Bible Study – God’s Mission Our Mission
Share: Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.
Easter - the unearned gift of grace. Of course, we cannot “figure it out.” How comforting, then, to have these scriptures, showing first how the disciples struggled to grasp what had happened and then stories of Jesus before the crucifixion, which are written in the light of the Resurrection.
As Easter people we know, as Paul said, that nothing, not even death, shall separate us from the love of God. We are people who expect life out of death. And so, in Eastertide we celebrate the wonder and prepare ourselves to take the awesome message out into the world on Pentecost.
Jesus reports to God. Jesus has done the work given him to do. A little band of believers is trained to do the work Jesus has given them to do. Jesus lifts these people up to God. As he does so, we, and our ministries are also lifted up. We are not immune to pain, suffering, or even defeat. But God offers protection from the evil one, in all we do. And, in all we do, Jesus asks, “that they may have my joy made complete in themselves.”
This is the last Sunday in the season of Easter. Next week is Pentecost, a special Sunday in the Church.
Opening Prayer: Thank you, God, for all the stories we have had in this season of Easter. Thank you for loving us so much that you sent your Son, Jesus, to be with us. Amen.
Please open your Bibles to John 17:6-19 and read or read the scriptures below.
John 17:6-19
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
6 “I have revealed you[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.
11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of[b] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by[c] that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
17 Sanctify them by[d] the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Reflection Questions: (Answers at the bottom of the page)
- Who is the “them” Jesus is talking to God about?
- What happens when we are “protected from the evil one?”
- What does “They do not belong to the world” mean?
- What does “sanctify them in the truth” mean?
Click here for the young learner’s lesson.
Videos (Click on url)
John 17:6-19 In the world, not of the world: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PFBd097eJo
Gospel of John Summary – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-2e9mMf7E8
Song: He’s got the whole world in His Hands - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srRB1ss_SVc
Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM5nAF5g-c4
Activities:
Poster World and Cross: Draw a World on a poster board. Color the world and then take paper crosses and write your name and each of your family and friends name on a cross and then tape it somewhere on the world poster. There are children and grownups ALL AROUND THE WORLD who are IN the World but not OF the World.
Shell World: take crushed up egg shells and dye them of different colors. Draw a round world on a heavy piece of paper or poster board and add the colored shells for different parts of the world and title the paper – IN THE WORLD BUT NOT OF THE WORLD
World Bible Book Markers: Cut out a book marker and add stickers or picture of world globe as well as drawing crosses and hearts. Write I WILL BE IN THE WORLD BUT NOT OF THE WORLD, then take a ribbon to glue to the edges of the book marker.
Jesus Prays for His Disciples - Crossword: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/jesus-prays-for-his-disciples-1
Jesus Prays for His Disciples - Word Search: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/jesus-prays-for-his-disciples-4
Jesus Prays for His Disciples – Multiple Choice: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/jesus-prays-for-his-disciples-3
Jesus Prays for His Disciples – Fill in the Blank: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/jesus-prays-for-his-disciples-2
Prayer: Thank you, God, for this time we have had together. Thank you for loving us and for being with us in everything we do. Amen.
Answers to Reflection Questions:
- Who is the “them” Jesus is talking to God about? (His disciples and us as well.)
- What happens when we are “protected from the evil one?” (We make choices that help us stay out of trouble.)
- What does “They do not belong to the world” mean? (We turn our hearts to God. We look at the world differently than most people do. We are Easter People.)
- What does “sanctify them in the truth” mean? (Help them know what is really true, what is really the right thing to do.)
