In John 17 we find the final prayer Jesus offered to His Father before going to the cross. We see His heart’s desire for maximum glory to God. We sense His passion for the disciples’ unity, joy, and protection as they continue the mission. We hear His longing for His followers today to walk in unity so the world will embrace His truth and experience His love.
God’s Strength for Broken People
Jesus promises that we will have trouble in this world, but God provides strength for broken people. God is with us right in the middle of our mess, and in order to gain His strength, we need to keep an unbroken vision of who God is, be determined to do what God wants, and believe that He answers prayer! In this message, Eddie Cole unpacks 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 and describes the mental make-up of someone who embodies God’s strength in human weakness. Eddie is the Eastern District Superintendent for the Evangelical Free Church of America, serving with the 130 churches from Virginia to New York. He is charged with helping existing churches to experience increasing health and plant new churches among the 48 million people in the district. Before taking this role he was pastor of Salem Church in Staten Island, NY for nearly 13 years. His education was from Liberty University and Dallas Theological Seminary. His wife is Jessica and they have a daughter who is a freshman at Liberty.
The Gospel of John: Jesus Brings Us Joy
From John 13 through John 17, Jesus is giving His disciples parting instructions over the Passover meal before He goes to the cross. He has just told the disciples that Judas would betray Him, that He is leaving and going to His Father, that Peter will deny Him, and that the world with hate them and seek to kill them on account of Him. That’s a lot of bad news in one dinner party! If you were to describe how the disciples were feeling in that moment - it certainly would not be joyful. But in John 16:16-33, Jesus encourages the disciples that their sorrow will be transformed into joy! In this passage, we learn that Jesus brings us joy through sorrow, in answered prayer, and in His victory!
The Neglected Gift
It’s easy to forget and neglect the gifts we’re given. One month out from Christmas we can see this reality in action with the presents we received. None of us would ever deny that God gives great gifts to His people – yet, oddly, one of His very greatest gifts we neglect and forget about all the time. Chris Luhrman, a member and Community Group Host at Crosslink, who is the Campus Director of CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ) at James Madison University and Bridgewater College, helps us take a look at who the Holy Spirit is and how He is active in the world and in a Christian’s life.