Sunday Sermon Discipleship- 8/18/24

 Unity received vs Unity achieved
 
This content is based on last Sunday's sermon.
LISTEN TO THE SERMON ON John 17:11, 20-21 BY CLICKING HERE
 
1: Celebrate- Take a few minutes to celebrate where Jesus has been working in your lives, how Jesus has answered prayer, or areas where Jesus has blessed you and through you blessed others.

2: Accountability: Where are you responding to God's grace by walking in God's ways, practicing obedience to God's word as a reflection of your love for Jesus? Was there anything specifically from last week you were trying to align with God's design for your life and loves?

3: Learn:  Summary of the sermon
True, enduring unity, comes down to us- received by faith when we believe the gospel. Elevated things of the world will not foster true and lasting unity OR satisfy the hunger of your heart.
 
The “High Priestly Prayer” of Jesus recorded in John 17 is an example of Jesus as our “advocate before the father” (1 John 2:1). The heart of Jesus’ prayer is for the Church to be ONE in: The NAME of the Father, joining family with the Son (11-12); The TRUTH of the Word, protected from the enemy (14-19); Divine PURPOSE, that the world may know the love and work of God (20-23); LOVE, so God’s eternal glory may be known and shown (24-26). Specifically, we studied

I. True Unity comes from a gospel identity- In “The Name” (17:1)As names are given to children by parents, so believers are one IN the Father's  name.
 
Elevating our own name (or others names) leads to division as the Tower of Babel illustrates (Genesis 11:1-9) and we know when individuals try to make their name great in team sports. This pride struggle reveals one thing uniting all humanity- need for a salvation from our sin! Scripture is clear, there is “no other name by which we can be saved” outside of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12) and grace offered through Christ's finished work gives believers unity in the name:
     Children of the same Father- you are named Child of God in Christ!
     Members of the same Body- you are named as participants in Christ’s body!
     Living Stones of the Temple- you are named as a temple of the Holy Spirit!
 
II.      True Unity creates a gospel community (17:20-21)
Note the power of the preposition “IN” in 17:21. Believers are “In” Christ as Christ is “In” the Father. The Holy Spirit seals our union with Christ and with one another- an eternal and enduring community unified by elevating only what has come down- The Father’s love, the grace of Jesus, the Holy Spirit.
 
"Not what a man is in himself as a Christian, his spirituality and piety, constitutes the basis of our community. What determines our brotherhood is what that man is by reason of Christ. Our community with one another consists solely in what Christ has done to both of us."  Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together 
 
Read: Ephesians 4:4-7, Psalm 133; 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; and Ephesians 5:1-2
What stands out to you about the priority and composition of Christian unity?
Where do you see the blessing of unity in these passages?
What are key ingredients for Christian unity revealed in these verses?

Only unity with Christ and one another will satisfy the hunger of our heart, strengthen us where you need, give the status we long for, and offer the serenity we seek.
 
When our primary identity is in Christ and our primary community is His Body then our primary mission will be for the world to believe.
 
III. True Unity cascades into gospel mission- “So that the World may Believe” (17:22)
Unity received by faith in Jesus and His work will heal what is broken, restore what has been shattered, and strengthen what is weak (illustrated by the Japanese are of Kensugi). This is why testimonies of restoration and renewal are so powerful and transformation in the NT so common (Onesimus, Paul, Ethiopian eunuch, woman at the well...) As restored vessels, the Church pours out the love of Christ for the world that they might find what they are looking for in Christ. 
 
4: Live it: Bring it home to your heart with Questions for Discussion & Application

1. Does the Spirit of Jesus put anything specific on your heart from the sermon passage or summary? If so, what?
   
2. Where do you see division in the world and the church from people elevating worldviews, ideologies, people, or traditions?
3. What does this reveal about the hunger of the hearts of humanity?
4. Where do you specifically (or the Church generally) need to “unyoke” from these realities?
5. Where do can you notice pain and problems from linking with the lies of the world?
6. What does it look like for you to identify only what has come down from above as the source of enduring and enriching unity: The love of the Father, the grace through the work of Jesus, the Holy Spirit? Specifically, where do these need to be more of a reality for you?
7. What does it look like for you to trust Jesus completely by repenting of what/ who you disproportionately elevate for unity to truly celebrate unity in Christ with other Christians,  living out the unity we have in His name with His people?
8. Where do you need to respond to God’s grace by yoking yourself more faithfully to Jesus and His word? Be specific in what this looks like.

 
Memorize or meditate on Philippians 2:1-5
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…
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