A Glimpse of Heaven

SCRIPTURE

John 17:20-26

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹that 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. ²²The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, ²³I 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. ²⁴Father, 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. ²⁵O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. ²⁶I 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.”

OBSERVATIONS

We Must Seek Unity from Above
- Psalm 133:1-3 “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! ²It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! ³It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.”
We Cannot Allow the Non-Essentials to Become Essential
- We cannot build Unity on Opinions.
- We cannot build Unity on Common Interest or Shared Experience.
- We cannot build Unity through Uniformity.
Restoring the Essentials to their Rightful Place
- Shared Commitment to Jesus and His Word.
- Shared Understanding of our New Identity.
- Shared Pursuit of Sacrificial Love.
- A shared Discontentment with Division.
Where there is a Sense of Gods Glory Unity is Easy.
Where there is Evidence of Gods Glory there is a Glimpse of Heaven.

When we study God’s Word, it should lead us to both rejoicing and repenting.

What stands out to you from the text?
What questions or comments do you have about it?
In what ways did you find yourself encouraged and/or rejoicing when you heard the message?
In what ways were you challenged to repent or change when you heard the message?
How did the teacher connect this passage to Christ? What other connections do you see between this message and the redemptive work of Christ?

CONCLUSION

What is one thing that you want to remember from this sermon?
Why is that important to you?