“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.” —2 Corinthians 4:7
This verse has reverberated in both my mind and heart over these last months as we pray through 2 Corinthians 4-5 as part of the strategic planning process. These are powerful words taking us through this hard, shared work. They serve to remind us that this is God’s church, God’s mission and God’s seminary—valuable knowledge as we ponder the strongest impact we might make in service to the mission of Jesus Christ and our call to prepare pastors and other leaders.
Treasure in clay jars calls us to remember the ways our history informs both present realities and the future mission. During Convocation last week, we hosted more than 300 pastors and other leaders to hear anew how the wisdom of the Reformation holds promise for the renewal of the church. If you missed it you might want to watch some of the sessions online.
Treasure in clay jars reminds us of the finitude of the preacher (or at least the finitude of this preacher). We invite you to be part of thinking with other preachers on the ways that God works through such “clay jars” to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in a world awash in empty promises. Come and join us in Atlanta for a rich learning environment and collegial conversation and building relationships during the Festival of Homiletics.
Treasure in clay jars reminds us of those wondering whether God is calling them to serve as a pastor, youth minister or other leader. God promises to fulfill our needs as we live in response to God’s love. The fact that God uses us to bear witness to almighty love and grace is powerful. What a treasure! We can pass on this gift to others in big, dramatic ways, but sometimes all that’s needed are small kindnesses: a note to someone lonely, a kind word to someone stressed, a forgiving comment when slighted. All these small gestures can have enormous impact—often in ways we may never know.
There are many other stories in this issue that demonstrate how God is transforming our mission and work, including strong scholarship support for students, more ongoing learning opportunities to build community and time to join together for self-renewal.
Please pray with and for us as we move from 2 Corinthians to Ephesians 2-3, looking for more wisdom in discerning how Luther Seminary can be a catalyst for innovation in theological education for the sake of the gospel.