2. Maximizing Personal Growth as Treasure-bearing Jars of Clay Finding God’s Strength Perfected in our Weakness

3. Pre-occupation (to mentally live somewhere before we get there) What are my expectations? What are my fears?

4. The qualities of a good missionary Loves Jesus1 2 3 4 5 Loves people1 2 3 4 5 Seeks friendship with strangers1 2 3 4 5 Willing to be unrecognized servant1 2 3 4 5 Flexible1 2 3 4 5 Not afraid of own weakness1 2 3 4 5 Able to laugh at self1 2 3 4 5 Team-player1 2 3 4 5

5. Treasure-bearers “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy comes from God.”2 Cor. 3.4-6 “We have this treasure in earthen vessels” 2 Cor. 4.7 “I boast about my weakness” 2 Cor. 11.29 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” 2 Cor. 12.9

6. The last shall be first, and the least shall be the greatest of all.

7. We can’t use the weapons of evil to defeat evil God’s Power in Clay Pots

8. The Singular Source of Confidence, Hope and Encouragement Such is our confidence Our adequacy is from God 3.4 Such is our hope The permanent has come in glory 3.12 We do not lose heart We live by God’s mercy 4.1 We do not lose heart Our inner nature is renewed daily 4.16

9. Deliverance from pot maintenance No longer be preoccupied with keeping pots pretty Focus instead on the fruit God is growing in them Turn our trash into treasures Act in bold confidence knowing that God will bring goodness and beauty into the world through us!

10. Live with unshakable hope for we are “being transformed from glory into glory” “this momentary light affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory”

12. Worth Solidity Purity Splendor

13. Holiness Completion Substance of God’s presence

14. Jesus is the full-reflection of the divine glory. “Our lack of ability to know God is filled up by His glory, and our ability to know Him is healed and restored by it.” ( Barth, CD, II.1.vi.31: :644)

15. “The glory of God is a person fully alive; the life of humankind consists in beholding God” Irenaeus, Adversus Haereses: IV.20.7