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WHDL - 00022280

"Treasure in an Earthen Vessel"

Eun-Yup (John) Kim

Resource Types

Sermon

Resource Languages

English

Institutional Repository

Description / Abstract

Title: "Treasure in an Earthen Vessel"
Delivered: November 16, 2025, at Tree Planted by the Water Church of the Nazarene (South Korea).
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7–15.

Rev. John Kim's Thanksgiving sermon, titled "Treasure in an Earthen Vessel," explores humanity's dual composition—dust (material needs) and God's breath (spiritual longing)—to reveal the true purpose of existence: treasuring God's immeasurable grace in fragile "earthen vessels" (2 Cor. 4:7). Through compelling anecdotes—a wife's misinterpretation of a text approving a $7,500 necklace purchase, the foolish rich man's hoarding (Luke 12:16–21), a minister bankrupted by feeding ten unwanted elephants, and a pig farmer luxuriating animals for slaughter—Kim exposes materialism's illusion. Animals contentedly eat and sleep, but humans remain hollow without soul fulfillment, deceived by the devil's "fake price tags" on wealth, status, and power.

Kim critiques spiritual immaturity—like children fixated on gifts over givers or brides eyeing rings over grooms—contrasting "liking" benefits with sacrificial love for Christ, the indwelling power sustaining trials ("hard pressed... but not crushed," v. 8). Citing Paul's radical revaluation (Phil. 3:7–9), Henri Nouwen's abandonment of Yale/Harvard prestige for serving the disabled, and the parable of the 10,000-talent debtor quibbling over denarii (Matt. 18:23–35), he reframes blessing: not upgrading vessels (gold/silver over clay/wood) but inheriting Christ's eternal worth (5-trillion-won analogy). Life's purpose emerges in gratitude overflowing grace, glorifying God (v. 15) and freeing from envy, complaint, and frantic pursuits

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Download as a PDF: EN_KimJohn_The Purpose of My Life: Rev. John Kim on 2 Corinthians 4:7–15
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Publishers

Publish Year: 2025

Subject Index

KeywordsTreasure in earthen vessels, God's grace, Spiritual fulfillment, Materialism critique, Soul maturity, Christian values, Thanksgiving reflection

Peer Reviewed?No

Place of PublicationPhilippines

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