Welcome to Treasure in Earthen Vessels! ... Sunday School lesson. Just as Christ turns water into wine at the wedding at Cana, so the Lord is united to us through grace as in a marriage, transforming the water of our humanity into the wine of his divinity. State: Just as you can now plainly see my face, when we believe and trust in Christ for our salvation, the light of His truth allows us to see God and His glory fully and clearly. Many people have a concept of an ideal Christian. We can know Him deeply and have a relationship with Him. (4:7) Again "“ this is not about us! Find an old jar or vase that looks completely worthless. SAY: What do you think of this vase? Target Time Frame: 30 minutes. Object Lesson Introduction One of the struggles endured by those who preach the gospel of Jesus Christ is that we preach out of the frailty of our flesh. Paradise Baptist Church Make the Connection: All of terms in this lesson can get confusing. Gospel Application: This material was first taught to a group of older elementary students. You did not ... 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. Basic Supply List: Other Notes: In the teaching plan below the words in italics are meant to be read aloud. Life can be very hard. The treasure is "the knowledge of the glory of God" as possessed by the Apostle. That which has the most value is on the inside and we fear that our earthly walk, or lifestyle, is far from our spiritual reality. Main Idea:  God has given believers the magnificent treasure of the Gospel, and it is only through His power that the Gospel transforms lives. Write the Scripture reference “2 Corinthians 4:7” on each jar. Receiving Christ in our hearts has forever changed us but we look the same on the outside. God's concept of ministry is so different from the world's concept. You can freely license our resources under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International. Dissect a Phrase: Write “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God” on a marker board. Inside, place something of great worth, like jewelry, money, or even a beautiful bouquet of flowers. They are blind to the truth. Shine a flashlight on your face. Romans 10:4 – For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us" (2 Cor 4:7). TREASURE IN EARTHEN VESSELS “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7. So it is with Christians today who dare to be witnesses of the grace of God within them. They are the daily use kinds of things. Every week, thousands of churches use our Bible lessons, craft ideas, printable resources, and coloring pages to teach kids the Christian faith. 5For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." Paul continues his testimony in verses 9-10. A result of the Gospel is gaining this knowledge personally through a relationship with God Himself. This is what Jesus said in his parables. Our faith that God will make a way for others is tested when we are in a situation where we have no plan but to turn to God for deliverance. 4In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. This is our God that has given us this treasure within! Gospel Connection: The Gospel is the treasure we have received that allows us to have the knowledge of the glory of God. [through Christ in the New Covenant] Why is the New Covenant so much more glorious that the Old? Make your classroom completely dark. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Matthew 13:44 ESV) It was a great business center and had much celebrated wealth. The city of Corinth was an ancient and celebrated city of Greece located on the isthmus of Corinth, and about 40 miles west of Athens. v. 1 “…having this ministry by the mercy of God…”, New Covenant