REALLIFE STUDY GROUP
“Let The Potter Repair The
Damage”
ICEBREAKER: If
you had to get rid of all but one modern convenience which one would you find
it hard to live without? Explain. ( Air
Conditioning, Washing Machine/Dryer, Dishwasher, Hairdryer-curlers, Cell Phone,
Microwave Oven, Iron, Calculator, TV/Radio, Vacuum Cleaner, Alarm Clock, Indoor
Running Water, Coffee-Maker, Car, etc…)
OUTLINE: The
Potter’s Program
1.
He
searched & separated
2.
He
soaked & saturated
3.
He
sifted & shook
4.
He
stepped & stomped
5.
He spun
& shaped
6.
He sat
it in the fire
7.
He
shellacked it
TEXT: Jeremiah 18:1-6
STUDY GROUP
QUESTIONS:
- When the potter originally chose
the clay he was looking at its potential, not its present condition. If God were looking at you right now
what would He see?
- A millionaire in the making
- An awesome author
- A great athlete
- A hard worker
- An outstanding statesman
- A diligent mom
- _______________________________________________________
- After the potter selected and separated
the clay he poured water on it to make it more pliable. If you were to name an area of your life
that you need to be more flexible what would it be? (This is symbolic of
the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.) Be creative on this one.
- My expectations of others
- My expectations of myself
- Trusting God’s timetable
- Caring what others think
- ________________________________________________________
- The potter would then begin to sift
the clay to remove any foreign objects like metals or pebbles. If God were to remove anything in your
life that limits, hinders, or diminishes your value, what would it be?
- A Habit (You don’t have to name it)
- A Relationship that pulls you down
- A Mindset that holds you back
- An Attitude of pride or self
dependence
- A Root of bitterness
- _______________________________________________________
- The next thing the potter would do is
put the clay on the ground and step on it. Name a time in your life when you felt
like God was allowing you to come under some pressure to bend your will to
his will.
(The
Situation could be relational, vocational, physical, spiritual, financial,
emotional…)
- At this point the potter would spin
the clay on the wheel and begin to shape it. The spinning & shaping represents
Him taking complete control and bring forth your unique design. What is your greatest strength that
makes you uniquely you?
- Then the potter would set
the clay into a fiery furnace. This
process would cause the clay to harden and many times the vessel would
begin to whistle or sing at the point that the clay was ready to be removed
from the heat. Can you think of a
fiery time in your life that you later realized that though it was
difficult, it was beneficial to you?
- Finally the potter shellacked the
clay vessel to bring out its shine.
In what area of your life would you like to shine or excel more for
Jesus?