaning of God forming us and walking with us.

16. God is sovereign, but the direction of His work can change according to our response.

17. In verses 7–10, God makes it clear: if we repent, He relents from disaster; if we disobey, He withholds blessing. God is not mechanical, but continually working without rest, just like the potter who reshapes the ruined clay into something beautiful. God tirelessly prepares new things according to our choices and decisions.

Current Situation: The Church and My Story

18. Yesterday, we hosted the Northern California Mission Dinner at our church. Since it was the first event of its kind here, I was nervous, but I thank everyone who worked so hard. I especially thank the men’s group who, while preparing today’s lunch, came early yesterday to cook and set tables and took care of so many tasks behind the scenes.

19. I also thank Deacon Vicky who beautifully decorated the tables. Open Church now has a reputation for good table settings — which tells you how much work went into it.

20. The mission dinner is not for anyone’s personal gain. It is a gathering of Korean United Methodist Churches in Northern California to worship together and raise funds for church planting. Even if it seems like nothing big is happening right now, these acts of devotion and these small seeds will grow, and God will do something new.

21. If you look around the U.S. — or the world — you will hardly find a place where churches unite like this every year to hold a mission dinner. In an age when everyone is busy trying to survive on their own, dreaming of planting churches together may seem out of step with the times.

22. But personally, I believe this effort — even if its fruits are not yet visible — will have deep meaning for all of us. Though it may not be obvious right away, I believe that over time God will renew us through these efforts.

23. And on September 27, the Mannam Ensemble will perform their fall concert here at our church. You may have seen the posters. This is not just a concert — it will also raise funds for Nepal missions.

24. I shared briefly about this in a recent service: we plan to support “Mukti Mission.” “Mukti” means “salvation” in Nepali. This mission supports Jina School in Nepal, runs an orphanage ministry, and operates a café.

25. As I shared before, Jina Park, a young woman from Jongyo Church in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, went on a short-term mission trip to Nepal and tragically died of sepsis. The church and congregation were so heartbroken that they raised funds, collecting over 2 billion won — much more than expected — and gave the money to her family.

26. Her father, remembering that his daughter’s lifelong wish was for him to attend church, said he would worship every Sunday and asked that the money be used for the country his daughter loved and died serving. With that fund, Jina School was founded.

27. Even earlier, in 1992, a woman named Hong Sa-Ok, a graduate of Yonsei University Medical School, died in a plane crash while traveling to Nepal for medical mission work. Her parents donated her life insurance payout to missionaries, and Somang School was built in Kathmandu. Today, it is recognized as one of the best private schools in Nepal. Her photo still hangs in the Somang School auditorium.

28. Hearing these stories, we may feel emotions that cannot be fully expressed in words — sorrow and pain beyond what we can imagine. I summarized briefly, but when we consider the pain of the church, the pastors, the families, and the friends who faced these tragedies, we realize it cannot be captured in a few sentences.

29. Jina Park’s father was a nonbeliever, and he could have turned even more hostile toward the church after such a tragedy. His beloved daughter had just finished medical school and could have lived a comfortable life, but despite his opposition, she insisted on serving the poor with her skills. As parents, their hearts must have been deeply wounded.

30. But their response was different. Instead of stopping in regret, surrender, or despair — instead of remaining in the place of death and destruction — their response allowed God to continue His work without ceasing.

31. In the place where life seemed to be gone, unexpected acts and decisions gave birth to new life in unimaginable ways.

32. Just as the potter keeps reshaping ruined clay into a vessel he desires, God shaped new hope and memory from the way these people responded. This is how the God who is our potter reshapes us.

Our Limits and God’s Work

33. I do not want to hide my own limitations from you. I have been a “church kid” since childhood. When my parents worked late, the church always welcomed me like a warm embrace, with pastors and friends who kept me from being lonely.

34. Because of this memory, I think I made all my life decisions inside the church. In my most sensitive years, when I was most lonely, I became overly dependent on the church. Instead of doing what I should have reasonably done, I let the church come first. As a result, I could not properly do what I needed to do during those times.

35. So I could not enjoy school life as other friends did. I had to repeat a year and study again. Though my pride made me act as if nothing was wrong, those times always made me feel like a failure.

36. But God reshaped me, bringing me to the life I have now.

37. You may have heard my stories of hardship in America. If I had chosen a different path then — if I had responded to God in a different way — I might not be pastoring as I am today.

38. Then, has everything gotten better? I think my situation is still similar. I think fast and have a personality that likes to move quickly. But church work is not something done alone — we must move together. When I go too fast, I sometimes feel sorry for the members who may feel overwhelmed.

39. Everyone is busy, and sometimes I wonder if I am burdening them by bringing unexpected new ideas that make them think and work more.

40. Then is the church perfect? No — our church also has limitations. Because people have often come and gone over the years, it takes time to form deep bonds. Everyone is so busy during the week that when we meet just once on Sunday — to worship, fellowship, and have meetings — fellowship can be limited.

41. Recently, the Newcomers Team suggested that for one month we should wear name tags so that everyone can learn each other’s names. It is a small attempt, but I believe it will make our church warmer. Through such efforts, we will draw closer to one another and love each other more.

42. In this situation, I experience the congregation’s response — their willingness to make up for my shortcomings and support me. I see the church thinking creatively, serving, and working to fill the gaps.

43. I believe this is how God is reshaping our church according to our response. Seeing our limitations and weaknesses, God uses them as material to form us into a new community.

Application: A Life Responding to God

44. Today’s message asks us this question: “Are you prepared like clay in the potter’s hands?” God is renewing the church even today. When we open our hearts, obey, and decide, God begins new work. Our dedication and our small participation come together, and God reshapes the church.

Conclusion: God Renews Us

45. Dear beloved, yes — I also think that pastoring here is a miracle. This week marks exactly one year since our church moved from Oakland to Orinda. At that time, many were worried: “Will this work? Will the members follow?” But now, I can feel that you are proud of this place.

46. Personally, I confess that I believe God led us through this entire process. I also believe that this was possible because we responded faithfully. Because we responded with faith, prayer, and dedication, God guided us this way.

47. Open Church has now spent one year in this new place. I believe that this year was not just a time of adjustment but also a time that showed us there is much more to be done. And what we do next — and how we respond — will determine how God reshapes us.

48. This is not just about the church. It is the same for each and every one of you. Depending on the decisions you make and the responses you offer, God will reshape you. I am full of expectation — expectation of how God will renew our church, and how He will shape and use each one of you.

49. As we stand before this Word today, may we entrust ourselves like clay in the potter’s hands, and may we make a decision to expect the new thing God will accomplish through us.