“Cracked Pots”
a sermon preached by the Rev. Linda Kuhn, interim minister
First Congregational UCC, . . . , WI
1/20/02
Scripture readings: I Corinthians 1: 4-10; II Corinthians 4: 1-10
“We have this treasure in clay jars – so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God
and does not come from us.” The treasure referred to here is the gospel message of God’s love and mercy, grace
and forgiveness, and the power of this good news to transform people’s lives. The Apostle Paul addressed this
letter to the congregation in Corinth, a congregation rich in resources, talent, ability, emotional passion. (not
unlike this congregation) There was much that this congregation in Corinth could be proud of. But if you read
the whole of I and II Corinthians, you will see the larger picture and understand that this church in Corinth was
also a congregation struggling with stresses and internal strains. It was in danger of breaking apart with
disruptions and controversy, tensions within and among its leadership. There was disagreement among them
about what it meant to be committed and faithful. It was enough to discourage some of them, make them feel
defeated. Paul reminded this congregation that the key to their power and strength as a church lay not in
themselves and in their own resources, and not in an illusion – or even expectation -- of their perfection and
“having it all together”. The source of their power and strength lay in the power of God at work within them if
they were willing.
Paul chooses a profound metaphor to describe the dynamics of what’s going on. He writes: we have this
treasure in “clay jars”, sometimes translated as “earthen vessels” or as “clay pots”. In our day and age, we tend
to relegate clay pots for only decorative purposes, such as flower pots. We’re used to using plastics and
microwavable containers. In Biblical times, however, earthenware, clay pots were the ordinary containers for
cooking and everyday use. Clay pots, in contrast to modern plastics, tend to be fragile. They are easily
chipped or broken. Clay pots can crack from pressures. They can crack because of flaws in their creation that
trapped air bubbles in the clay when they were formed, exploding when subjected to heat. Clay pots can
develop stress fractures from rapid temperature changes. They can break from being carelessly dropped. Clay
pots can be chipped and scraped and scarred; their glaze can peel.
Clay pots, Paul writes, that’s all we really are. Ordinary clay pots filled with the extraordinary, resilient power
of God through Christ Jesus. Remembering this, he writes, should be enough to keep us humble and put matters
into perspective. But there’s also a strong sense in Paul’s writing that our very flaws and limitations and
unworthiness and vulnerability –our very humanness --don’t stand in the way of God working through us. Even
common clay pots can be containers for the glory of God.
As human beings, we tend to not want to notice our flaws, our cracks, our chipped appearances, our brokenness.
We don’t like to admit these things to them to God. We don’t like to admit these things to ourselves. We
certainly don’t like to admit these things to one another. And we don’t like to see or own up to flaws and cracks
and chips and brokenness as a church, either. These things make us squirm. They disappoint us. But we need
to always remember that our usefulness to God does not depend on our perfection, our flawlessness, our
wholeness, nor our worthiness. It depends rather on our willingness to be open to the power of God at work
within us and around us. When you think of it, the Bible is chock full of flawed characters, and a whole flawed,
chosen people of God, whose very flaws – miracles of miracles – often become the opportunities for the seeds
of mercy and grace to grow and bear fruit.
Given this metaphor from scripture, I would say -- to you, to me, to us -- that we are all a bunch of "cracked
pots". And churches can be cracked pots, too. The last church I served was most definitely, even literally, a
cracked pot. When I came to them, they had been searching for a pastor for 3 ½ long years and were
disheartened. I was the 3rd temporary pastor they had had. The pastor previous to me had been a seminary
student they had dearly loved, who committed suicide by severing the gas line to the parsonage and striking a
match. He exploded the parsonage and himself with it. The church was next door and sustained damage. A
wedding has been scheduled there 3 hours later. Their grief, their guilt, their trauma was overwhelming on a
number of fronts. They had physical cracks and broken shards of glass to pick up, repairs to make on their
building. But they also had emotional and spiritual cracks to attend to, too, as a result of this crisis.
You have a different set of cracks. We don't have to look too deeply to see stress fractures. Some of you say
you are feeling like splintered pieces broken off from the whole. We have some significant work ahead of us in
this church. When I met with some members of the Cabinet in an interview back in October, they shared with
me what they saw as some of the issues facing this church. Others of you have already spoken to me or written
notes. I am no miracle-worker. But I pledge to you that I will offer all I can from my abilities and experience
to help you to take a look at your cracks and chips and flaws and brokenness. In these next few months,
together, we can create safe spaces where hurts and resentments can be aired for the purposes of healing. We
can provide opportunities where trust can be renewed and there are chances for reconciliation. We can be
intentional during this interim time about listening to God and listening to one another about where you believe
God is calling this very gifted church and you can then use those insights to search for the kind of pastoral
leadership you need to guide you in that direction.
But I can tell you from the outset that it isn’t necessarily going to be easy. And it isn’t going to be painless.
And it isn’t going to happen without real commitment. And we ‘re not going to be able to do this by sheer will
power and determination alone. We need God’s help. We need to be willing to be open to the awesome and
surprising ways God will help us make use of this time in your church’s life to the glory of God.
So please do not give in or give up. Please do not shelve your feelings, nor give in to bitterness or resentment.
This community of faith is worth the effort to pick up broken pieces for the purposes of mending. Mending with
care and thoughtfulness and soul-searching. Finding the healing God offers. For God has entrusted this church
with a treasure -- good news, transforming news, to share with one another, this community, this world. Let us
offer our whole selves to God, and this whole church, to make use of our cracks in ways we might not yet even
fathom. Even cracked pots can be the cause of beauty in God’s pathway. Even cracked pots can be filled with
the glory of God.
Listen to this story: There was once a man in India who was a servant, whose job was to carry water from a
stream to the house of his master. The stream was a distance away so he carried two large pots hanging on the
end of a pole that he carried across his shoulders. One of the pots was perfect: the other pot had a crack in it,
and leaked half of its water along the way. In this story, the pots could talk! The first pot would go on and on
about how wonderful it was and what a good job it did. The other pot was ashamed and miserable. One day it
said to the servant, “Why don’t you just throw me away? I’m no good to you. You have to work twice as hard
using me.” The servant smiled at this cracked pot and said, “I want you to pay attention to the side of the road
on the way back from the stream.” The cracked pot was willing, thinking the servant was just trying to cheer
him up. On the way back, it noticed some beautiful flowers along the side of the road. When they got back to
the house, the cracked pot sighed. “Thank you for trying to cheer me up. The flowers were beautiful. But I am
still cracked, still ashamed, still of no use to you. Throw me away.” The servant replied, “Nonsense. Do you
not realize that I knew you had a crack and leaked water? That’s why months ago I took seeds and threw them
alongside the road. You have been watering them all this time and helped to produce these flowers that I can
now pick and set on my master’s table.” (story from Hope Harle-Mould)
Our goal as a church is not to hide our imperfections and cracks. Our goal is to be containers for the glory of
God. Even our brokenness can be occasions for God’s mercy and grace. “Now to the One who by the power at
work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or imagine, to that One God be glory in the
church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3: 20-21)
For Meditation
"We are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand." Isaiah 64: 8
+GATHERING HYMN #56 " "For the Beauty of the Earth"
+CALL TO WORSHIP (Seasons FUSION)*
Today, the words of God come to us in love, inviting us to not be afraid, but to place our faith in God.
Today, the word of God comes to us in faith, inviting us to trust in the One who knows us, to place our hope in the
God who saves us.
Today, the word of God comes to us in hope, inviting us to be gracious in our love and in our service to others.
+Call to Confession:
God is willing and able to mend and heal our brokenness, but first we must be willing to hand over all the pieces.
+Prayer of Confession
God of incredible patience, we must confess that our love is not always what we might hope it would be. We focus so much on
ourselves that the needs of others pale in significance. Too often, we find ourselves apathetic to miseries of others. Faithful
Deliverer of lives lived foolishly, forgive us and have mercy on us, as you rescue us from ourselves may we become your people
As you touch us with faith, may we be witnesses to the world of your dreams. As you pour out hope upon us, may we be your
compassion to those who hurt. As you drench us with your love that comes to us in Jesus the Christ, may we be made whole. (*)
Assurance:
God's love never ends! With this good news, we know we are forgiven; with this blessing, we know that we are healed.
In this, we can bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things. Thanks be to God! Amen.
+AN ACT OF PRAISE #106 Alleluia (verse 1)
Mission Matters Care-givers
A Volunteer's Prayer
O God, Today I will be with those who are suffering and frightened, and possibly alone. Some will have no one
to talk to today, Lord, but me. May my arms be strong to give someone a hug, my hands comforting and
warm to hold another's hand, and through my eyes and smile may someone know I care. But most of all, Lord,
give my heart the compassion and understanding that will calm another's fears, dry a tear, and give strength
to face what lies ahead. I am only one person, Lord, but you and I know one person can and will make a
difference in another's life. If I can do that for someone today, when my head lies upon my pillow tonight, and
my eyes close, I will be at peace. Amen and amen. (Lois Clark Suddath)
+Affirmation of Faith Ephesians 3
And now to the One who by the power at work within us is able to far more than we can ask or imagine, to God be the glory in
the church and in Christ Jesus, to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
+HYMN #588 "Have Thine Own Way, Lord"
+CLOSING HYMN #560 "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms"