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Resurrection: The Power that Changes Us

Text: 2 Corinthians 4
Preacher: Alex Hogendoorn
Date: May 18, 2025

Tagline:

We carry the glory of God in ordinary jars of clay—because the power at work in us is resurrection power.

Sermon Summary:

Alex began with playful images of borders and absurd splits—standing in two places at once, like on Canoosa Street or in a Volvo ad with Jean-Claude Van Damme suspended between trucks. The point: we live in two worlds at once. We are tethered to heaven and earth, eternity and mortality—and Paul knows this tension deeply.

In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul reminds us that even when the gospel is veiled to the world, we have seen the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. This treasure—the resurrection glory of Christ—is now within us, in jars of clay, so that the power clearly belongs to God, not to us. The power of the resurrection doesn’t manifest in triumphalism but in pressure: when we’re afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, or struck down. Alex illustrated this with the Ford 300 engine—slow off the line but unstoppable under strain.

The life of Christ is being manifested in our mortal bodies. That means freedom from sin, rising with Christ in newness of life, and a life marked by generosity and transformation. We don’t just carry this for ourselves; we bear witness to it, so others see behind the veil. As we suffer and endure, people glimpse the treasure—and come to believe. This resurrection power changes us, changes others, and even shapes eternity. Paul says our light and momentary afflictions are preparing for us an eternal weight of glory. The resurrection is not just a future event—it’s power now, unleashed in us as we fix our eyes on Jesus.

Group Discussion Guide

Icebreaker Questions

  1. What’s the most absurd or unexpected place you’ve ever found yourself in—physically or emotionally?
  2. Have you ever felt “stretched between two worlds”? How did that tension affect you?
  3. What’s something you’ve seen gain surprising strength only when under pressure?

Read 2 Corinthians 4 together and discuss any questions that arise from the passage. Then use a few of these questions for further reflection.

Discussion Questions

  1. Paul says we carry this treasure in jars of clay. What does that image suggest to you about the relationship between weakness and glory?
  2. We often think of resurrection power as the future spectacular triumph—but Paul sees it in suffering. What does that do to your understanding of what “power” looks like in the Christian life?
  3. How have you seen the life of Christ manifest in your own mortal body—whether through freedom, transformation, or endurance?
  4. What does it mean that our momentary troubles are preparing an eternal weight of glory? How does that reframe how you view today’s trials?
  5. The sermon closed with this: “We unlock resurrection power not by striving, but by fixing our eyes on Jesus.” What does that practically look like in your daily walk?

For Further Study

  1. 2 Corinthians 4:1–18 – Treasure in jars of clay
  2. Romans 6:4–11 – New life through resurrection
  3. Philippians 3:10–11 – Knowing Christ and the power of his resurrection
  4. Colossians 3:1–4 – Set your minds on things above
  5. Ephesians 2:4–7 – Seated with Christ in the heavenly realms
  6. Isaiah 42:8 – God will not share his glory with another (and yet…)
  7. Psalm 116 – “I believed, and so I spoke”
  8. 1 Peter 1:6–9 – Joy in suffering as our faith is refined
  9. John 11:25–26 – Jesus, the resurrection and the life
  10. Hebrews 12:1–3 – Run with endurance, fixing your eyes on Jesus

Gospel Connections

Let’s discuss how we can apply this message to our lives as we seek to make the following connections as we follow Jesus

  • God: How does seeing Christ as the glory of God change the way you relate to him in weakness?
  • The Church: In what ways can we create space for one another to be jars of clay, not polished perfection?
  • Our Group: How can we help each other recognize and walk in resurrection power even when we’re under pressure?
  • Our City: What would it look like for others in Courtenay to “see behind the veil” and glimpse the treasure in us?
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