Healing in the Church

Read It: John 17:20-23

20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.

Meditate On It

1. Read John chapter 17 which covers the entire prayer of Jesus. What is the content of His high priestly prayer? What do you notice was His emphasis?

2. Identify the subjects and recipients in Jesus' prayer:

• Describe His own relationship with the Heavenly Father
• Describe His intercession for the disciples and those who would believe after them

3. Just as the Father and Jesus are one, what happens when Christians take this mindset and are united with each other?

Apply It

The heart of Jesus for all Christ-followers is to be united in their personal knowledge and love of God, their purpose and mission to spread the truth, their protection from the evil one, and their continued joy and abiding in God’s presence. When this unity happens, the Church becomes a beacon of hope and a faithful reflection of the Triune God.

1. Being in a community can result in tensions, conflicts, and disagreements. Have I experienced some of these situations within the church or community? How did I respond in those situations?
2. In what way can the Lord use me to bring about unity and harmony in the church and my immediate community? Is there anyone that I need to ask forgiveness from or be reconciled with? (Take a moment to ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind any particular person)
3. Two of the hallmarks of a Christ-follower are love for God and love for neighbor. How can I grow in my love for Jesus? What would it look like for me to grow in love with other people, especially in the church?

By faith, I will practice living in God’s presence and pray regularly for people in my church or community…Set Simple, Measurable, Appropriate, Realistic, Time-bound (SMART) commitments

Example: “I will ask my small group leader or Pastor how I can pray for them and look for ways to encourage them the next time we meet.”

Pray It

• Lift up your church to continue magnifying the Lord by making disciples who will make disciples of all nations
• Pray for a culture of honoring God’s Word and authorities in the Church — to submit to God above all and abide by the wisdom of your elders, pastors, and servant-leaders
• Intercede for your leaders that the Lord may indeed sustain His servants and grant them wisdom on how to navigate through the rest of the year such that God is glorified in their lives and our church:
• Your Senior Pastor and his entire family
• For all the elders, pastors, servant-leaders, and each one’s families
• Ministry heads, staff, workers, volunteers, partner missionaries
• Every discipler and their disciples to grow in Christlikeness as they fulfill the Great Commission
• For national and international church planting initiatives to bear fruit for God’s glory
• May God lead you to volunteer in a ministry