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)
June 10th, 2009 at 8:29 am
I was happy to hear on Sunday past that God is good…:D Sometimes, however, in a teaching that God is good, sin is left out, hell is omitted, and consequences are glossed over. But Pastor Clay did not do that. I appreciated the honesty of the Scriptures, and showing how women are the same as men, although I had read that particular scripture (there is no male or female) many times. I had also been raised on the scripture that women should keep their mouths shut in church. I even knew the historical significance of the statement, but having been raised in a denomination that teaches that women should be quiet and have no authority over men, it was difficult for me to accept Pastor Rose’s position in our church. Every time–I hate to admit this–every time she taught, I grissled. But after Sunday’s teaching, I’m headed more in the direction that, indeed, men and women are equal to any task. I still have problems with it, but I’m studying the scriptures Pastor presented, and letting the Holy Spirit do his work. So thanks for…again…sticking to the Word and sharing its wisdom with us.
June 10th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Tamara
Thanks for sharing that. I wasn’t always totally onboard with the “equality” in Christ issue as it dealt with women’s roles and authority in the church. But I am convinced that in Christ there is not distinction. In fact it would be hard to worship in a church that did not embrace it, for me anyway. I know it is controversial, but if one really looks deeper, as Clay gave an example(s) of, Jesus was radically confronting the cultural norms about women.
This verse has been cited a lot and should be:
NASB version
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
If you look at the most literal version Greek Interlinear you see something else, I think.
Gal 3:28 there is not here Jew or Greek, there is not here servant nor freeman, there is not here male and female, for all ye are one in Christ Jesus;
Instead of “neither male nor female” you have “not here male and female”
It is almost like saying that the distinction isn’t even on the agenda. Just my opinion.
The stories of Jesus interacting with women abound and the parables and stories Jesus told were always a mix about men and women. In that culture, that was atypical if not confrontational.
Anyway, I am glad Clay is teaching it truely in the light of sound scriptural understanding.