This week, we talked about what it means to be clay in the potter’s hand. “But Lord, you are our father. We are like clay, and you are the potter. Your hands made us all.” Isaiah 64:8. Isaiah chapters 63 and 64 speak of remembering what the Lord has done, the ways He has previously saved us, to encourage us in praying for what is in front of us right now. We look to Him and remember His loyal love for His children and His Kindness. When we recognize our sin, we realize that our sin hardens our hearts and leads us in a different direction than where God wants to take us. This shows us that we need a Savior! We then must wait on God. To wait on God means I’m saying I TRUST that He knows the way and that HE WILL lead me through it, instead of leading myself. This is how I become clay in the potter’s hand. First remembering what the Lord has done, then repenting of my sin, and waiting on God and trusting Him. This gives Him full access to make my heart look just like His! “Also, I will teach you to respect me completely. I will put a new way to think inside you. I will take out the stubborn heart like stone from your bodies. And I will give you an obedient heart of flesh. ” Ezekiel 36:36. A soft heart represents one that responds to His love BY following His ways, He is always stretching out His love to us. A hardened heart represents one that tries to live apart from God, despite God stretching His hand to you. We know that nothing can separate us from God’s love though!
So to summarize: We must repent of our sin and trust God to lead us in the correct way, and obey Him. Then we become clay in His hands, for Him to give us a soft heart that follows His ways and looks more like Him.
Think About It: Our heart is soft when we obey God
Devotional
This week, I want you to start your prayers by thanking God for his unconditional love. Nothing can separate you from the Love of God! Nothing! (Romans 8:38). Knowing this, we know His love for us does not change even if we sin. He came to earth to live among us, a perfect life, and to die on the cross to save us from our sins. God planned this all, because of His love for YOU! This week, we should spend time remembering and thanking God the Father for sending His Son, thanking Jesus for dying on the cross because He knew it was His Father’s will and thanking Holy Spirit for coming to live with us now and show us the things of God. This week we talked about repentance, and how to have a soft heart as clay in our Father’s hands. Repentance is continual, not a one-time thing. It is a GOOD thing to repent! There is no shame. It makes our hearts soft. The goal is to have a softened heart, as clay in His hands. Meaning I have repented of my sins (turned away from them) and I am trusting God to lead me. I am continually looking to God, not just once a week, or once a day, but all the time. Spend time this week repenting of any sin in your heart. If you have mistreated a friend, not obeyed or honored your parents, or did something you know God was asking you not to do. He is READY to forgive you and make your heart soft to look more like His. Easter is in just a couple of weeks when we will come together to celebrate Him rising from the dead after paying for our sins. We can celebrate that every single day, by thanking God, and by obeying Him. Remember, this all comes from His deep, deep love for YOU.
Group Questions:
1. What does it mean to have a soft heart?
2. What does it mean to have a hardened heart?
3. Is God ALWAYS giving His love to you?
4. Can anything separate you from the love of God?
5. Extra $5 if you explain to your parents the difference between having a soft or hard heart. You can use the object lesson we did in class if you want!
God Encounters:
This week we used an object lesson to learn what it’s like to have a soft heart as clay in the Potter’s hands. One group had soft fresh play dough, and one group had hardened play dough that had been dried out. They were given prompts on things to create with the play dough. Sometimes the prompts changed to something different, and they had to change their creation to look differently based on each prompt. It proved more difficult for the group with hardened play dough, and they were unable to make their creation look how the leader (God) was instructing. Showing that a softened heart is able to be crafted by God to look exactly how He wants it.
“Also, I will teach you to respect me completely. I will put a new way to think inside you. I will take out the stubborn heart like stone from your bodies. And I will give you an obedient heart of flesh. ” Ezekiel 36:36
There are many rewards in God’s Kingdom. There are rewards in the kingdom of heaven for the good works we do here on Earth. However, there are also rewards that we can have here on Earth when we follow His commands.
How many can you think of? I will give you a dollar for each one you tell me on Sunday.
Upcoming Events
VBS SCUBA: June 10th – 14th 2024
Movie on the Lawn: June 21tst. 7 pm -God’s Not Dead-
Movie on the Lawn: August 23rd. 7 pm -God’s Not Dead 2-
Lads & Ladies Laser Tag: September 1st 12:30-3:00
Royal Ball: TBD
Christmas Cookie Decorating: December 7th. 10am-12:30pm
Testimonies
Last week we had a time of prayer for healing and prophecy. We listened for what God wanted to say about a specific person. One new student received words from both leaders and students about who God says He is, and what God wants for Him and His family. Some students got words over me (Madison) and it aligned with what God spoke to me on the way to church that morning!
“After this, I will give my Spirit freely to all kinds of people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.”
Hebrews 4:12
$10 Memory Verse:
“But Lord, you are our father. We are like clay, and you are the potter. Your hands made us all.” Isaiah 64:8
Parents:
You are the most important person in your child’s life. – Proverbs 22:6 Spend time helping your child understand the lesson and the devotional.
If you should have any questions or concerns, please email me at CurtW@ECDenver.org or call me at 720.900.7385.
