I Want Them With Me Where I Am

In one paragraph

Pastor Nick walked the congregation through John 17, the prayer Jesus prays on his way to the cross. The chapter covers Jesus praying for himself, for his disciples, and then for everyone who would ever believe through their message, which he pointed out includes the people in that room on Monday night. The evening included open conversation after the reading, with several people sharing what...

Read together

1. John 16 (closing verse) quoted as the ending of chapter 16, setting context before chapter 17: 'I've told you all of this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows, but take heart because I've overcome the world'
2. John 17 read in full as the main text of the sermon
3. 1 Corinthians 10:31 cited to illustrate glorifying God in everyday life: 'whatever you do, do it for the glory of God'
4. 1 John 5:12 cited to simplify the way to eternal life: 'whoever has the son has life, whoever does not have God's son does not have life'
5. John 10 referenced for Jesus saying He came to give life to the full measure, contrasted with the enemy who comes to kill, steal and destroy
6. John 15 the vine and branches illustration referenced to picture unity among believers remaining in Christ

Talk about it

1. Pastor Nick opened with John 16:35, where Jesus says 'Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows, but take heart because I have overcome the world.' Where in your own life right now does that promise feel hardest to hold onto, and where does it feel most real?
2. Pastor Nick pointed out that in John 17, Jesus prays that his followers would be filled with his joy, and Florian shared that he experiences that joy most when he is obeying and following closely. What has your own experience been with the connection between obedience and joy?
3. Pastor Nick said the enemy's strategy is isolation, and that the lies isolation breeds sound like 'I am not good enough,' 'nobody likes me,' 'I should not be around people.' Have you recognized any of those lies at work in your own life, and what has helped you combat them with truth?
4. Nick shared that even on days when he feels like he did not act like a Christian, the fact that we already belong to God does not change. How does really believing that we belong to God shape the way we get back up after those kinds of days?
5. Pastor Nick described God's plan for spreading the gospel as a chain: the disciples shared with someone, who shared with someone, all the way down to us, so that we would share with someone else. Who in your life are you currently in a position to share that message with?