Jesus Style Leadership 4 - Sent & TeamSample

Jesus Prays for Our Unity

Leadership Lesson

Jesus-style leaders are good at team.

Read John 17:20–23.

Comment

Christians are a varied lot. We have different cultural backgrounds, different political views, different priorities, different perspectives, and even different theologies on some issues. Our diversity is a great strength of Christianity – it embraces such a wide range of cultures and practices. You will find Christians in every part of the world. But while our diversity is wonderful, it is also a challenge because we find it hard to work together with people who are different from us. In this prayer, Jesus is praying for those who will believe in Him in the future. That’s us (and millions of others). He prays that we will be unified in the way the Trinity is unified—complete unity (17:23). Of course, that sort of unity is impossible naturally, but we have all been saved by the same grace of Jesus, and we all have the same Spirit living within us, so we have a huge amount in common. It’s this unnatural but incredible unity among Christians that will show the world that Jesus is real (17:21–23). It’s easy to get along well with other Christians if you never have anything much to do with them. But that’s not unity. Unity is forged in the challenges of close relationships with Christians who are different from us. Unity is seen best through team.

Prayer

Sometimes it’s easier and less complicated just to do my own thing in serving You, Lord. That way, there are fewer tensions, disagreements, restrictions, frustrations, or pain. But I know that Your ways are better, and You call me to work with others in real community. Please help me to love those in my team and life who see and do things differently from me.

Personal Reflection

Have you been part of or seen a team that works together in unity? What could you do that would help your present team become more unified?