Jesus’s Vision for His Church | Pastor Jacob Sheriff

Message Date: August 10, 2025
Bible

Jesus’ vision for His Church:
That we would be “one”

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.
John 17:20-26 (ESV)

    • In Christ, you belong before you believe,
      and you belong before you behave
    • We are called to love people into faith and morality, not argue them into faith and condemn them into morality

HONOR (Romans 12:10)

    • Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Romans 12:10 (ESV)

HUMILITY (1 Peter 5:5)

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
1 Peter 5:1-5 (ESV)

PRACTICE GRATITUDE