Safe and Sent: Coming to Grips with the Challenge of Jesus in John 17

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Speaker: 
Andrew Fountain
Date: 
Sun, 2020-05-03

Video cover image by pxhere.com —Creative Commons CC0

  • Jesus’ words move from comfort to challenge,
  • from ‘Safe’ to ‘Sent’
  • as this amazing prayer in John 17 moves towards it’s climax.
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Sermon Outline - Safe and Sent — Coming to Grips with the Challenge of Jesus in John 17

Goal:

To feel the impact of the challenge in this prayer
but not be discouraged, but empowered.

Plan for today

  1. Recap of the prayer in John 17
  2. The 4th prayer: Safe from the world
  3. The 5th prayer: Sent into the world

Structure of John

1–12
”Book of Signs” 		13–21
”Book of Glory”

John 13–21 “Book of Glory”

13 A meal with the disciples

14–17 New Teaching
      from Jesus
      to the disciples
18–20 Arrest
      Crucifixion
      Resurrection

21 A meal with the disciples

Prayers of John 17

  1. (1–5) I have completed your mission and brought eternal life to humanity, so the time has come for me to come back to your side in glory.
  2. (6–10) You entrusted me with your loved ones, so I fed them your words and they received them. I pray for them now because they belong to us both.
  3. (11–13) Now I am leaving them, please keep them safe, and especially give them the kind of unity that we have.
  4. (14–17) The world will hate them, but don’t take them out, rather keep them safe.
  5. (17–19) Dedicate them to the truth and send them out to continue the mission that you sent me on.
  6. (20–23) And as the mission grows, may the world see their love and unity and so believe in your love!
  7. (24–26) And finally, I want them to be with me forever, enveloped in our love.

Recap of last time (Prayer three)

John 17:11–13 (outline)

  1. I am no longer in the world,
    • but I am coming to you.
      • keep them safe
        • so that they may be one
        • just as we are one.
      • I kept them safe
    • but now I am coming to you,
  2. May they have my joy completed in them

2. The Fourth prayer: Safe from the world

Today we will be focusing on the fourth and fifth prayers, which are closely connected

A very natural form

  • I wish I could support my friends who are in need
        But I would need more income
            which would mean a better job
                So I am praying for this
                so that when God answers my prayer
            and gives me a better job
        and I have more income
    I can support those in need

John 17:14–17 (outline)

  1. I gave them your word
    • the world rejects them, as it did me
      • but don’t take them out
      • just keep them safe
    • the world rejects them, as it did me
  2. Your word is truth

3. The Fifth prayer: Sent into the world

John 17 – Jesus Prays to the Father

John 17:17–19 (outline)

  1. Make them 100% committed to the message
    • Just as you sent me into the world
      • So I send them
      • And for their sakes
    • I’m 100% committed
  2. So that then will be 100% committed to the message

How can we respond?

  • This is a very challenging message
  • Ask yourself if you are really 100% committed to Jesus’ mission?
  • But don’t feel condemned by this message, because Jesus was so gently with his disciples, and is committed to you
  • If you are challenged by these words, Jesus would love you to ask him to show you what they mean in your life right now.
  • Jesus, I want to be 100% committed. Please help me!
  • Goal: To feel the impact of the challenge in this prayer, but not be discouraged, but empowered.
  • Let’s end by reading the verses again...

Updated on 2020-05-03 by Andrew Fountain