A Prayer for Believers - John 17:1-5; 14-26

By David Woods

Read John 17:1-5

Jesus asked God to glorify Him. He deserves to be glorified for He is the Son of God. Popular theology today instructs us to ask God to bless us.

Discussion: Is it right for us to ask God to bless us? Why or why not?

Discussion: What attitude do we need to have in asking God to bless us? What attitude is improper?

The reason why Jesus asked the Father to glorify Him was so that He could glorify the Father.

Discussion: If God answered the majority of our prayers the way we desired, would He be glorified?

Read John 17:14-16

Discussion: Does the world hate our church? Does the world hate you?

Discussion: What should the previous answer tell us about our church and about us as individuals?

Discussion: Do we thwart God's purposes when we isolate ourselves from the world?

Read John 17:17-19

Discussion: What does it mean to be sanctified through God's truth?

Discussion: What does the idea of being "sent" convey?

Discussion: Can a church glorify God if it is not on mission to reach the world?

Read John 17:20-26

Discussion: Do Christians today experience this unity Jesus prayed for?

Discussion: Why is it important for the Church to be unified?

Discussion: Is it realistic to believe the Church will ever experience the unity Jesus prayed for?

Discussion: Does the Father always answer Jesus' prayers with a "yes"?

Discussion: Can we assume Jesus' prayer will be answered in the future?

Discussion: What responsibility do we bear to see Jesus' prayer answered? To what lengths to experience unity in the Church should we go?