The Upper Room: A Seat at the Table – John 13-17
Knowing the time was fast approaching for Jesus to depart this world He spent His final hours with His closest friends gathered around a table in the upper room. This was more than a meal. It was a teaching moment of great importance to them…and to us.
As the disciples sat with Jesus, unaware of what would soon take place, Jesus served them, taught them, and prayed for them. We are going to pull up a seat at that table and let Jesus teach and disciple us as well.
Week 14: “In, not of, but sent into…together” – John 17:6-26
In John 17, Jesus prays. First for himself, then for His disciples, and then for us. How did Jesus pray for His disciples and for us who are now disciples of Jesus? He prayed that although we are IN the world, but be NOT OF the World, as we are SENT INTO the world…TOGETHER.
LIVE OAK CONNECTION POINT:
As we prepare for four Easter services, we could use your help! Serving in Kids Ministry or First Impressions could make a giant impact as we serve others on both Saturday, April 19 at 5:00pm and on Sunday, April 20 at 8:15a, 9:45am, or 11:15am. Sign up to serve on Easter by visiting Sign Up & Events on the App & website OR here
DISCUSSION/REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
- Where do you go or what do you do when life gets too heavy for you? Why?
- Talk about a time where you were driven to pray? When was a time that you felt such a weight of the moment that you prayed?
- What has been a takeaway for you from the Upper Room teachings of Jesus in John 13-17 and this sermon series?
READ: John 17:6-26.
Spend some time SOAPing this passage. You can either spend time SOAPing individually and documenting for a several minutes and then spend time sharing with each -OR- SOAP in real time with each other. Either way make as many observations as you can.
- Observations: What are the things that stand out to you about this passage?
- What stands out to you from Jesus’ prayer?
- How would you summarize this passage in one sentence?
- What does this passage tell me about who God is?
Jesus prayed that we would be “sanctified”. Sanctified is the Greek word Hagiazo and means “to separate from profane things and to be set apart for a holy purpose”. What does it mean to you that Jesus wants to sanctify you and set you apart for His holy purposes?
Jesus also said that God’s Word is truth, and it sanctifies us. How are you engaging God’s Word recently? How could you engage it and let God use it to sanctify you and set you apart for His holy purposes?
Jesus prayed for His disciples, and for us, about the following 4 truths. Spend some talking about each one as to what it means and how we should respond to it based on the questions beneath each one:
We are “IN the world” = John 17:11
- What are some of the realities of living “IN the world”?
But we are meant to be different…. “NOT OF the world” = John 17:14-17
- We are called to be different. Doug said “our difference makes a difference”. What do you think it means to be different and “not of the world”?
We are “SENT INTO the world” = John 17:18
- What do you think it means that we are “sent” into the world?
And we are sent into the world TOGETHER = John 17:20-26
- How does this prayer show us the importance of TOGETHER…unity, oneness, etc.?
Doug ended the sermon with this possible answer to Jesus’ prayer…a possible answer from us to Him. Take each line one at a time and talk about what it looks like for you to respond and live it out:
I am His! I belong to Him!
I am a follower of Jesus and a disciple of Jesus.
I live IN the world, but I am NOT OF the world.
I am SENT INTO the World on mission with Jesus.
And WE are sent into the world TOGETHER.
- What else stood out from this week’s sermon?
- Who can you invite to Easter services at Live Oak? Make a list and start praying for them.
- What are some ideas of how and ways we can invite others to Easter services?
APPLICATION: What is your big takeaway from this week’s sermon? Be specific.
NEXT STEPS:
Everyone has a next step to apply what we have learned. What is your next step? Be specific.
MEMORY VERSE: *Challenge yourself or your group to commit this verse to memory:
John 17:18 “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”
PRAYER:
Spend some time praying for each other.
Scripture References:
John 13-17; John 17:6-19, 20-26; 1 Peter 5:6-10; Mark 8:34-37; Romans 8:18, 35-39; 1 Peter 2:11-12; Romans 12:1-2
