Posted by Milo Hurley for May 19, 2012 Sabbath School

When Jesus prayed in John 17 for His followers to be one, He was pouring the foundation upon which is built the framework of evangelism. Verses 20-23 especially apply to our lesson:

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”

Perhaps the following questions, answered in Jesus’ prayer above, will turn on the discussion switch in your classroom.

•  What does Jesus mean by praying for His followers to “be one”?

•  How should being “made perfect” shape our understanding of unity (see Matthew 5:48)?

•  What example of unity does Jesus provide for His followers?

•  How will unity among His followers affect their witness to the world?