Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

“Together” is an important word in the life of the Christian.

We are meant to do life together not as individuals.

We are meant to love and minister to one another.

We are meant to share the Gospel with the lost world, not withdraw from it and build communes.

But “together” isn’t always easy.

The Hoyt’s had the love of a family relationship as their bond.

But we know families who are estranged from one another.

We need something stronger if we are going to have a relationship with others for eternity!

And it is for this something which Jesus prays in the last section of the High Priestly prayer.

Jesus Prays For Unity

“I do not ask for these only” —

Isn’t this an incredible thought?

Jesus prayed for us and continues to pray for us today.

Whatever He is praying represents His will for our life and what He prays for will happen!

“That they all be one” — Jesus prays for unity among believers in Him.

Unity within the church.

But this is not a unity of love or like for one another.

This is not a unity based upon our common affinity for hymns, praise music, gothic cathedrals or little white country church buildings.

This is a much greater, stronger and more permanent kind of unity.

“That they all be one” — That there would be unity among believers in Christ on account of their relationship with God through Christ.

Our common faith and obedience to this revelation will be what unifies us.

This is not a unity based upon our love for hymns, praise music, gothic cathedrals or little white country church buildings.

This is not a unity based upon our love of potlucks, movies, football, or art.

This is a far greater, stronger and more permanent kind of unity.

Jesus prays we will be unified by His revelation of the Father.

Our common faith and obedience to this revelation will be what unifies us.

Jesus prays we will be unified by His revelation of the Father.

Our common faith and obedience to this revelation will be what unifies us.

There can be union without unity: tie two cats together by their tails and throw them over a clothesline.

What Christ wants for us is actual, true unity

Too often churches have attempted to find unity based temporal or frivolous things.

They unite together based on common likes and dislikes.

They unite on the basis of common history or heritage.

Too often churches have attempted to find unity based temporal or frivolous things.

They unite together based on common likes and dislikes.

They unite on the basis of common history or heritage.

Folks join a church because their friends go there, they like the music, it is located near their house and their mamma was a baptist, methodist or lutheran.

Folks join a church because their friends go there, they like the music, it is located near their house and their mamma was a baptist, methodist or lutheran.

Church unity was never meant to be based upon our love for hymns, praise music, gothic cathedrals or little white country church buildings.

This is not a unity based upon our love of potlucks, movies, football, or art.

Likes and preferences will never unite a church the way Jesus prays for in this passage.

While common likes and dislikes might provide for a great friendship with others, it will never provide an unbreakable, spiritual family kind of bond Christians were meant to have with one another.

Think about it — How many times have people, within the walls of the church, come to verbal blows, declaring their animosity and even hate for one another?

One group storms out to form a new church across town…a church split happens.

Each group grieves but is happy to be free of the other.

This is a far more significant, stronger and permanent kind of unity.

Such unity requires a supernatural kind of glue

People often wonder why there are so many Baptist churches in town.

Or why there are so many different Christian denominations.

The answer is a simple one…too many churches have found their unity in something other than their common relationship with Christ.

Think about it — How many times have people, within the walls of the church, come to verbal blows, declaring their animosity and even hate for one another?

One group storms out to form a new church across town…a church split happens.

Each group grieves but is happy to be free of the other.

But are they???

People often wonder why there are so many Baptist churches in town.

Or why there are so many different Christian denominations.

The answer is often simply for the fact that Christians too often seek unity with one another in something other than their common relationship with Jesus Christ.

Likes and preferences will never unite a church the way Jesus prays for in this passage.

While common likes and dislikes might provide for a great friendship with others, it will never provide an unbreakable, spiritual family kind of bond Christians were meant to have with one another.

Likes and preferences will never unite a church the way Jesus prays for in this passage.

While common likes and dislikes might provide for great friendships, it will never provide an unbreakable, spiritual bond Christians were meant to have with one another.

Do splitting churches actually believe God is going to draw a line down the center of heaven, giving each their territory so they will not have to interact with one another in eternity?

Story of the church which split over the question of whether or not Adam had a belly button — Do splitting churches actually believe God is going to draw a line down the center of heaven, giving each their territory so they will not have to interact with one another in eternity?

If both groups are actually believers in Christ they will never be truly free of one another.

There is an inescapable, permanent bond which nothing can break.

They are simply acting as though such a bond doesn’t exist.

If both groups are actually believers in Christ they will never be truly free of one another.

There is an inescapable, permanent bond which nothing can break.

They are simply acting as though such a bond doesn’t exist.

We are bound together by our relationship with Christ.

The Father is in Jesus, Jesus in the Father and we are in Father and Son…We are “in” a relationship of such intimacy that Christ is actually living His life through us.

We are bound together by our relationship with Christ.

The Father is in Jesus, Jesus in the Father and we are in Father and Son…We are “in” an unbreakable, eternal relationship with God and subsequently with each other.

The Power To Be Unified

If Christ is in me and Christ is in you…how do we think we could ever be away from each other?

What could separate us?

This kind of unity is truly beyond the natural.

It is a work of the Spirit of Christ within us.

Jesus tells us how this comes about in verse 22...He has given His glory to us —

He has given His glory to us —

This is what is meant in verse 22 when Jesus says He has given His glory to us — He has placed His life in us…He has placed His character and power in us and intends to live His life through us.

He has placed His character and power in each of us and lives His life through us.

If Christ is in me and Christ is in you…What could possibly separate us?

If Christ is in me and Christ is in you…how do we think we could ever be away from each other?

What could separate us?

We live as distinct individuals in a relationship with God but He is living His life through us.

If this be the case for each of us individually…we should be in intimate fellowship with one another as well.

This is the basis for Christian unity.

He has placed His power in each of us and lives His life through us.

If Christ is in me and Christ is in you…What could possibly separate us?

The answer of course is rebellion and sin.

If we quench the Holy Spirit we can easily be divided.

If Christ is in me and Christ is in you…What could possibly separate us?

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We live as distinct individuals in a relationship with God but He is living His life through each of us.

We are united in our relationship with Christ and this is the basis of our unity.

During World War II, Hitler commanded all religious groups to unite so that he could control them.

Among the Brethren assemblies, half complied and half refused.

Those who went along with the order had a much easier time.

Those who did not, faced harsh persecution.