If you could only ask one person to pray about something, who would it be? If you are like me, you would pick someone that has an awesome walk with the Lord. It would not necessarily be the person that knew the most about the Bible or even had a perfect attendance record at church. It would likely be the man or woman who had the kind of walk that could ONLY result from spending time in the presence of the Lord.
What if the person you could ask to pray for you was Jesus? Have you ever thought about what Jesus would pray for you? Even if you have not ever considered this question, I can actually tell you the answer! It is recorded for us in John 17. This whole chapter is a prayer that Jesus is praying to the Father. He says in verse 20, “I do not ask for these only (disciples), but also for those who will believe in me through their word”. That’s you! Jesus is actually praying for you!
It is this prayer of Jesus that is our Community Group model. He prays three simple things for us as believers. He prays that you would live as ONE, live by the WORD, and live as SENT.
John 17:20–21 (ESV) 20“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.
“Living as ONE” means that our faith in Jesus has the innate ability to break down all racial, socio-economic, and generational differences. Living as ONE rejects the idea that the Christ-Life is a solo activity. In a world of individualism, Jesus says that living in this manner will somehow point people to Him!
John 17:8 (ESV) 8For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
“Living by the WORD” means that we are a people that allow the teaching of the scriptures to be a central tenant of our gathering. The audacity of this prayer is that God’s Word is sufficient to speak into our lives and has the power to change our attitudes, values, and actions.
John 17:18 (ESV) 18As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
“Living as SENT” is a reminder that if God has saved you, then you are sent. It means that your life is not your own, but that you have been bought with a price. His prayer for us is not to be mere recipients of His grace but conduits of it to the world. It is this final component of “being sent” that will set these groups apart from other groups in the church.
Community Groups are for people that are dedicated to leading people far from God into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ through the bold teaching of the Scriptures. They are for people who believe that God has a divine purpose and plan for placing us on this planet, at this time, and in this place. These groups are for people committed to bringing Jesus to those who live, work, and play around them. These gatherings are for people who are shamelessly addicted to sharing the love of Christ by meeting in homes all around our city and embracing the call to live as one, live by the word, and live as sent.
What if the person you could ask to pray for you was Jesus? Have you ever thought about what Jesus would pray for you? Even if you have not ever considered this question, I can actually tell you the answer! It is recorded for us in John 17. This whole chapter is a prayer that Jesus is praying to the Father. He says in verse 20, “I do not ask for these only (disciples), but also for those who will believe in me through their word”. That’s you! Jesus is actually praying for you!
It is this prayer of Jesus that is our Community Group model. He prays three simple things for us as believers. He prays that you would live as ONE, live by the WORD, and live as SENT.
John 17:20–21 (ESV) 20“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.
“Living as ONE” means that our faith in Jesus has the innate ability to break down all racial, socio-economic, and generational differences. Living as ONE rejects the idea that the Christ-Life is a solo activity. In a world of individualism, Jesus says that living in this manner will somehow point people to Him!
John 17:8 (ESV) 8For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
“Living by the WORD” means that we are a people that allow the teaching of the scriptures to be a central tenant of our gathering. The audacity of this prayer is that God’s Word is sufficient to speak into our lives and has the power to change our attitudes, values, and actions.
John 17:18 (ESV) 18As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
“Living as SENT” is a reminder that if God has saved you, then you are sent. It means that your life is not your own, but that you have been bought with a price. His prayer for us is not to be mere recipients of His grace but conduits of it to the world. It is this final component of “being sent” that will set these groups apart from other groups in the church.
Community Groups are for people that are dedicated to leading people far from God into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ through the bold teaching of the Scriptures. They are for people who believe that God has a divine purpose and plan for placing us on this planet, at this time, and in this place. These groups are for people committed to bringing Jesus to those who live, work, and play around them. These gatherings are for people who are shamelessly addicted to sharing the love of Christ by meeting in homes all around our city and embracing the call to live as one, live by the word, and live as sent.
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