Sermon Notes + 11.3.2024
SERMON NOTES
I Will Continue to Make It Known
John 17:26
Dr. Tony Chute, Lead Pastor
Overview: The final words in Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer offer a look back and a look forward for the people of God. Jesus has revealed the Father’s name throughout His ministry and is on the verge of being arrested and crucified. In one sense, His initial work is complete—His teachings will be remembered by the disciples and His sacrifice will be accepted by the Father. Yet, Jesus also says that He will continue to make the name of God known and the love of God felt. This statement indicates that Jesus will be raised from the dead and will be active in the lives of all who believe in Him. As we close this series in the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus, let us consider how we can grow in the knowledge of God and love for God through an ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ.
01. Jesus has made the Father known; let us continue to grow in our knowledge of God through reading and studying His Word.
02. Jesus continues to make the Father known; let us continue to grow in our love for God and one another through the power of Christ in us.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION & DISCOVERY
1. Read John 17 again in its entirety. What have you learned about God that you did not know before? What did you learn from this prayer that surprised you? What did you read that reinforced what you already knew? How would our understanding of God be different (or deficient) if we did not have this prayer?
2. How does the list of Jesus’ prayer points highlight what is important for us as we live the Christian life? What priorities from this prayer might you need to focus on in your walk with the Lord?
3. What does Jesus mean when He says, “I have made known to them your name”? What does a person’s name suggest about their nature in the Bible? What names does the Bible use for Jesus? What names does the Bible use for Christians? Which of these names has the most significance for your walk with the Lord?
4. How does the ending to this prayer point to the entirety of Jesus’ ministry? How does it point to the ongoing ministry of Jesus? What does the Bible teach about Jesus’s ascension and ongoing intercession for us today?
5. What does it mean to have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ? How does knowledge of God and love for God and others sum up our relationship with the Lord? Take a moment and pray for ongoing growth in your walk with the Lord.
For Further Reading: Marcus Rainsford, Our Lord Prays for His Own (Moody Press, 1950)