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gathering question:
What are some key takeaways from this whole study of biblical justice?
TRUTH
Take 5 minutes to read John 17 twice; once to yourself and once aloud together.
In Scripture
In John 17, we eavesdrop on Jesus’ prayer to his Father. We are entering into the Holy of Holies, into the very life of God. We are invited to witness ultimate reality: the loving fellowship of the Father and the Son in the Spirit. A mutual dance of self-giving love that has been going on since before the foundation of the world. And what is the topic of conversation? Us. More fully, the glory of God made known in and through the church in the world.
1. You can tell what someone really believes and what they really care about by listening to their prayers. In John 17, we get a summary of Jesus’ major concerns for his disciples and the world. Read “The Lord’s Prayer” in Matthew 6:9-13. Compare and contrast it with “The Lord’s Prayer” in John 17. What do these two prayers show us about Jesus’ major concerns for his disciples in the world?
2. As you read John 17, what words would you use to describe the feel, the tone, the character of the relationship between Jesus and his Father?
In Summary
Both the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6 and in John 17 reveal Jesus’ deepest concerns to be:
1. The glory of the Father’s name revealed in Jesus;
2. The advance of the Kingdom of God through the church being kept in Jesus’ name;
3. The pursuit of God’s will and protection from the Evil One;
4. The earth/world as the stage on which the drama of history plays out;
5. The need for daily sustenance through real physical bread and real spiritual bread (the Word);
6. The need for divine and human forgiveness to maintain the church’s unity;
7. The full and final deliverance from the Evil One so that the church can be glorified with Jesus.
EQUIPPING
These equipping questions are meant to help you work the truth out of the text and into your lives. Take 25 minutes to discuss these questions.
1. Read John 17:13–19 again. This is the center of the prayer. Jesus prays that his disciples are not of the world (v.14), yet not taken out of the world (v.15), but sent into the world (v.18). This principle can be summarized as the church is to be “in, not of, but for” the world. To be in the world means that we have an active presence among non-believers. To be not of the world means that we remain distinct from the world in what we believe, how we live, what we love. To be for the world means that we actively pursue the good of our neighbors. There are pitfalls of withdraw from the world on one side or conformity to the world on the other. In previous weeks, we’ve named the danger of separatism vs. syncretism. Which of these three in, not of, but for the world is easiest for you? Which of these three is hardest for you?
2. The great missionary-theologian Lesslie Newbigin wrote, “The church lives in the midst of history as a sign, instrument, and foretaste of the reign of God.” A sign points to the reality that Jesus is the true King of the world. An instrument is a tool in the hands of Jesus to shape his kingdom in the world. A foretaste is like a taste of cookie dough before the cookies are fully baked. The church is meant to be a felt experience of the future of the world (justice, love, unity, etc.). Given what you’ve learned in this Biblical Justice course thus far, how might God be calling you to be a sign, foretaste, or instrument of justice in the world?
ACCOUNTABILITY
These questions can be helpful for you to examine your life and ministry in light of the truths you explored this week. Take 15 minutes to discuss these questions:
1. Read John 17:21. Jesus made it clear that the visible unity of the church is necessary for the world to find Jesus credible. The inverse is also true. If there is disunity in the church, Jesus becomes un-believable. This unity transcends disagreements and divisions. It emerges from ongoing repentance and forgiveness, reconciliation, and striving to realize the unity that we already have in Christ. How might Jesus be calling you to seek unity in the church?
Jesus prays for you. Hebrews 7:25 says that Jesus is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. Just as in John 17, Jesus stands before the Father praying on your behalf. Draw near to Him for mercy, forgiveness, and a felt sense of your unity with Him and all other believers in Him. Out of this, give your life in pursuit of unity.
MISSION
The goal of the Mission section is so that Truth, Equipping, Accountability, and Supplication are transformed into a missional life, that is, following Jesus moment-by-moment in all of life. Take 5 minutes to plan for this:
No single Christian is called to undo all the evil in the world. That’s Jesus’ job. But we are all called to participate in that mission as His Body:
1. Reflect on the distinctives of biblical justice that we’ve covered in this course.
2. Ask the Spirit to lead you into your unique contribution to pursue justice where you live, work, learn, or play.
3. What is the next step you can take toward righting the wrongs of the world and caring for the vulnerable and oppressed (e.g. orphans, the poor, widows, sex-slavery, human trafficking, racism, ethnic diversity, the physically and mentally handicapped, the elderly, refugees, economic disparity, affordable housing, etc.)?
SUPPLICATION
Remember the Spirit helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26). Close by spending 10 minutes praying God’s words back to Him from the book of Revelation.
1. Read Revelation 21:1–8
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. [2] And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [3] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. [4] He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” [5] And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” [6] And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. [7] The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. [8] But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
2. Pray for this future certainty to become a present reality in our church, city, and world.