UNITY PRAYER

John 17:20-23

These are the Words of Jesus:

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one, Heavenly Father—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.”

In the verses before these, Jesus had just finished praying for the disciples that knew Him, followed Him, and believed in Him during His life on earth.

Now, in the verses we just read, Jesus prays for all future believers (which includes us).

Isn’t it amazing Jesus prayed for you two-thousand years before you were born?

If Jesus prayed for you 2000 years before you were born, it must be important. It must really matter to Him.

Here’s what He prayed for- He prayed for unity.

Er’body say “unity”

Jesus prayed that all believers would be one. That there’d be unity and togetherness.

Here’s the reality- we don’t all go to the same church. Maybe you go to Summit. Or Hillside. Or First Methodist. Or Living Water. Or First Baptist. Or another church (perhaps not any church right now). At surface level, this doesn’t seem like unity.

But here’s the thing- Jesus isn’t talking about your youth group or church. He is talking about something deeper. Something better. Something greater.

He’s talking about UNITY in God. Unity of believing in JESUS.

That’s what’s beautifully amazing about tonight- we are gathering in UNITY under the NAME of JESUS.

This is what we are doing next: break out into groups of three. Each student in your group should be from a different church (don’t partner up with your church friends). Pray for the UNITY of ALL BELIEVERS, using help from this slide if you need it.