"Discernment: Being One," Pastor Doug Kamstra, John 17:11, 20b-21, November 17, 2019 AM

Covenant Christian Reformed Church

Being One (Discovering God’s Will Together; #3) John 17:1l, 20b-21

A. The bond of unity in the body of Christ is easily broken

1. Jesus defines community, chooses community, and sustains community

2. We don’t define community; but we often hinder and tarnish it

B. With disunity, Satan gains a small victory and God gets angry

“Biblical Community” is not relating directly other Christians, it is relating to others though the person of Jesus Christ.” (cf. Life Together, Dietrich Bonheoffer)

THE PRAYER

A. In John 17 Jesus prays that we will be one like He and His Father are one

B. This prayer tells us what’s on Jesus’ heart

1. Jesus prays for the unity of His disciples and for all future disciples

a. This is not a prayer for unanimity

b. This is a prayer for unity – a unity based on love and mutual submission

2. Jesus knows the building (growth) of His Church depends on unity

THE PRIORITY

A. The New Testament church was devoted to unity (cf. Acts 2:46f)

B. Jesus is very passionate about the unity of His Church

1. Unity is Christ’s vision for his Church and Kingdom

2. Oneness is a mark of God’s character

3. God is jealous for the unity of His Church because His Son died for it

“He himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility… (Ephesians 2:14)

“I appeal to you…in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you may agree with one another in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.” (1 Corinthians 1:10)

“Finally brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.” (2 Corinthians 13:11)

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3)

C. Are you devoted to oneness in the body of Christ?

1. Unity requires intentionality, hard work and discipline

2. Is there unresolved conflict between you and someone else in the church?

3. Biblical unity requires supernatural intervention to produce a

supernatural reality that requires a supernatural explanation

THE PRACTICE

A. In Luke 24, two disciples walking home to Emmaus; a third person joins

1. They share community. They experience “communion”

2. Community is a place where we find grace, love, hope and encouragement

B. Our world desperately needs a Christ-centered Community where...

1. ...we can walk together listening to and learning from Jesus as his Spirit opens the Word

2. ...we can be human - admitting our struggles and failures, disclosing our deepest desires, confessing our doubts

3. ...we are as eager to share it’s sorrows as its joys, its pain’s as its victories, it’s

questions as its answers - a community marked by grace, forgiveness,

and love

4. ...the stranger is embraced and enveloped

5. ...believers lift each other up in their daily prayers

6. ...Jesus is confessed as Savior and proclaimed as Lord in all things

7. ...we celebrate when “our hearts burn,” “our eyes are opened” and we’ve

seen Jesus

C. When the body of Christ lives in unity, we experience community, His

Church is graced, the Kingdom grows, and God is glorified