Last Words… Pt 2

Loneliness and division are at an incredible high in our age.

The Vanderbilt Unity Index has shown that we are at a massive low in unity in our country since 2016. Politics, Covid, and other factors have caused us to be incredibly divided.

We’re also incredibly lonely!

A Harvard study showed that 61% of young adults are dealing with serious loneliness

This loneliness is killing us, the US Surgeon General said that serious loneliness is like smoking 15 cigarettes a day!

There are three different types of loneliness

individual: Don’t feel cared for by the people around

Societal: Don’t feel seen or accepted by society

Existential: Don’t feel like we have a place in the universe.

The world’s solution

People are trying to figure out how to fix this, so what they’ve suggested is government reform and school initiatives.

That sounds great, but that won’t solve the problem!

We can’t find a cure for our soul’s aching for more in government reform or changes to school, but

Through Jesus, we are invited into radical unity, magnificent glory, and transforming love.

John 17:20-26

Radical Unity

Jesus’ plan for Christianity is that we will be one, or perfectly one.

v. 21, 24

And Christians can be some of the worst at unity (or being one)

Every time theres a disagreement in a church, we split.

Churches even split over carpet choices.

So, clearly something needs to e done different.

Christians should be recognized by their unity.

In vs. 21 and 23, jesus tells us that the world will know about God because of our unity!

How cool is that? Our relationships with each other can point others to Jesus

Imagine what that would look like for a second

People would come to youth group and know what true community feels like.

Your friends would notice that you’re different from each other

Christians would be known in your school as being loving, kind, and godly!

How do we get there?

This sounds great, but I don’t naturally know how to be that type of person, how can I do it?

Follow Jesus.

If you follow Jesus, then you have been given access to the unity that God the Father, Son, and Spirit have.

So, be defined entirely in Jesus

Notice, jesus doesn’t tell us what else to do to be unified! He doesn’t tell us to worship a certain way, or to have a certain dress code. We’re just supposed to be Jesus people, and let the other stuff fall into place.

But, there’s one other key to this radical unity.

Magnificent Glory

The other term that is found throughout this section is glory

Vs. 22

What do you think this glory means?

Seems like it’s being with and living in God, so we will call it the God-life.

We are given access to the God-life.

Because of Jesus’ work on the cross, we are given access to the new life that God has for us.

You can have a relationship with God and He will grow you to be more like Him.

That’s why He can call us to unity, it’s that we are supposed to live our lives in relationship with God together, so we can be together in unity.

We will see glory at its fullest.

Not only are we given access into the God-life by Jesus, He promises in v. 24 that we will see the glory of God fully.

That’s a big deal!

In the Bible, whenever they talk about the glory of God, it’s so magnificent that humans can’t even look at it.

In Ex. 33, Moses just looks at the back of God’s “garment” and he nearly explodes! His face shines afterward.

BUT WE GET TO SEE IT?

Jesus promises us a deep, meaningful relationship with God, which is even better in heaven.

And, one important aspect of that is.

Transforming Love

One HUGE aspect to all of this is that we are brought into transforming love.

23, 26

We are people of love.

We are loved by God.

God the Father loves us just like He loves His Son!

You are loved and cared for more than you and I can fathom!

No other faith system has this

In every religion, people were created to serve a purpose. In Christianity, you were created because God loves, and He loves you.

That love should change us!

If we are loved bu God this month, that should change things!

How we look at ourselves

Our confidence

Our worship, prayer, Bible time

It should also change how we love others.

We love others

Because of the great love of God for us, we need to love others!

23: If the love of the Father is in us, we need to love others.

God loves us so much, but that means that He loves others as well.

This love should transform our lives!

We can be people of love because of the love of God.

Questions

Pancakes or waffles, which is better?

How can the love of God transform us?

What does the God-life mean?

What would it look like to live in unity this week?