Step 1: Opening and Introduction to the lesson: What going away gift have you received or given that still warms your heart or brings a smile? What is the best reason you have heard for not believing in Jesus as Savior?
Step 2: Hear – Read: Jesus prays for himself, His Disciples, All Believers. John 17:1 – 26.
Step 3: Explore – Discover the Passage
- What event is it now time for (v. 1; 12:23-24)? What does it mean to glorify someone (vv. 4,5, 10, 22, 24)? How is Jesus’ deity emphasized here?
- Who is the focal point of Jesus’ prayer in verses 6-19? Why? If you had to file a report to the Father on Jesus’ activities, how would you verify verses 6-8? What is Jesus’ concern in verses 11 and 15? What does he mean by the name you gave me (see 8:58; Ex 3:14)? What do the events surrounding the original revelation of this name show about its power to save (Ex. 3:7-10)?
- What does he mean by his request in verse 17? What is its purpose? Who is the focus of Jesus’ prayer in verses 20-26? Toward what end? What kind of unity exists between God and Jesus that we should copy?
- What does Jesus’ ultimate desire (v. 24) reveal about his love for us? How do verses 25-26 sum up the major concerns of Jesus in chapters 13-16??
Step 4: Connect – Apply the Passage:
- This week, whom have you glorified by the way you lived? How so? What two phrases sum up your goal for the past year? How does this relate to God’s purpose?
- How are your prayers for others like and unlike Jesus’ prayer? Do your prayers reflect the short-term urgent, or the long-term important needs that people have? What can you apply to your prayer skills from this chapter?
- How does the fact that Jesus existed before the world began affect the way you live?
ow can you fulfill this commandment
- How important to you is unity with other believers? With whom do you share this unity? How can you experience more unity?
Step 5: Reflect: Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
