Sunday School Lesson February 7, 2021

Subject:  Intimacy with Jesus

The Point:  Prayer draws us closer to Jesus as our hearts align with His.

The Passage: John 17:1-5, 21-26

Study The Bible: John 17:1-5

1). Pray for God’s glory to be seen.

1. Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said; “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you,
2. since you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him.
3. This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent—Jesus Christ.
4. I have glorified you on the earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
5. Now, Father, glorify me in your presence with that glory I had with you before the world existed.

Lasting truths from: John 17:1-5

• Jesus prepared for His assignment by having the discipline of prayer.
• Jesus prayed for strength to finish the task God had called Him to do.
• Jesus prayed He would finish the task so that those who believed in Him would have life.

2).   Pray for unity with God and among believers.

John 17:21-23

21. May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me.
22. I have given them the glory you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one.
23. I am in them and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.

Lasting truths from: John 17:21-23

• The unity of the church is grounded in a relationship with God through Christ.
• The unity of the church is a dynamic witness of God’s love in Christ.
• The unity of the church  demonstrates God’s purpose in sending Christ and His love for people.

3). Pray for God’s love to be known and experienced.

John 17:24-26

24. “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they will see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the world’s foundation.
25. Righteous Father, the world has not known you. However, I have known you, and they have known that you sent me.
26. I made your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love you have loved me with may be in them and I may be in them.”

Lasting truth from: John 17:24-26

• Jesus desires that His followers spend eternity with Him in His glory.
• Not everyone in this world has experienced the righteousness of Christ.
• As we come to know the Lord, we also begin to experience His love.

Live It Out

As you reflect on this session, respond to the following questions.

1. If Jesus began His prayer by praying for Himself, then in what areas of your life would you like to pray for yourself?
2. How would you pray for greater unity within your own local church and within the body of Christ in general?
3. In what ways can you and your group pray for God’s love to be known and experienced in your community and in your church?

Closing Prayer:

“Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died on the cross to forgive me of my sins and rose from the dead to give me new life. I’m sorry for all the wrong I’ve done and ask You to forgive me. I now accept Your gift of eternal life. Thank You for Your love, forgiveness, and a new life in Jesus Christ. From this day forward, I choose to follow You, In Jesus’ name, Amen”