8/4 Life Group

​*8/4/2023* Young Adult Life Group guide

 
Treasure in a Jar
(2 CORINTHIANS 4:7-10)
*Special Guest Preacher: Rev. Jim-Bob Park (Compassion Korea)
 
Pause & Reflect
 

1. What has God been teaching you through last week’s message? Read the texts once more and discern what the holy Spirit is desiring to say through it.

 
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 
8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 
10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
 

1. Why are we so focused on managing our self-image? (*Hint: Beginning with original sin [Garden of Eden])
2. What is the most important thing God sees in a worshiper's attitude? (*Hint: See the inner person, the center. The purpose of worship is transformation, not information. Let's change beginning with me, just as I am yet not staying as I am. As worshippers, we have many different jobs and titles in the Lord’s ministry, yet they are for functional purposes to edify the body, not positional purposes for self-promotion. Let's not be mistaken.)
3. Does the material of the jar matter? Or is the content inside the jar a more critical matter? (*Hint: Clay jars harden when heated. This is like our hearts – the heart hardens to become a hardened-heart when the heat of our pride gets to us. Our pride is not the external jar, but the contents inside it. If there is filth or trash in a golden jar, it is a trashcan/trash jar – not a golden jar. The gold outside loses its value by filthy trash inside of it. But if Jesus is contained even inside a jar for trash, it is a treasure – a life full of His power. A Christian should be in a relational life, not a religious life – Jesus and I should become one in relationship. **What comes out when the jar is broken is what the person contains. We need to examine the content of our jar because one day, like Job, our jar will shatter by the storms of life. We need to be ready. Yet even when our jar shatters, we can say with Job – “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. [JOB 1:21]” Even though our jar shatters, our Treasure never will. In fact, our Treasure inside will piece back our jar in ways more beautiful, magnificent, glorious, and amazing that we could have never had without it shattering in the first place.)
4. What kind of jar does God use? (*Hint: He uses all kinds of bowls, except one – a dirty bowl. We need to get in the dishwasher. The dishwasher is the story of our life. The blood of Jesus washes away the scum, so that we can come out new and clean. This requires us to repent daily with a humble and thankful heart for the life of Jesus that has made us clean jars forevermore.)
5. Why is the world getting darker? (*Hint: The world is doing its job properly – spreading its darkness. The problem is not with the darkness but with the light. The world looks darker because the light is not doing its job properly. Even the smallest light – as small as a mustard seed – can repel any darkness. Let's play our role as the light of Christ properly! Let's keep the dishes clean! The story of the plate in the dishwasher is the story of our lives. The story of the jar is only my life before God! There is no need to look at others, compare and evaluate how dirtier or less dirty you are. Any dirt makes a dirty dish. Instead, look at what’s inside your jar, and when the trials of life shatter your jar, remember who is piecing it back together more beautifully than before – Christ in you.)

 

 
Holy Spirit Moment
Take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit to fill you, and pray.
 
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18)
 
…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7)