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Week of 5/17/26

John 17:1-11

1 After Jesus had spoken these words [to his disciples,] he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. 5 So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

  6 “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me is from you, 8 for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I have been glorified in them. 11 And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.”

Questions

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1. Think of someone in your life who prayed for you — a parent, grandparent, pastor, or friend. What did it feel like to know someone was praying specifically for you? Share a brief memory.

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2. Jesus begins by praying, “Father, the hour has

come.” Read verses 1–5. What does Jesus first ask for himself, and what reason does he give for this request? What does it mean to be glorified? What could unglorify Jesus and God?

3. In verse 3, Jesus defines eternal life in a surprising way — not as a destination but as a relationship. How does Jesus define it, and why is that definition significant?

4. In verses 6–8, Jesus “reports back” to the Father about the disciples. What three things does he say have been accomplished in them? What does this tell us about Jesus’ understanding of his own mission?

5. In verse 9, Jesus says something striking: “I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me.” Why do you think Jesus makes this distinction here — and does it concern you, comfort you, or both?

6. Jesus prays in verse 11, “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name — the name you gave me — so that they may be one as we are one.” What two things does he ask for the disciples in this single verse? [John 17:11]

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7. The central theme here is that prayer reveals\what really matters to us. If someone read only your prayers from this past week, what would they conclude you care most about? How does that compare to what Jesus prays about in this passage?

8. Jesus defines eternal life as knowing God — not just knowing about God. How would you describe the difference between those two things in your own experience? Where are you right now on that spectrum?

9. Jesus prays for his disciples’ protection and unity on the night before everything falls apart. Is there a relationship, a community, or a team in your life right now that needs that same prayer — for protection and for oneness? What would it look like to actually pray that this week

10. Jesus is about to go to the cross, and he spends this time praying — not panicking, not plotting, but praying. What does this tell us about prayer as a spiritual practice in our hardest moments? Is there something you are facing right now that you have been trying to handle without bringing it to God? How can this group pray for you?

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Week of 5-10-26

John 14:15-21

[Jesus said to the disciples:] 15“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

  18“I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”

Luke 24:44-53 (Ascension Day Text)

44 [Jesus said to the eleven and those with them,] “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.”45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

  50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

Discovery Questions:

1. Have you ever been to a “going away” party: e.g. someone moving/retiring. What was that like? What about moving away. Any stories of ancestors leaving home and emigrating to America. Any attempt to keep in touch?

2. What good-byes are harder for you? Why so? What goodbyes are easier? Why?

3. Have you ever had a goodbye or parting that unexpectedly was the last time you saw someone? 

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4. The ascension is also a succession plan, Jesus passes on responsibilities to the disciples. Have you ever been involved in a succession plan? OR had to pass on your responsibilities to someone else? How did that go?

5. Jesus describes what will happen for the disciples. He describes our world. That is, Jesus will be with his disciples through the Spirit. We are not bereft, alone, for the Spirit is with us. How do you make sense of what Jesus is talking about. That is, Jesus must leave them physically, so that he can be with all believers spiritually at the same time, universally present.

6. See the scripture sheet that describes how the spirit works in scripture. Wherever faith is, there is the Spirit at work. Which of those verse speak most to you? How so? 

7. Advocate for what? We could imagine that the Spirit is advocating on our behalf to God, but the direction really is advocating on God’s behalf for us. E.g. 1) Advocate for God’s grace/forgiveness when we feel we are beyond forgiveness. 2) Advocate for God’s presence when we feel alone. 3) Advocate for the fruit of the Sprit, for a change of heat, as Paul says, because we have been transformed. 

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8. How does God comfort you? What is your experience of the Spirit advocating, coming along side, comforting you? What stories do you have?