Your May 12th, Sermon & Ministry Resources

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Lectionary Readings — Seventh Sunday of Easter — May 12, 2024

Acts 1:15-17,21-26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19

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Call to Worship (based on John 17:6-19)

Leader: "I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world."

People: We are chosen from the world, set apart in the truth of Your Word.

Leader: "They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word."

People: Lord, we commit to keeping Your Word, living as Your disciples.

Leader: "Now they know that everything you have given me is from you."

People: We acknowledge all we have is yours, and we live in Your truth.

Leader: "I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one."

People: Keep us, O Lord, as we live in this world, shielded by Your grace.

Leader: "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth."

People: Sanctify us, O Lord, that we may be truly yours, dedicated to Your mission.

Leader: "As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world."

People: We go forth, bearing the light of Christ, ready to serve and glorify Your name.

Leader: Let us worship God, who has called us, sanctified us, and sent us.

People: With grateful hearts, we come to praise and to grow deeper into the life of Christ, who intercedes for us.

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Opening Prayer (based on Psalm 1)

Let us pray,

Heavenly Father, we come before You today, grateful for the wisdom and guidance You offer us through Your Word. As we reflect on the truths of Psalm 1, we are reminded of the blessedness of walking in Your ways, of not standing in the path of the wicked, nor sitting in the seat of scoffers.

Lord, we desire to be like the tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. We ask that You would root us deeply in the soil of Your love and truth, that we might draw upon Your living waters. Nourish us with Your Word, that we may flourish in every season, bearing the fruit of Your Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

We confess, O God, that at times we are tempted to walk in the counsel of the wicked, swayed by the world’s promises that lead away from Your truth. Help us to meditate on Your law day and night, finding our delight in Your commands, and resisting the allure of paths that do not lead to You.

Protect us, Lord, from the chaff that the wind drives away. Make us strong and resilient, able to withstand the trials and temptations that we face. May our lives reflect Your stability and strength, showing the world the joy and peace that come from living in Your ways.

As we gather here to worship You, renew our commitment to follow Your paths. Help us to engage deeply with Your Word, to seek Your wisdom, and to apply it in all aspects of our lives. May our worship today be pleasing to You, as we lift our hearts and voices in praise and thanksgiving for Your unending grace and love.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we pray. Amen.

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Sermon Outline: [NOTE to Paid subscribers — scroll down for the full manuscript sermon].

Sermon Outline: Protected, Prepared, and Purposed (John 17:6-19)

Introduction:

• Begin with the context of Jesus' prayer in John 17, often called the High Priestly Prayer. Jesus prays for His disciples immediately before His arrest, emphasizing His care for their spiritual well-being and their mission after His departure.

I. Revealed Reality

• Scripture: "I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world." (John 17:6, NRSV)

• Point: Jesus emphasizes the revelation of God’s name—His character and nature—to the disciples. He highlights the intimate knowledge they have received because they belong to God and have been faithful to His word.

• Application: Reflect on the importance of knowing God intimately as Jesus did. Consider how this knowledge should shape our identity and our daily living, fostering a deeper relationship with God and a stronger commitment to His truths.

II. Protected People

• Scripture: "I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one." (John 17:15, NRSV)

• Point: Jesus prays not for the disciples’ removal from the world but for their protection within it. He acknowledges the reality of spiritual warfare and the need for divine safeguarding against the evil one.

• Application: Discuss how believers are to engage with the world without falling prey to its influences. Explore practical ways to seek God’s protection through prayer, Scripture, and community as we navigate challenges in our lives and ministries.

III. Sanctified by the Spirit

• Scripture: "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17, NRSV)

• Point: Sanctification is a key theme of Jesus' prayer. He asks God to sanctify the disciples in truth, which is rooted in God’s Word. This sanctification is essential for their holiness and effectiveness in mission.

• Application: Examine how the truth of God’s Word sanctifies us. Encourage personal and communal engagement with Scripture that leads to a transformation of mind and spirit, enabling us to live out God’s call with purity and purpose.

IV. Commissioned to Continue

• Scripture: "As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world." (John 17:18, NRSV)

• Point: Jesus extends His own mission to His followers, commissioning them to continue His work in the world. This mission is empowered by the same authority and driven by the same divine purpose that characterized His ministry.

• Application: Identify ways in which we, as modern disciples, are called to continue Jesus' mission. Focus on the empowerment we receive from Jesus and the responsibilities we bear to spread the Gospel, make disciples, and embody Christ’s love and truth in every aspect of our lives.

Conclusion:

• Conclude by reflecting on the profound privilege and responsibility of being kept in God's name, protected by His power, sanctified by His truth, and sent into the world with His mission. Encourage the congregation to live out these truths boldly, relying on God’s guidance and protection as they fulfill their calling.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the profound truths revealed in Your Son’s prayer. As Jesus prayed for His disciples, we find comfort and challenge in His words for us today. Lord, help us to embrace fully the reality of Your revelation, the protection You provide, the sanctification through Your truth, and the mission You have entrusted to us.

Guide us as we strive to live out these truths in our daily lives. Keep us from the evil one, sanctify us in Your truth, and empower us to carry forward the work of Your kingdom. May we always be mindful of Your presence, living as Your faithful witnesses in a world that needs Your love and light.

We ask these things in the name of Jesus, who intercedes for us at Your right hand. Amen.

Full Manuscript Sermon Below for Paid Subscribers