Broken pots

You know the feeling. You come up with a good illustration or object lesson, something that really made the message alive for the congregation, and you want to milk it for everything you can get out of it.

Jeremiah was sent to the potter’s house in chapter 18, and he came up with a stinging preaching, “’Oh house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done?’, declares the Lord.”

So Jerry, sensing an opportunity for good object lesson, picks up a nice clay pot and heads out of the city, and a crowd follows him.

I have used the same tactic—hold the thing in my hand, say nothing about it, and preach my message! Everyone is on edge knowing Marcos well enough to know he’s gonna do something out of line.

Jeremiah gave his Roe vs Wade message (this was before the Supreme Court’s ruling),

“because they have filled this place with the blood of innocents,

and have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal,

which I did not command or decree, nor did it come into my mind—

therefore, behold… this place shall be called Valley of Slaughter.”

Jeremiah 19.4-6

He smashes that pot—which was getting heavy by this time—and declares:

“Thus says the Lord of hosts:

So will I break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter's vessel.”

Yep.