Taking New Ground in Relationships

Introduction

Introduce yourself

Prayer

God, you are the infinite, eternal, all-encompassing, all-satisfying, all-loving creator of the universe. Our words fall short when addressing you and yet you desire to hear from us. You didn’t need us yet you desire relationship with us. Even when we turned away from you you made a way for us to be in relationship with you again.

God, you transcend every box we try to put you in. Would you shake up the boxes we’ve tried to put you in this tonight? Help us to see that you are beyond anything we could ever fathom. God, it is you who are in charge, it is you who is sovereign, not us. Help us bask in the greatness of your glory this evening.

Lord, anything that I say this morning that is untrue would you erase it from the minds of all of us here. But what I say that is true, particularly from your Word, would you allow us to meditate on it and be encouraged with the help of your Holy Spirit.

Thank you for never giving up on us. Help us reflect on how to take new ground as a church.I pray this in Jesus’ name, the name above all names, and the only name by which we can be saved. It’s in His name that we pray. Amen.

Introduction Part II

Last week, Brad kicked off a new series called Taking New Ground. This is an initiative that we’re going through as a whole church.

The purpose of the series is to help us take new ground as a church and in our own personal lives. We’re excited to see what God will do in our midst in the coming days. As a youth group, over the next few weeks, we’ll be reflecting on how we can take new ground and lead as a younger generation.

This week we’ll be reflecting on how we can take new ground in our relationships.

To do this, we’re going to read and reflect on John 17. If you have your bible with you tonight, turn with me to the Gospel of John chapter 17. This chapter is often called “The High Priestly Prayer”. These are some of Jesus’ final words before His crucifixion.

John 17

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me.

I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just 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 have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

What Jesus Has to Say About Taking New Ground in Our Relationships as the Church in His Prayer for His Church

Let’s focus in on what Jesus prays for His church and what He has to say about taking new ground in our relationships, specifically as the church.

Jesus’ focus in His prayer starts with God the Father in verses 1-5, then shifts to His disciples (those who He used to found the church), and then it expands out to the church as a whole throughout the ages.

Jesus Prays for the Unity of His Church

This is one of the biggest things Jesus’ emphasizes in His prayer. He specifically prays for the unity of His disciples and the church as a whole in verses 11, 21, 22, and 23.

It’s like he can’t emphasize his prayer for unity enough in verses 20-23.

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just 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 have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”

Jesus does not seek division in His church. He wants her to be unified.

Think about the friend you have the most in common with. Picture them right now. What is it that you share in common that makes your relationship with them so strong? Your unity with them is founded on the strength of your all’s love for similar things.

Now let’s think biologically. What brings unity biologically? You are unified in some way to your family because you are united by blood. But those kind of unity seem separate in our minds.

In Christ, they are one. You have more in common with Christian who was a different gender, nationality, spoke a different language, lived in a different country, and in a different time than you would with an atheist twin. Why? Because as Christians, we place the fullness of our love and affections on the same thing: Jesus! In addition to that, we are bonded by a blood that is not our own, namely the blood of Jesus and His sacrifice for us on the cross. We one made one by the blood of Jesus.

That means that every Sunday morning at church, or anytime you gather together with Christians, no matter where you are in the world, it’s a family reunion. And not the lame kind where you’re just waiting for your cool cousin to show up so you have something to do. This is the best kind of family reunion: the kind that brings joy, worship, and satisfaction in Jesus. That there is real unity in Jesus and He prays for it for His church in John 17.

The rest of the reflections we look at in our time together will all tie back to this point. Jesus prays that the church would be unified. One of the biggest ways we can take new ground is by seeking the unity of the church, both here at PV and across the globe.

Jesus Prayed For His Church

One of the first things I want us to notice in Jesus prayer for His church is just the fact that He actually prayed for His church! If you are a Christian here tonight, how does it feel to know that Jesus prayed specifically for you? He had you in mind when He prayed this. And He didn’t just pray for you once, but He prays for you everyday. The Bible tells us that He ever lives to intercede for us. Jesus prayed for His church so we should pray for the church too.

Do you ever pray for the church? Not just PV but the church across the world.

The church is so much more than just a building. In fact, it’s not a building...it’s a people. A people who are passionately in love with Jesus and have given their lives to Him. These are people from every nation, language, age, race, gender, and variety. They make up the body of Christ.

One of the best ways we can begin to take new ground in our relationships in the church is to pray for the church, not just PV but the global church.

Right now, there are Christians in other parts of the globe who are being led to underground meetings in blindfolds because if they are caught speaking of the Gospel they will be put to death. They can’t fathom the incredible privilege we have to meet in a comfortable, air-conditioned building like this without fear of persecution. We should pray for them! We should pray for local churches like LCF, Redeemer, Liberty Baptist, Northland Baptist, or international churches like Seth’s home church in Thailand, Immanuel Baptist. Maybe part of the way you can take new ground in your prayer life is by taking one day a week to pray for the church, whether PV or other churches. Pray that God would use them in a powerful way to make much of Jesus.

Jesus prays that the church would be sanctified by God’s truth in His Word

John 17:17

“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

The word “sanctify” mean to be made holy and set apart. It’s a process of refining.

So what is Jesus saying here. Jesus is saying that the church is purified, set apart, made, holy, made more like Him, when the church meditates on and treasures God’s truth in His Word.

We aren’t unified because we listen to one man’s wisdom. You don’t come to church on a Sunday morning to hear Pastor Merle’s wisdom. You haven’t come here tonight to hear my wisdom (as if I had any!). No, you come to hear the truth of God’s Word delivered by whoever is speaking.

It’s a truth that transcends time, language, race, nationality, political identity, and so much more.

When I have gone to other countries on mission and have listen to someone preach truth from the Bible, I am listening to the same truth and core message that I could hear in any number of thousands of churches across the world. That’s a picture of unity.

We can take new ground as the church by treasuring God’s Word and applying it. When you take new ground in your personal quiet times and walk with God, you help bring unity to the church, especially when you join with other believers who are doing the same.

The unity of the church is a powerful witness for Jesus

Notice what Jesus says in verses 20-23.

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just 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 have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:20-23)

When the church is unified it is a powerful witness to the world.

I got to see this first hand during my time studying at Mizzou.

Protests at Mizzou

When I was at Mizzou a few years ago, there were a series of protests that had a major impact on the school. There was a great deal of racial strife at the time. Disagreement abounded and frustrations were high. Much of it related to a young man who was shot by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri.

A bomb threat even surfaced in the commotion of it all.

Amidst this strife, my church in Columbia, a predominantly white church, brought together several churches, and many police officer to have a night of worship and prayer together. These were people that were supposed to hate each other. Yet people of all walks of life from these groups came together t0 praise the name of Jesus together. In a city full of strife, this was a massive beacon of unity. It was a unity that transcended all racial and political ties. It was a unity founded on the unshakeable and glorious name of Jesus.

I still have an image burned in my mind from that night. I can remember seeing several black ministers worshipping right next to several police officers in the row in front of me. They prayed together and hugged one another. I’ll never forget it.

This was a powerful witness for the community

Imagine if you and your friends joined together. You could turn your school upside down for Jesus. (Acts 17:6)

We can take new ground as a church by coming together in the name of Jesus, regardless of our age, gender, race, language, nationality, or political affiliation. When we do that we become a powerful witness to the world.

For some of you taking new ground means breaking out of our traditional boxes to engage with Christians who are not like us. For others of you, takinging new ground here means reconciling with people you dislike or have disagreements with. It’s hard to have unity with someone when your relationship with them is surrounded by strife. If that person is here tonight, why not have that conversation tonight?

Beholding Jesus Glory Brings Unity (Shared Experience)

Here’s the final point I was us to talk about tonight.

One of the greatest ways for the church to be unified is by beholding the glory of Jesus together.

Look at John 17:22 with me

“The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one” (John 17:22)

In order to grasp this point we have to know what Jesus glory is in the first place. We throw phrases like the glory of Christ and the glory of God around all of the time but they are rarely defined.

What is the glory that Jesus is talking about in verse 5 when He says,

“And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” (John 17:5)

What is that glory?

Jesus glory consists of two things. The first is that Jesus’ glory consists of the radiation of His holiness and perfections. Jesus is the exact image of God’s nature, the radiation of His glory. Jesus glory shines forth when His perfections are seen.

Think about the most loving person you know. Maybe it’s a parent, family member, friend, pastor, or mentor.

Think about the most generous person you know. Think about the most caring person you know. Think about the most compassionate person you know. Think about the most selfless and humble person you know. Think about the most courageous person you know. Of everyone you know, who has the most integrity?

Combine all of those people and their attributes together in perfect proportions and then ratchet them up to infinity and that’s a small taste of how glorious Jesus really is.

Whatever you think Jesus is like right now, blow that up by infinity and while you’re at it, add even more goodness and glory in there. There is no one like Jesus!

But what’s the other element of Jesus’ glory? We get a hint of it in verse 5. It’s a glory that He shared with the Father before the world existed.

Before you and I ever existed. Before the world was born, God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit infinitely enjoyed a perfect love and community together. God didn’t have to create us. He was perfectly satisfied in Himself and the love between the Father and the Son before creation. Yet this incredible love shared between Jesus and the Father was so great that it overflows into creation. When God created us, He made us in His image so that we could enjoy and be satisfied in the very thing that He had been perfectly satisfied in for all of eternity: Himself, the fountain of all goodness and love.

This relates to something else Jesus prays for His church in verse 13

“But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” (John 17:13)

You weren’t made to enjoy temporary little things that pass away. You were made to love, enjoy, and behold the infinite God of the universe. Only He and He alone can satisfy us forever. Not our friends, schoolwork, boyfriend or girlfriend, video games, or anything else can satisfy us for eternity. Only God can.

Notice in verse 3, how Jesus speaks of eternal life in connection with His church. He says, “this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

Eternal life is about knowing God in Jesus Christ. We are not meant just to proclaim eternal life. The idea of Heaven as a place of generic comfort is a poor substitute for what the Bible actually offers us. Eternal life is only good if we have something to do that is worth doing for an eternity. Eternal life is only good if we have someone worth loving for an eternity. If Heaven is nothing more than a slightly better version of earth now, where the things we enjoy are just slightly better versions of things on Earth, well think about how many things we enjoy momentarily but get bored with after a while. We can only have so much of most things before we get sick of them. It takes something incredibly special to be able to satisfy our love and desires for an eternity. In fact there is only one thing: God Himself. It is God and God alone that makes Heaven worth it! It is God and God alone who can give us true satisfaction and joy.

To have Jesus joy is to behold God’s glory and love and enjoy Him.

When we come together as a church, we come together to share the experience of beholding Jesus’ glory in joy this unifies us and brings us together.

2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us- “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.”

Nothing bonds people like beholding the glory of Jesus.

Maybe you’re here tonight and you’re not a Christian and this shared experience of beholding, worshiping, and enjoying Jesus seems totally foreign to you. That shouldn’t be surprising.

Have you ever been hanging out with people who have known each other for a while and all they do is talk about old stories of them together and how great they were. The shared experience of enjoying and experiencing something together unifies them in that moment. If you haven’t experienced what they have experienced you can’t relate and share in that joy.

Maybe you’re here and you’ve grown up in church and you still don’t understand all of the excited about Jesus. You can’t seem to relate at all to a time where you have beheld Jesus’ glory and can’t think of a time where you have. You might be able to talk the talk but you may very well be playing church and have never actually placed your faith in Jesus.

I want to invite you to put your trust in Jesus tonight. I want to invite you to behold His glory and give your life to Him tonight. I want to invite you to be unified with us here who have given our lives to Jesus. Join the family!

You shouldn’t expect some overwhelming emotional feeling, although it’s possible. Here’s what you should expect. If you give your life to Jesus, if you commit to following Him with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength you will never be the same.

Behold the glory of Jesus with us as we take new ground in our relationship as a church for the glory of God.

Lord’s Supper

To close tonight, we are going to behold the glory of Jesus and come together by taking the Lord’s Supper.

Jesus gave us the Lord’s Supper to help us remember the Gospel. God made us to know, and love, and enjoy Him and yet we humans have dishonored Him. We have turned away from Him and ever since we have been striving to earn our way to a happiness and salvation that only God can give. Even though He didn’t have to or need to, God sent His only Son Jesus to die the death we deserve and take on the punishment for our sins so that our debt would be paid and we can be in relationship with God. Three days later, Jesus rose from the grave with the victory over sin, Satan, death, and all of the powers of Hell.

No matter what we have done or what has been done to us. Jesus offer us the gift of salvation. If we put our trust in Him, that He and He alone is mighty to save, we can be in relationship with God.

The Lord’s Supper is a celebration of this and a chance for us to reflect on God’s love for us.

The bread represents the body of Jesus broken for us on the cross. The grape juice represent Jesus blood poured out for us so that we could be in relationship with God.

In a second, I’m going to ask you to come forward when you are ready. Take a piece of bread and dip it in the grape juice and then return to your seat.

Use the time to reflect on the glory of Jesus, the salvation He bought for you, and His love for you.

After a few minutes, I will come back up and pray to close us out.

One last note: This is a family meal and is meant for those of us who have put our trust in Jesus. If you’re not yet part of the family of Christ, as you see other take the Lord’s Supper, use this time to ask yourself why you aren’t yet part of the family. Use this time to ask yourself why you haven't yet put your trust in Jesus. If during this time you feel the tug of the Holy Spirit on your heart to give your life to Christ, come talk to me or Brad or any of the other volunteers here. There is nothing more that we would rather do that pray with you to accept Christ and to take the Lord’s Supper with you as part of the family of Christ

Come when you are ready and take and eat.

(Take the Supper as an example)