That They All May Be One – Teaching Plan
Key Thought: Jesus prayer in John 17 reveals His great desire for His followers to represent God’s nature and character to the world. Christian unity is indispensable to this goal.
1. Have a volunteer read John 17:14-18
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a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. What image of God do your current relationships show to the world?
c. Personal Application: What does it mean to be not of this world? How do we live that makes us not of this world? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your relatives states: “Why does Jesus say the world hates us? I know some Muslim extremists hate Christians, but not the world. Are we doing something wrong because the world doesn’t hate us? ” How would you respond to your relative?
2. Have a volunteer read John 17:20-23.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. How does being at one with Jesus and each other in the church help the world know Him through our words and oneness?
c. Personal Application: What are we doing in our lives and churches to reach oneness in unity? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your friends states, “What is this glory that God gave to Jesus that He has given to His disciples and also to us?” How would you reply to your friend?
3. Have a volunteer read Mark 9:38-41.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. Why is it more important to know God personally than just know about Him and Biblical doctrine? Does knowing the Bible correctly help us to know Him better? .
c. Personal Application: Do you know people who are Christian and show you kindness because you are also, but are not of your faith and doesn’t want to be? How do you react to them? Share your thoughts
d. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “How wise is it for SDA’s to unite with other denominations or groups in social issues? Does it depend on the issue and how it relates to Bible truth and the image of Christianity?” How would you respond to your neighbor?
4. Have a volunteer read I John 2:3-6.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. What does it mean to know God?
c. Personal Application: How do we demonstrate our knowledge of God in our lives? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.
(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).
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