Jeremiah 18:1-11 • The potter and the clay.
Luke: 14: 25-33 • The cost of discipleship.

In Jeremiah, the house of Israel is portrayed as a vessel created by and for God. It illustrates both God’s hopes and plans for that vessel, God’s awareness of how the vessel is fulfilling its purpose as well as God’s willingness to re-form the vessel when necessary. In Luke, the key criterion for being a disciple of Jesus is to acknowledge and let go of all the social and cultural forces that shape a person, to allow oneself to be shaped by and for service of people through Jesus’ teaching and example. What has shaped you in your life? In what ways has that allowed you to follow God faithfully? In what ways has it not? Have you ever needed to let yourself be thoroughly re-shaped? What was that like?