The Church God’s Love Built

Opening Prayer of Adoration

Reading John 17:20-24

John 17:20–24 LSB

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. 24 “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

Picture a lighthouse standing tall against stormy seas, its beacon shining brightly for ships in the night. This image represents the church’s calling rooted in Jesus' prayer in John 17:20-24. Despite our differences, we are meant to bring others to safety. The unity we find in Christ empowers us to shine our collective light, guiding the lost and lonely to His love, illustrating how our oneness can lead to transformation in the world.

Do we appreciate the weight of God’s glory and His delightful love?

Believe by the Power of the Word. (v. 20)

Christ prayed for you and me long before we believed in him. Turn to John 17:20 for proof. “Neither pray I for these (the apostles) alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word” (John 17:20).

A. W. Pink

The teaching of the word, highlighted time and time again in the Scriptures, is the chosen means by which the Gospel is presented to the World.

Our Master and Friend prays for the effective ministry of the word, which will continue from the first disciples unto the the very last.

Notice the key focus of the text, pointing to Jesus as the full sum of the Gospel message. The Gospel is good news because Jesus Christ is magnified as the one who alone can save.

Romans 10:14 “14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?”

Disciples are united by, in, and for the Truth. (v. 21)

John 18:37–38 “37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You yourself said I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” 38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.”

The Church is called to unity that magnifies the LORD and His gospel, not a unity that counts holiness and redemption as cheap, interchangeable, and optional.

The unifying call of the Church is the truth God has put forward from the foundation of the universe.

Truth can be personally known and cherished. Truth is the very foundation of the crucified Savior.

Psalm 25:5 “5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; In You I hope all the day.”

The Church is called to unity beyond this universe. (v. 22)

Unity in Christ is not something to be achieved: it is something to be recognized.

A. W. Tozer

The LORD is not calling for an ecumenical attitude that waters down the Word of God; Jesus prays for unity that stands out beyond the cares of the world.

The unity we will enjoy in heaven is the very unity that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit enjoy from eternity past to eternity future.

The glory that God has bestowed upon us, His redeemed, is that He would tabernacle/dwell with us. Leading us to the time that we will dwell with Him.

Psalm 24:7–10 “7 Lift up your heads, O gates, And be lifted up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! 8 Who is this King of glory? Yahweh strong and mighty, Yahweh mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O gates, And lift yourselves up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! 10 Who is He, this King of glory? Yahweh of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah.”

God’s love conforms us for unity with Him. (v. 23)

Love is the sum of all virtue, and love disposes us to do good.

Jonathan Edwards (American Evangelical Preacher)

In the Son we see love exemplified, as the Father is honored by the Son, so the Holy Spirit empowers the bond between the Father and the Son, which enables us to live by faith.

Because perfect love exists in mutual harmony within the Godhead, we can hope to experience the beauty of that love as we look to eternity.

The Love we have received through the cross and the empty tomb is the springboard for the church to be united under this banner of timeless truth.

Proverbs 3:3–4 “3 Do not let lovingkindness and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good insight In the eyes of God and man.”

The magnificent conclusion leads to what was lost. (v. 24)

The Trinity is the basis of the gospel, and the gospel is a declaration of the Trinity in action.

J. I. Packer

Going back to Genesis shows that Humanity lost access to the perfect, all-consuming love and unity with God for the rupture of disobedience to God’s word.

The New Testament reinforces that God has willed to send the Son to make anew that which the First Adam had rendered broken and soiled.

Through Jesus we see the hope of all things being made new by the Second Adam, who is the redeemer, savior, and God of the universe.

Ephesians 5:1–2 “1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

Do we appreciate the weight of God’s glory and His delightful love?

Being Part of the Church God’s Love Built:

Repent of your sins, confess Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior, and Surrender Yourself to Him.

Repent of your backsliding, cry out to God in your brokenness and surrender to Him anew, today.

If you are a disciple that does not have a family of faith, be joined to a local body of Disciples and share life together—the good, the bad, and the ugly, to experience grace upon grace alongside your fellow disciples.