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John chapter 17 records the real Lord's Prayer, in the sense that this ending to the upper room Passover observance isn't a pattern prayer for His disciples, but Jesus' own conversation with His Father. The disciples listen in as He expresses deep longings for Himself, for the disciples gathered in that room, and for all who would join this family in the future.

John 17:11; John 17:20-23

1. Can you picture a stronger union (v. 11) than that of the triune Godhead?
2. What does that say about the strength of unity that the Son desires for His disciples?
3. If Jesus prayed for the unity of His future disciples while still on earth (vv. 20-21), what may you be sure remains a primary topic of His intercession for you (Hebrews 7:25) today?
4. What actions by individual believers diminish the sense of unity in Christ's body?
5. What actions intensify the perception of unity?
6. If you're united with Christ, and all other believers are as well (v. 22), what does that say about your relationship to each other?
7. What (v. 23) will a demonstration of unity cause outsiders to observe? What should it lead them to understand?

Ask God to make you a willing part of the answer to Jesus' upper room prayer for unity among His followers.

11Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are.

20 "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. 22 "I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

Copyright © 2007 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine. Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Teach us, Lord, how to create bonds of cooperation and fellowship that invite others instead of erecting walls of self-preservation and competition that repel.

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