Historians observe that Christianity has gone through a major upheaval every 500 years or so. In 476 the Western Roman Empire fell. In 1054 the church split east and west. Then in 1517 the Protestant Reformation splintered the church, opening the door, it seems, for the fracture of the church into thousands and thousands ofContinue reading “Has God denied Jesus’ prayer request for unity? – John 17:6-26, Part 4”
Tag Archives: John 17
Why Christians should not be separate from the world – John 17:6-26, Part 3
Some Christians throughout the centuries have wanted God to take them out of the world. Many Christians have attempted to separate themselves from the world. Some have felt that the world is evil, and we Christians need to be unpolluted by the world. But does the (potentially) healthy concern about being unpolluted require separation? I don’tContinue reading “Why Christians should not be separate from the world – John 17:6-26, Part 3”
What it means that we are God’s [not gods] – John 17:6-26, Part 2
So far in his final prayer for his disciples, Jesus hasn’t asked God for anything. No supplication. No requests. Just a conversation with God. He continues his conversation in John 17, verses 9-10: “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.Continue reading “What it means that we are God’s [not gods] – John 17:6-26, Part 2”
Are you doubting? Hear Jesus’ prayer – John 17:6-26, Part 1
When I was an undergrad student in Bible college, the college held chapel services every day. One chapel speaker was a guest who gave a sermon, and then started praying. And he didn’t stop praying. The prayer started to become uncomfortably long. Many of us started checking our watches. The speaker’s prayer was eating intoContinue reading “Are you doubting? Hear Jesus’ prayer – John 17:6-26, Part 1”
If Jesus evaluated our prayer – John 17:6-26, Preview
Have you ever thought about how Jesus feels about your prayer requests? I rarely do. I normally just pray, and usually my prayer is asking him for things. Most often I pray for my family. I rarely take a step back and think, “Am I praying for the right things? Am I praying for theContinue reading “If Jesus evaluated our prayer – John 17:6-26, Preview”
What Christmas cards teach us about a relationship with God – John 17:1-5, Part 4
How many Christmas cards do you receive? Christmas cards are an American cultural phenomenon. Perhaps other cultures have the same phenomenon. The cards start arriving in early December, from friends and family. We hang the cards in our dining room, as part of our Christmas decorations. Some cards include a letter with a recap ofContinue reading “What Christmas cards teach us about a relationship with God – John 17:1-5, Part 4”
What eternal really means – John 17:1-5, Part 3
If you’re tracking the first part of Jesus’ prayer (John 17:1-5), which we’ve been studying this week, you might have noticed I didn’t talk about another theme he mentions. Eternal life. Look again at verses 2-3, “For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you haveContinue reading “What eternal really means – John 17:1-5, Part 3”
Falling asleep during prayer and the surprising act that brings glory to God – John 17:1-5, Part 1
On family vacation, we were having a prayer time where one person would share a prayer request, and then another person would pray for them. It was getting late into the evening, and I was sitting next to my wife, Michelle, on a sofa. Someone shared a prayer request, and Michelle volunteered to be theContinue reading “Falling asleep during prayer and the surprising act that brings glory to God – John 17:1-5, Part 1”
What would do if you were about to be executed? – John 17:1-5, Preview
Imagine you are on vacation, sightseeing in a country where Christianity is illegal. You might think, “Joel, I wouldn’t travel there in the first place.” Maybe you wouldn’t. Maybe you just might. I did. There are plenty of places where Christianity is illegal but there are amazing sites, and Christians are allowed to travel thereContinue reading “What would do if you were about to be executed? – John 17:1-5, Preview”
Why we are a Purple Church – Current Events Q3 2021, Part 1
This past November 2020, I preached one of my quarterly current events sermons right before the election. Earlier in the year, as I was planning the preaching schedule, it seemed wise to have a current events sermon the Sunday prior to what was shaping up to be a major political event. Of course, any presidentialContinue reading “Why we are a Purple Church – Current Events Q3 2021, Part 1”
Engaging Scripture 