Not of the World

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Sermon Outline

Speaker: Rev. Tim Chang
Sermon Series: The Gospel and the World

John 17:6-21  (ESV)
6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Sermon Outline
In Jesus’ prayer, he says that Christians are “not of this world.” This means that Christians…

1.  … belong to God. (v. 6-10)

2.  … are to be visible in the world. (v. 11-16)

3.  … are sent on mission. (v. 17-21)

Prayer of Confession
Heavenly Father, you call us to be in the world and bear witness to your good news, but we do not always obey your calling. We confess that too often we are fearful of the world’s rejection. Rather than showing the beauty of the gospel, we adopt the values of the world. Give us courage to continue the ministry of Jesus. Sanctify us in your truth so that we would love the world as you do. Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. What connected with you from the sermon or the passage?

2. Jesus mentions multiple times that we belong to God: e.g. “Yours they were… they are yours… all mine are yours… etc.” How does your soul respond to this truth?

3. What does it mean that Jesus is glorified in us (v. 10)?

4. Describe a moment when you or someone you know was hated by the world (v. 14)?

5. If Jesus sends us into the world to continue his ministry, what does that look like for you?

6. Jesus prays for the church’s unity and this unity acts as a witness to the world, so that more people will believe in the gospel. How can unity be an evangelistic tool? When have you seen this at work?

7. What do you sense God calling you to do from this passage?