Answering His Prayer
What was Jesus’ one prayer for the church? He prayed only one thing specifically for you and me: “My prayer is not for them alone [his immediate disciples]. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message [all of us who are Christ-followers], that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you…. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:20-23)
Unfortunately, Christians have often been defined too much by what divides rather than by what unifies us. At Grace Place we are in a series during the month of June called “ONE PRAYER.” We are joining with hundreds of other churches and hundreds of thousands of other believers in multiple countries who are all praying for an answer to Christ’s prayer and linking with each other to SHARE, SERVE, and GIVE. To join the conversation go to www.oneprayer.com
1. We are SHARING teaching from other influential and gifted communicators in this series. The theme this year is “God is______.” We are emphasizing that God is GOOD; God is LOVE; God is FOR US, and God is CERTAIN. I’m very excited about the three guest speakers that are joining me in this series (via video-cast messages):
Craig Groeschel, founder and senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv based in Oklahoma City—a multi-site church with 13 locations in 6 states! Craig is an outstanding young leader (his church has been named America’s Most Innovative Church for two years in a row). He’s written a number of helpful books including one that some of our staff leaders recently read together: It: How Churches and Leaders Can Get it and Keep it. Craig will give you a new way of understanding that God’s love is for you individually and personally. For more on Craig’s ministry go to
John Burke, is the founder and senior pastor of Gateway Church in Austin, Texas. It’s a fast growing church with 70 percent of the church in their 20s and 30s, and consists mostly of people who were unchurched before coming to Christ at Gateway. He is the author the book No Perfect People Allowed: Creating a Come-as You Are Culture in the Church. His message will challenge us to be a welcoming community and will encourage you to know that God is FOR you, not against you. For more on John’s ministry go to www.gatewaychurch.com
Andy Stanley, founder and senior pastor of North Point Community Church. He is the son of the well known preacher, Charles Stanley, and pastors more than 22,000 in three campuses in Atlanta, not counting the 14 other partner churches they have planted around the country which also receive teaching from Stanley. He has written many books, including one that really encouraged me: Visioneering. His message will encourage you to have confidence in the certainty of God even in the midst of hard and uncertain circumstances. For more on Andy’s ministry go to www.northpoint.org
2. We are SERVING with other churches in “Sharefest” on Saturday, June 13, serving schools in the Thompson Valley School district by rolling up our lives and showing the love of Jesus by our actions.
3. We are GIVING this year by taking an offering on the weekend of June 28 to help a sister church in Windsor that was wiped out last year by the tornado. I’ve really enjoyed meeting and getting to know the pastor of Windsor Community Church, Dan Harty, in recent days and look forward to an ongoing relationship. Let’s see what we can do (above and beyond our regular giving) to help their building project in the spirit of unity and love.
There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)