Sermon:  The Lord's Prayer

Summary:  In this prayer of Jesus, we have an intimate glimpse of what the heart felt 
passion of Christ was and can therefore learn more not only about Christ, but about God 
himself.  Jesus was passionate about his relationship with God, which he refers to as 
glory and eternal life, and he was passionate about completing the work with God had 
given him to do among his people as God's steward, through teaching, manifesting God's 
name, and through glorification.

Know:  We need to look at Christ and imitate him in his actions and passions, which can 
be seen even in the way he prays.  His passion is God and God's mission.

Feel:  The strong desire to be closer to God and fulfill his heart's desire

Do:  Reflect on how Jesus prayed and what that says about him and his relationship with 
God.  Discuss lessons we can learn from this in following him as our example.  Identify 
the sources of shortcomings and challenges in conforming your actions, attitudes, passions, 
and heart to that of Christ.  Devise a plan to put these lessons into your everyday practice.

Text:  John 17:1-8

Scripture Reading:  Eph 4:20-24

Intro:
1.  Most intimate time - When truly pray with someone, overhear their heart to God - As a 
kid - Singing camp by the stream, where I was baptized, prayed, sang together with mentor
2.  Heard Sermon's about the Lord's Prayer
	a.  Often a whole series
	b.  But never hear a series on John 17
	c.  This is the Lord's Prayer
	d.  A most intimate moment
3.  As "overhear" this prayer, can see the passion and heart desire of Christ and therefore God 
	- John 1:14-18 - He has "explained" God
	- If seen me, have seen the Father
4.  Will spend a couple of weeks on this prayer
5.  First, picture Christ, on his way to crucifixion
	a.  If you on way to death, what might you be praying about?
		- Whatever it is, it will be something important
		- Will be something you are passionate about
	c.  Reflects on his ministry, and prays for followers
	b.  But first, Jesus prays - Reflects on his relationship with God
6.  Feel the passion in his voice, experience the intensity of his heart, sense the mysterious intimacy he had with God as he prayed - Jn 17:1-8

I.  Jesus was passionate about his relationship with God
	A.  Jesus never had self-centered, egotistical issues that hampered him
		1.  It was always about what God wanted
		2.  It was not about Jesus’ personal pride, etc.
	B.  Jesus made it clear throughout his ministry that God was his passion
		1.  Examples:
			a.  2:16-17 - Cleansed temple, zeal for God's house 
			     consumed him
			b.  4:34 - My food is to do the will of Him who sent me 
			c.  7:18 - Jesus not seeking his own glory, but the glory of 
			     the one who sent him
		2.  A related term is “Son of God”
			a.  Originally a title of kingship – Psalm 2
				- Kings in ancient times often called “Son of God”
				- Extension of God’s rule
				- Even in Egypt – Rameses means “Son of Ra”
			b.  Applied to Jesus as the ultimate “Son of God”
				- Jesus is the ultimate king
			c.  But Jesus uses the term differently in John
				- Speaks of his intimacy with the Father
				- Jn 3:16 - Jesus refers to himself as the "only" Son
				- 5:20 - The Father “loves” the son
		3.  Now Jesus is praying near the end of his life
			a.  Passion is being reunited with God
			b.  17:5 - Glorify me together with you as before
		4.  Jesus is going home after completing his work
	C.  ILL:  How many have a home?  How many of you have a house?
		1.  What is the difference between a home and a house?
			a.  House refers to wood, nails, roof, etc.
			b.  Home is where you live, with family, loved ones
				- Where you feel content, safe,
				- Where you sleep, eat, laugh, play
		2.  You can walk into a model house on a construction site
			a.  Has carpet, furniture, appliances, manicured lawn, etc.
			b.  But is it a home?  No!  No one lives there
		3.  You can walk into a real home
			a.  Dishes not done, clutter, laundry basket on couch
			b.  In the back of the house, hear laughing, tickling, etc.
			c.  Is this a home?  Yes!
		4.  What is the difference? -- RELATIONSHIP
			a.  Home is where your loved ones are
			b.  Relationship is what makes a home a home
	D.  Why do you want to go do Heaven?
		1.  Because Heaven is my ultimate home
		2.  Heaven is not just a "place"
			a.  If it were just an empty house, not much different than a 
			     model
			b.  Heaven is where our beloved is - our Lord
		3.  I want to go to Heaven because that is where God is
			a.  This is why Jesus was passionate about going back 
			     home
			b.  This should be our passion as well
			c.  **First, Jesus had to complete what God's work…

II.  Jesus was passionate about completing God's work
	A.  Jesus understood stewardship - 
		1.  v.6 - The men whom you "gave" me out of the world
		2.  His ministry, disciples, work, etc. all belonged to the Father
		3.  The Father “gave” them to Christ as a steward
		4.  This was not for himself, for Israel, etc. but for God
	B.  Ways he mentioned that he completed God's work
		1.  v.8  - Teaching 
			a.  Words you gave me I have given them
			b.  Goal - They understand Jesus is sent from God
				-  Central to Christian teaching is Christ
			c.  What happens when you not keep Christ at center?
				- Something else will take the center
				- 5:39 - Jews put the Torah at center 
					-- "You search scriptures, you think in them you 
					    have life, but these testify of Me!"
					--  They missed the center, which is Christ
 				- Can put church at center and have churchianity
					-- I have heard and seen this before
					-- Salvation taught in terms of "how to get into 
					   the church"  
					-- Christian living in terms of "how to conduct 
					    yourself in the church."
					-- Little if any mention of Christ
			d.  Why is Jesus central?
				- He is God
				- **He is God's ultimate message…
		2.  v.6 - Manifesting the name of God
			a.  What is a "name?"  - Naming not what it used to be
				- Some cultures, you "earn" you name when become 
				  adult - says something about you
				- Some examples
					--Moses -Draw out -Draw out of Nile, of slavery
					-- Isaiah - Yahweh delivers
					-- Jesus - Savior, deliverer
				- Sometimes God changes names
					-- Abram - Exalted Father -to- Abraham - 
					    Father of a multitude
					-- Jacob - Overeacher, replacer, deceiver -to- 
					    Israel - Strives with God
					-- Character changes, God renames
				- Name is about character, who you are
				- God's name is "Yahweh"  - Ex 3:13-15
					-- God said, "I will be who I will be"
					-- Yahweh means "he is" or "he will be" 
					-- He will be what? - deliverer, warrior, provider
					-- God will be what we need
			b.  What does it mean to “manifest”  God's name?
				- Definition - to make clear or evident to the eye or the 
				  understanding; show plainly
				- Synonymns: express, declare, demonstrate, display, 
				   illustrate, personify, personalize
				- Jn 1:14 - Word became flesh - personalized
				- God displayed his "name" in human form
		3.  Glorifying God
			a.  Hard to define word, has a huge range of meaning
			b.  Has to do with praise, honor, majesty
			c.  Jesus drew attention to the Father, praised the Father
			d.  Goal was for people to come to know God
		4.  Jesus did all this to accomplish God's work
	C.  ILL:  Patsy Clarimont on airplane years ago, next to polite man
		1.  Man always said, "Yes ma'am"  "thank you" etc.
		2.  She asked, "Are you in the military?   Which branch?  Marines!
			a.  She asked:  Where are you coming from?  Desert Storm?
			b.  He said - Yes, my family will be waiting back home
			c.  She said:  You must have thought many times about 
			     returning home while over there!
		3.  He said, No ma-am, never did, we were taught not to dwell on 
		     what might never be, but to be fully available right where we are
	D.  That is what Jesus did - He was fully available right where he was
		1.  Jesus gave his life to accomplish God's mission
		2.  Taught, manifested God, ultimately died and raised for us

III.  Lesson for us
	A.  Not just a story for us
		1.  John included this so we can see into the heart of our Lord
		2.  This is not just so we can recite it in a class
		3  This is here so we can learn Christ
			a.  Eph 4:20 - "You did not learn Christ in this way"
			b.  Does not say, "Learn ABOUT Christ"
			c.  We are learning to be like Christ
	B.  What did we see in Christ?
		1.  Passion for completing God's work
			a.  Manifest God's name - His character
			b.  How?  Teaching
				- Good News, Kingdom of God is near
				- Good News, God Loves You
				- Good News, You can have Life, abundantly
			c.  How?  Demonstration
				- Jesus with the sinners, tax collectors
				- Jesus touching those who are sick
				- Jesus caring for those who are brokenhearted
				- Jesus loving people
			d.  If we are "Learning Christ" what do you learn from this?
		2.  Passion to be reunited with God
			a.  Jesus passion was to please God
			b.  Jesus is looking forward to being with God again
			c.  We want to go to Heaven because that is where God is
	C.  We need to think about eternal life biblically
		1.  Jesus says what eternal life is
		2.  It is not
			a.  It is not merely existing forever
			b.  It is not even living in golden mansions
				- Not about a "place"
				- Remember difference between house and home?
			c.  It is not merely staying out of Hell
				- If in Hell eternally, where worm not die, is this 
				  eternal life?
				- Bible NEVER calls this eternal life
				- Calls it the second death
		3.  It is knowing God
		4.  Salvation is about a restored RELATIONSHIP
			a.  Jesus had an intimate relationship with the Father
			b.  His passion was the Father
			c.  His passion was accomplishing his work
	D.  Lesson for us is to learn Christ, to imitate him
		1.  Make our relationship with God the priority in our life
		2.  Make doing his work our passion

Concl:
1.  Have you made God number one?  (invitation)
2.  If you have, then you are in the process of "learning Christ"
	a.  Like Christ, God is your passion, your life, your eternal life
	b.  Like Christ, Doing God's work is also your passion, to please him

====================================

 
Small Group Questions:  The Lord's Prayer

Summary:  In this prayer of Jesus, we have an intimate glimpse of what the heart felt passion 
of Christ was and can therefore learn more not only about Christ, but about God himself.  
Jesus was passionate about his relationship with God, which he refers to as glory and eternal 
life, and he was passionate about completing the work with God had given him to do among his 
people as God's steward, through teaching, manifesting God's name, and through glorification.   


Open:
- What was the most unusual prayer you have ever heard?
- What was the most meaningful going away ceremony/party, etc. you have experienced?


Explore:  (Jn 17:1-8)

1.  This particular prayer is not included in any other Gospel.  Why do you suppose John includes 
it in his Gospel?  What benefit(s) would there be in passing on this prayer to us?

2.  Discuss what d the first 8 verses of this prayer reveals about Jesus, his passions, his work, 
his desire, etc.

3.  How does this prayer relate to Jn 14:7, or Jn 1:14?

4.  Based on this passage, what would you say that "godliness" (being like God)  includes?  


Apply:

5.  How does this intimate look at Christ in prayer encourage, challenge, or motivate you?  How 
does this prayer compare to the way your pray?

6.  What does your prayer life reveal about yourself, your relationship with God, and the nature of 
your service?

7.  Identify the sources of shortcomings and challenges in conforming your actions, attitudes, passions, 
and heart to that of Christ.  

8.  What personal lesson(s) do you get from this passage?  What is God calling you to do?


Prayer