ROCK OR CLAY
Pastor Mark Warda
Woodland Church
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Why do you choose to be a Christian?
Why do you believe you are a Christian?
(2 Corinthians 4:6-12, ESV) “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.”
Clay is temporal.
Clay is inexpensive.
Clay is common.
Clay is organic.
Humus is Latin for earth
Humus: a brown or black complex variable material resulting from partial decomposition of plant or animal matter and forming the organic portion of soil. – Webster’s Dictionary
Rock is inorganic.
Rock is hard.
Rock resists change.
Rock is fixed.
God did not promise that the Christian walk would be easy; but it would be worth it!
We are all walking toward something.
(Hebrews 12:2) “keep our eyes on Jesus, who initiates and perfects our faith.”
Energy at rest is potential energy.
Energy in motion is kinetic energy.
The Law of Inertia states that an object at rest tends to stay at rest, and an object in motiontends to stay in motion.
We all have potential to do great things for God.
Doctrines tell you what you should do.
Actions show how much you believe in the doctrines.
“Christian living presupposes Christian conviction. But unfortunately, it is possible to have beliefs that do not find expression in conduct. This belief of the head is often confused with real faith. The simple truth is, one really believes only that which one acts upon.” – Billy Graham
(Isaiah 64:8) “But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”
humus is the Latin root for humble.
It stems from the meaning to bow lowly to the earth.
(Romans 9:20-21, NCV) “An object should not ask the person who made it, “Why did you make me like this?” The potter can make anything he wants to make. He can use the same clay to make one thing for special use and another thing for daily use.”
(Romans 9:20-21, Message) “Who in the world do you think you are to second-guess God? Do you for one moment suppose any of us knows enough to call God into question? Clay doesn’t talk back to the fingers that mold it, saying, “Why did you shape me like this?” Isn’t it obvious that a potter has a perfect right to shape one lump of clay into a vase for holding flowers and another into a pot for cooking beans?”
Take your eyes off of yourself and “fix your eyes upon Jesus.”
Don’t look at the lump of clay that you are.
Rather, look at the potter who Jesus is.
It’s not about you.
It’s about Christ IN you.
The content of the vessel gives it its value.
Our humility and obedience not only allows us to be used appropriately by God – but in so doing – we find our greatest sense of joy and fulfillment!
(2 Corinthians 4:7, NLT) “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”
The treasure is the Gospel message!
The Gospel message needs to be shared!
(2 Corinthians 2:14–15) “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”
(2 Corinthians 4:6) “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Not only do we need to be broken for God to be spilled out,
we need to be broken for God’s Gospel message to shine out.
To be broken for the sake of Jesus means that we must die to ourselves.
(2 Corinthians 4:11-12) “For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.”
Nothing can grow in a bed of inorganic rocks.
In contrast; plants can grow in soil of organic clay; that is, humus.
Are you rock or clay?
Without death, there is no humus.
Without humus, there is no life.
When we humble ourselves, to die to ourselves, we become the humus that brings life to others.
For whom are you dying so that they can live?