Unity Evangelism
The Gospel of John
John Chapter 17
Scripture: John chapter 17: 20 – 23
20) "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21) that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22) I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23) I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Observation: When you read this passage of John’s gospel do you realize that Jesus is praying for all of us believers who have given our lives to Christ because of the disciples? If you study your spiritual genealogy you can trace your faith back those eleven men. They were our spiritual forefathers! When Jesus is praying in John 17 verses 20 – 26, he is praying that we would come together as one and be in complete unity. Jesus’ prayer is directed toward us, toward you and me! He is praying that we will live in such unity with each other that the world will believe who Jesus really is and why he would come and die for mankind. Unity is a powerful tool of evangelism. Unity will draw unbelievers to the body of Christ. Our selfless acts of love for one another validate all that Christ accomplished! Genuine Christianity is more caught than taught. Our action toward each another speaks louder than our words!
Application: Jesus said that the world would know that we are his disciples by our love for one another (see John 13:34 – 35). We are always so worried that we will communicate the gospel in the wrong way. We hold witnessing classes to teach each other what to say and when to say it. I am not saying that speaking the gospel with your mouth is wrong. What I am saying is; living the truth of the gospel in our relationships with other Christians is even more powerful than what we say. You can’t refute what you hear when it is demonstrated by what you see! St. Francis of Assisi stated, “Preach the Gospel at all times and sometimes use words.” When the church comes together in unity we see great harvests’. What are we doing to live in unity? How can you help bring “the body of Christ together?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to promote unity by my behavior toward other brothers and sisters in Christ. Help me to not judge others but instead, learn to serve them in love. May I in love, do whatever you show me to foster unity in Your Church and bring forth the harvest! Jesus, may my acts of love show others why you came to this earth.
John Chapter 17
Scripture: John chapter 17: 20 – 23
20) "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21) that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22) I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23) I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Observation: When you read this passage of John’s gospel do you realize that Jesus is praying for all of us believers who have given our lives to Christ because of the disciples? If you study your spiritual genealogy you can trace your faith back those eleven men. They were our spiritual forefathers! When Jesus is praying in John 17 verses 20 – 26, he is praying that we would come together as one and be in complete unity. Jesus’ prayer is directed toward us, toward you and me! He is praying that we will live in such unity with each other that the world will believe who Jesus really is and why he would come and die for mankind. Unity is a powerful tool of evangelism. Unity will draw unbelievers to the body of Christ. Our selfless acts of love for one another validate all that Christ accomplished! Genuine Christianity is more caught than taught. Our action toward each another speaks louder than our words!
Application: Jesus said that the world would know that we are his disciples by our love for one another (see John 13:34 – 35). We are always so worried that we will communicate the gospel in the wrong way. We hold witnessing classes to teach each other what to say and when to say it. I am not saying that speaking the gospel with your mouth is wrong. What I am saying is; living the truth of the gospel in our relationships with other Christians is even more powerful than what we say. You can’t refute what you hear when it is demonstrated by what you see! St. Francis of Assisi stated, “Preach the Gospel at all times and sometimes use words.” When the church comes together in unity we see great harvests’. What are we doing to live in unity? How can you help bring “the body of Christ together?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to promote unity by my behavior toward other brothers and sisters in Christ. Help me to not judge others but instead, learn to serve them in love. May I in love, do whatever you show me to foster unity in Your Church and bring forth the harvest! Jesus, may my acts of love show others why you came to this earth.
