01/06/2025 | MAY THEY BE ONE!

Readings:

Psalm 97 (this can be used as part of your opening prayer)
John 17:1-26 – however the specific focus this week is on verses 20-26.

Questions:
1. To what extent does it change your view of Jesus’ prayer here to think of it as his prayer for the disciples that brings to an end his years of teaching them?

2. John’s writing style in John 17 is “rondo,” that is, when principal themes and terms are repeated frequently in fresh contexts. John’s rondo style revolves around principal terms like Father and Son or love and light, faith and obedience, and there
are more. In this prayer of John 17 Jesus turns those favourite themes into prayer requests. Make a list of these words and phrases. Why do you think John repeats so many words and phrases in the way that he writes?

3. What kind of protection does Jesus pray over his disciples?

4. Do you think the disciples had any idea how large the church would grow someday? How might that knowledge have impacted their understanding of Jesus’ prayers for future unity?

5. As you read Jesus’ prayer and think of it as a prayer for YOU, how does that affect you?

Action:
How does your small group, church, or mission group measure up against this prayer for love and unity (oneness)? What could be done to change this or improve things?

Closing prayer

God bless,
Rev Tim
1 With thanks – New Testament Everyday: John © 2022 by Scot McKnight