Jesus' Prayer for His Disciples | John 17:6 - 23
Sermon Discussion | John 17:6-23
1. Verse 17:9 says that Jesus prays for them, the ones that God has given him; the believers. Have you ever thought about Jesus praying for you? What do you think it would have felt like to hear Jesus pray this?
2. Read 17:11-10, Paul quotes a commentator saying, "The major instrument for God's coming kingdom is a church that is kept in the name that God gave to Jesus." Keep them/us (the church) centered on the name. What is the name? What does this mean? How would you describe or talk about the coming kingdom?
3. In verses 14-18 John uses the word "world" 7 times. He says things like " The world hated them", "In the world" or "Of the world". What are the definitions we should be thinking of when he uses this language? What does it mean to be "of the world" vs "in the world"?...and then, how are we being sent into the world?
4. Paul discusses the joy that Jesus wants for us as we are sent into the world; that there is a tension we live in that lies between joy of the world and hatred by the world. Can you describe or explain the tension? Have you experienced that tension? How would you encourage each other to live well within the tension?
5. Jesus prays in verse 15, "Protect them from the evil one". Is He speaking only of Satan, or is there something else He wants them to be protected from? Then in verse 17 Jesus prays for us to be sanctified by his truth, that his word is truth. What does sanctification mean? Is sanctification correlated with protection in these verses?
6. As we are being sent out into the world, compelled by the love that Jesus has for us to love the people of the world; Paul reminded us that Jesus spent time in the dark places. He hung out with sinners - those who are "of the world". What are the "dark places" in our world? If Jesus were here today, where would you see him?...who would he be with? Do you hang out with the people Jesus would?
If we are going to shine a light in the darkness, you cannot be disconnected from the truth or from the family of God and be a faithful witness in the world. Jesus understood this, which is why he prays for their sanctification in truth. Read 1 John 2:15-17. Is it difficult for you to be in the world and not of the world?