Sunday Follow up 1/14/18

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17:20-23)

Jesus' greatest prayer reveals a church called to a unity that is evangelistic, Spirit-empowered, and purifying.

A Word About Our Mission

Pastor Miles is away at the Desiring God conference in Minnesota, being poured into and encouraged alongside some of his pastor friends. So this morning we're talking about something we revisit at the start of every year—our mission statement here at Cross Connection: connecting with God, one another, and the world through Jesus Christ.

We connect with God on Sundays as we praise the Lord, pray, and hear the teaching of His word—instructed, led, sometimes encouraged, sometimes busted. We connect with one another through serving opportunities, connect groups, and even the donut table. And the result of that love for the Lord and for one another is that we go out into the world and make disciples. Miles asked me to teach today specifically on connecting with one another—partly because I'm just a natural connector. It's what I've always done.

The Setting of Jesus' Prayer

This prayer actually begins back in John 17:1, and most Bible scholars consider it the greatest prayer ever prayed—some call it "the other Lord's Prayer." It's important to know the setting. Jesus had just instituted communion, giving the church a ceremony we still observe to this day.

And He knows what's coming. He knows that one of the men who walked with Him, witnessed His miracles, and shared a bond of friendship is going to desert Him and sell Him out. He knows that in just a few hours He will suffer the agony of the cross. Yet He does something so unselfish, so godlike, that I find it hard to fathom: He doesn't pray for Himself. This prayer is for His disciples, for those in front of Him, and for those they would reach—you and me, the future church.

Three Inseparable Truths

In this prayer Jesus describes the relationship between the Father and the Son, the unity His true church will share, and the plan for His church. The main points we'll cover come down to three things, all intertwined like our mission statement—you cannot do one without the others.

First, He asks the Father to give the disciples a unity that is evangelistic, so the world would witness the church pulling together in one direction and conclude that Jesus was sent by God. Second, He asks for a purifying unity—as the church grows together, we rub against one another, get sanctified, and become better Christians through one another's imperfections as we learn to forgive. And He prays this not just for the disciples but for us. Jesus prayed His church would be unified, refined, and purified as an example to the world.

Unity That Leads the World to Believe

That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. (John 17:21)

The unity of the church proves to the world that Jesus was sent by God. By our example—how we treat one another, how we get along—the world measures whether we're really part of God's church. That can be a little scary, because we're not always good at it.

This isn't a mere suggestion:

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35)

The Bible is about 98% what God did and about 2% what we're supposed to do—and this command falls in that 2%. It wasn't an option, a suggestion, a feeling, or a slogan. It's our Lord telling us what He wants.

We Are the Church

A church building is just the place the church is housed. This building is perishable—it will crumble one day. But you, brothers and sisters—and those of you who are not yet brothers and sisters—you will live in eternity in one of two places. You're the reason Jesus went to the cross. The church is not a building or an organization; the church of Jesus Christ is represented by far more than what's in this building. When Pastor Miles prays, he prays for every church in Escondido, that they would be full and accomplishing the mission God gave us, because we are all the church together.

I'm a crusty old Calvary guy, so I'll let this out of the bag:

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1 John 4:7-8)

What I Learned in a Home Fellowship

I got saved when a high school buddy witnessed to me. We didn't have a clue—and thank God the internet hadn't been invented yet, or we'd have gone down some rapid trails. He said we needed to go to church, so we ended up at a place called Horizon Christian Fellowship, where a crazy guy named Mike McIntosh did three different services every Sunday.

They had something called a home fellowship. I went because a friend said we should, and it was actually cool—we ate snacks, reviewed the previous week's sermon, and hung out. There I got to see how the early church worked. It was more than going to church on Sunday; it was where we got our coaching, encouragement, and inspiration—and got beat over the head once in a while too.

It modeled the early church in simple ways. A couple having trouble in their marriage—you'd take the guys aside and say, "Let's start having coffee and talking." A brother who didn't want to work—you'd lay hands on him and say, "Get to work, bro." One family had little money and couldn't buy medicine for their kids, so we took care of it among ourselves. A guy's Volkswagen broke down—I had the idiot's manual and tools, so we put a new engine in his car. We watched one another's kids and took care of one another. You didn't have to join a club or pay anything. It was real and organic, nobody out to impress anybody. That's a big part of what we model our connect groups after, and I can still call those people today and ask for prayer.

A Bad Witness vs. a Beautiful One

Being connected to one another unselfishly is a great testimony to the world. But when we live in disunity, it's the worst example on the planet. Part of disunity is stepping outside what God's word says—like when a pastor goes off the rails and the world reads about it and says, "He's no better than me." But there's also disunity among us in the way we treat one another, because remember—God Himself is part of that unity.

The world hates us because it hates Jesus, and we never want to give the world another reason to hate Him. They're dealing with their own sin, guilt, shame, regret, and failure, and unlike us, they have nowhere to go with it. We can't judge them, and we can't go to heaven and lock the door behind us. But we must not give them a reason to refuse to walk through that door.

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

I share that at every wedding because I want our marriages to reflect the Lord so that people look at them and say, "I want some of that." And I believe God wants the world to look at our connectedness in the church and say, "Wow, we want that." My own first home fellowship grew beyond what it could hold because outsiders kept asking, "What are you guys doing? We want what you have." I graduated in '82—the "me generation"—and people actually caring about someone else's well-being was counterculture, and it brought people to Christ.

Cooperating for Christ in the World

The ultimate result of our love for one another is good works—that's connecting with the world. Consider Rick Warren, who wrote The Purpose Driven Life and pastors tens of thousands of people. He once sat before a Senate subcommittee on C-SPAN right next to Elton John, a very vocal homosexual. People talked trash that Rick had dropped his biblical stance, but here's what was really happening.

Elton John started a foundation to fight the spread of AIDS in Africa—a disease killing thousands. The world mostly doesn't care about Africa. But Elton John told that Senate committee that if you want to win the battle against AIDS in Africa, you need clinics and hospitals—and nine out of ten of those are run by the church. The most evangelistic man on the planet sat beside him as Elton John essentially said, "Quit being so phobic about the church; you'll have to cooperate with these people." Praise God—when the church is in unity and looks like it's supposed to look, we can accomplish great and mighty things, and the greatest of those is being witnesses to the world by our works.

Connection Comes Through the Holy Spirit

And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one. (John 17:22)

Connection in the church and the power to accomplish its mission is only possible through the unity of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1, the risen Jesus tells the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father, that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit. They're a little distracted—they want the latest prophecy update about restoring the kingdom of Israel—but He reels them in: "It is not for you to know times or seasons... but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Then He's taken up, and two men in white ask, "Why do you stand gazing up into heaven?" The disciples return to the upper room and "continue with one accord in prayer." Honestly, I'd have voted against staying in Jerusalem—it's crawling with Pharisees and Roman soldiers. But Jesus said wait, so they wait, in one accord, in one mind, in one place. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to connect with the world and with one another. Without Him, we cannot.

Pentecost and the Power of Diversity

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind... and there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire... And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues. (Acts 2:1-4)

Devout Jews from every nation under heaven heard them speaking in their own native languages—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, those from Mesopotamia, Cappadocia, Egypt, Rome, Crete, and Arabia. Language is our main way of communicating. At the Tower of Babel, men cooperated in an ungodly attempt to reach God, so He confused their language and division stopped them. It's no coincidence that at Pentecost God reverses that—His people receive the Spirit and suddenly communicate and understand one another, with an auto-interpret better than Google Translate, because it gets it right.

But look at the diversity in that room. These were people from different cultures who would never naturally agree—some had been at war with one another. Yet their diversity didn't matter except that it could be used for the Lord. When they received the Spirit, their next stop was going back home to reach people only they could reach.

That blesses me about this church. Look around—we're diverse, running right along Escondido's ethnic numbers. Some of you can talk to people I'll never reach, and I can reach people you can't. Our differences—ethnic, financial, even our interests—matter only in that we can use them for Jesus Christ. I'm thankful God's church is not a place of division.

A Bond in Nazareth

We've done exchanges with Jewish kids in Israel, and I grew up in a Jewish neighborhood, so I had a bond there. But we also met brothers and sisters in Nazareth—Palestinian Arab Christians who run a wonderful school where Jewish and Gentile kids alike learn about Jesus. I noticed an instant bond with my Arab brothers and sisters, because we were headed the same direction.

I was sitting in a beautiful stone cafe in downtown Nazareth, a little sketchy because I know they get blown up there, eyeing jackets for bomb vests. These guys saw I was nervous. Then they broke into "three wise men from Hebron" jokes—making fun of terrorists in thick Arab accents—and I laughed so hard I could have gone to be with Jesus right there. Turns out they're a lot like the Polish jokes I grew up with. What I learned that day is that I had a bond with them because they were part of the church. Perfect love casts out all fear, and we experience that love when we're in unity with one another.

Connection That Purifies and Costs

I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17:23)

Connecting with one another is part of the process that purifies us.

As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. (Proverbs 27:17)

That sounds cute on a flyer for a men's event, but do you actually enjoy people coming up against you to make you better? It's like family—who can irritate you more than family? Living in connection causes our imperfections to come out, and dealing with others' imperfections brings ours out even more. That's part of becoming better believers and better tools for the Lord, and it's far better to deal with it here in the church than out in the world.

But living in connection can break your heart—it broke Jesus' heart. Imagine those years walking together, the disciples sitting at His feet, Judas trusted with the money. And it was broken for thirty pieces of silver. We have to accept that in a church we're going to get hurt; this relationship will cost us something. I've observed that those who are forgiven most place the highest value on Jesus, while some amazingly gifted people who needed only a little Jesus may not value Him as much. Some brothers and sisters will see Him as God; some will think He's worth no more than thirty pieces of silver and abandon you. Jesus doesn't tell us to stop trusting or stop connecting because of it. He simply lets us know there will be friction, and it will cost us.

These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you... This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. (John 15:11-14)

When Connection Mattered Most

I was part of a church—Maranatha Chapel in Rancho Bernardo—for twenty years. When the Lord called me here, we made the announcement from that 3,000-seat pulpit, and there was a gasp I wasn't prepared for. As I walked down the aisle for the last time with my wife, the Lord opened my eyes. I saw hundreds of people I had ministered to—involved in their marriages, finances, kids, triumphs, deaths, and house blessings. Some were crying, some wishing me the best. I realized that connection matters; it's permanent.

About a year later my family went through the greatest trial of our lives—we lost someone near and dear to us. Both my old church and my new church came alongside us and supported us, making it so much easier so I could care for my family. My prayer for this congregation is that we make these opportunities available so none of you walk through something serious, or loneliness, or financial hardship without people committed to your life. There are no spiritual lone rangers here—a couple of prophets, maybe, very lonely and grumpy, but no lone rangers.

Get Connected

Number four on your outline: joining a connect group and serving are the best ways to get connected. I'm part of two connect groups, and they're some of the best use of my time ever. We bear one another's burdens, eat together, and encourage one another, and we want our groups serving together this year. The other way to get connected is to serve—whether at the Ronald McDonald House or painting a wall at the YMCA—where you'll meet like-minded Christians working to fulfill the Great Commission. I encourage you to get involved in any of those.

Closing Prayer

Father, I thank You so much for the opportunity to share today, and I ask that You would bless Miles, that You would pour into him and encourage him this morning. Lord, for our people, my brothers and sisters, as we walk through this life together, I pray that we would be connected to one another, that the connect groups would be full, and that new connect group leaders would come forward and open up their homes. I pray a blessing on this church, that we would be known as the most hospitable, inviting church anyone has ever gone to, and that we would reflect You in our relationships. It is in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.