WEEK 4 | Jan 25-31
"The best coffee in town! It's awesome!"
- John Evans
"It's my absolute favorite place to go!"
- Greg Smith
SUNDAY, JANUARY 25
THE PRAYER THAT INCLUDED YOU
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.” John 17:20 (ESV)
In 1820, a missionary named Adoniram Judson traveled from America to Burma. His journey took months, his trials were overwhelming, and he saw little fruit for years. Yet today, millions of Burmese Christians trace their faith back to his witness. Judson never met them, but he prayed for them.
That’s what Jesus did in John 17:20. After praying for His disciples, He expanded His prayer to include “those who will believe.” That means He prayed for you. Before the cross, Jesus had your name in mind. His prayer stretched through centuries, embracing all who would come to faith through the gospel.
This verse reminds us that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. The faith we hold today was passed down from those first disciples who told the story of Jesus. Their faithfulness became our foundation.
When you pray for others to come to Christ, you’re joining Jesus in His prayer. You’re participating in His global, generation-spanning mission to make His name known.
REFLECTION
●How does it impact you to know that Jesus prayed for your faith before you ever existed?
●Who can you pray for today who doesn’t yet believe in Christ?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Thank Jesus for including you in His prayer for future believers.
●Pray for someone by name who needs to hear and believe the gospel.
THE PRAYER THAT INCLUDED YOU
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.” John 17:20 (ESV)
In 1820, a missionary named Adoniram Judson traveled from America to Burma. His journey took months, his trials were overwhelming, and he saw little fruit for years. Yet today, millions of Burmese Christians trace their faith back to his witness. Judson never met them, but he prayed for them.
That’s what Jesus did in John 17:20. After praying for His disciples, He expanded His prayer to include “those who will believe.” That means He prayed for you. Before the cross, Jesus had your name in mind. His prayer stretched through centuries, embracing all who would come to faith through the gospel.
This verse reminds us that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. The faith we hold today was passed down from those first disciples who told the story of Jesus. Their faithfulness became our foundation.
When you pray for others to come to Christ, you’re joining Jesus in His prayer. You’re participating in His global, generation-spanning mission to make His name known.
REFLECTION
●How does it impact you to know that Jesus prayed for your faith before you ever existed?
●Who can you pray for today who doesn’t yet believe in Christ?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Thank Jesus for including you in His prayer for future believers.
●Pray for someone by name who needs to hear and believe the gospel.
MONDAY, JANUARY 26
THE UNITY THAT REVEALS GOD
“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.” John 17:21 (ESV)
A symphony is beautiful not because every instrument plays the same note, but because they play in harmony. Unity is not uniformity; it’s diversity directed by one conductor.
Jesus prayed that all believers “may be one” just as He and the Father are one. This unity isn’t built on shared preferences but shared life in Christ. The phrase “that they may also be in us” reveals that true unity flows from our relationship with God. The closer we draw to Him, the closer we draw to one another.
Notice the purpose: “so that the world may believe.” Unity isn’t a luxury; it’s our witness. When the church walks in love across lines of culture, background, and opinion, the world sees something supernatural; something only Jesus can produce.
REFLECTION
●What relationships in your life or church need Christ-centered unity?
●How does your attitude toward other believers at The Hills affect your witness to unbelievers?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Ask God to help you be a peacemaker who promotes unity in the body of Christ.
●Pray that Shirley Hill’s Baptist’s unity would draw people toward faith in Jesus.
THE UNITY THAT REVEALS GOD
“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.” John 17:21 (ESV)
A symphony is beautiful not because every instrument plays the same note, but because they play in harmony. Unity is not uniformity; it’s diversity directed by one conductor.
Jesus prayed that all believers “may be one” just as He and the Father are one. This unity isn’t built on shared preferences but shared life in Christ. The phrase “that they may also be in us” reveals that true unity flows from our relationship with God. The closer we draw to Him, the closer we draw to one another.
Notice the purpose: “so that the world may believe.” Unity isn’t a luxury; it’s our witness. When the church walks in love across lines of culture, background, and opinion, the world sees something supernatural; something only Jesus can produce.
REFLECTION
●What relationships in your life or church need Christ-centered unity?
●How does your attitude toward other believers at The Hills affect your witness to unbelievers?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Ask God to help you be a peacemaker who promotes unity in the body of Christ.
●Pray that Shirley Hill’s Baptist’s unity would draw people toward faith in Jesus.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 27
THE GLORY THAT BINDS US
“The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one.” John 17:22 (ESV)
When NASA astronauts first stepped onto the moon, they didn’t plant a flag to claim ownership; they planted it to represent their nation. In a similar way, God’s glory identifies His people as belonging to Him.
Jesus said, “The glory You have given Me I have given to them.” This glory refers to the divine presence and power that transforms believers from the inside out. It’s not human achievement; it’s God’s own character reflected in His people.
That shared glory is what unites the church. When we recognize that the same Spirit lives in every believer, we can’t look down on others. The presence of God in each of us calls us to humility, forgiveness, and fellowship.
Our shared glory also carries shared responsibility: to represent Christ well. Every time we choose humility over pride or love over resentment, we display His glory to the world.
REFLECTION
●How have you seen God’s glory at work in the lives of other believers?
●What attitudes or actions in your life best reflect His presence to others?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Thank God for the privilege of carrying His presence and glory.
●Ask Him to make your life a visible reflection of His character and grace.
THE GLORY THAT BINDS US
“The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one.” John 17:22 (ESV)
When NASA astronauts first stepped onto the moon, they didn’t plant a flag to claim ownership; they planted it to represent their nation. In a similar way, God’s glory identifies His people as belonging to Him.
Jesus said, “The glory You have given Me I have given to them.” This glory refers to the divine presence and power that transforms believers from the inside out. It’s not human achievement; it’s God’s own character reflected in His people.
That shared glory is what unites the church. When we recognize that the same Spirit lives in every believer, we can’t look down on others. The presence of God in each of us calls us to humility, forgiveness, and fellowship.
Our shared glory also carries shared responsibility: to represent Christ well. Every time we choose humility over pride or love over resentment, we display His glory to the world.
REFLECTION
●How have you seen God’s glory at work in the lives of other believers?
●What attitudes or actions in your life best reflect His presence to others?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Thank God for the privilege of carrying His presence and glory.
●Ask Him to make your life a visible reflection of His character and grace.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28
THE UNITY OF LOVE
“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.” John 17:23 (ESV)
A father once watched his children fight over a toy. Frustrated, he said, “I’d give you anything, but I can’t give you my love for each other.” In that moment, he realized love can’t be forced; it must be formed.
Jesus prayed that His followers would experience unity rooted in love. He didn’t want uniform agreement but divine affection, “that they may become perfectly one.” The oneness Jesus described mirrors the love between the Father and the Son: selfless, sacrificial, and steadfast.
This unity has evangelistic power: “so that the world may know.” The greatest evidence of the gospel isn’t a perfect church service; it’s a loving church family. When believers love each other across boundaries, the world recognizes God’s reality.
Jesus adds a breathtaking truth: “You loved them even as You loved Me.” The same love the Father has for the Son now rests on every believer. We are loved with divine affection. That truth changes how we see ourselves and how we treat others.
REFLECTION
●How does knowing that God loves you as He loves Jesus shape your identity?
●What practical ways can you express that same love toward other believers at The Hills this week?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Thank God for His unconditional love that unites us at Shirley Hills Baptist Church.
●Pray that your love for others would clearly reflect the love of Christ.
THE UNITY OF LOVE
“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.” John 17:23 (ESV)
A father once watched his children fight over a toy. Frustrated, he said, “I’d give you anything, but I can’t give you my love for each other.” In that moment, he realized love can’t be forced; it must be formed.
Jesus prayed that His followers would experience unity rooted in love. He didn’t want uniform agreement but divine affection, “that they may become perfectly one.” The oneness Jesus described mirrors the love between the Father and the Son: selfless, sacrificial, and steadfast.
This unity has evangelistic power: “so that the world may know.” The greatest evidence of the gospel isn’t a perfect church service; it’s a loving church family. When believers love each other across boundaries, the world recognizes God’s reality.
Jesus adds a breathtaking truth: “You loved them even as You loved Me.” The same love the Father has for the Son now rests on every believer. We are loved with divine affection. That truth changes how we see ourselves and how we treat others.
REFLECTION
●How does knowing that God loves you as He loves Jesus shape your identity?
●What practical ways can you express that same love toward other believers at The Hills this week?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Thank God for His unconditional love that unites us at Shirley Hills Baptist Church.
●Pray that your love for others would clearly reflect the love of Christ.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29
A WITNESS TO THE WORLD
“…that the world may believe that you have sent me… that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” John 17:21–23 (ESV)
When Mahatma Gandhi studied Christianity, he said, “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Sadly, the world still says that today.
Jesus’ prayer shows us that the church’s greatest testimony isn’t in its programs or preaching; it’s in its love. Unity among believers authenticates the message we proclaim. When people see reconciliation among those who would naturally be divided, they see evidence of the gospel’s power.
The world doesn’t need a flawless church; it needs a faithful one, a church that loves like Jesus, forgives like Jesus, and serves like Jesus. Every act of grace within the body of Christ whispers to a watching world, “Jesus is real.”
When believers live in harmony, the church becomes a living sermon. The love we show each other is proof of the love He has shown us.
REFLECTION
●How does your relationship with other believers demonstrate the truth of the gospel?
●What steps can you take to strengthen unity at The Hills?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Ask God to make your life and relationships a testimony to the gospel’s power.
●Pray for unity among Christians in Houston County and across the world.
A WITNESS TO THE WORLD
“…that the world may believe that you have sent me… that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” John 17:21–23 (ESV)
When Mahatma Gandhi studied Christianity, he said, “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Sadly, the world still says that today.
Jesus’ prayer shows us that the church’s greatest testimony isn’t in its programs or preaching; it’s in its love. Unity among believers authenticates the message we proclaim. When people see reconciliation among those who would naturally be divided, they see evidence of the gospel’s power.
The world doesn’t need a flawless church; it needs a faithful one, a church that loves like Jesus, forgives like Jesus, and serves like Jesus. Every act of grace within the body of Christ whispers to a watching world, “Jesus is real.”
When believers live in harmony, the church becomes a living sermon. The love we show each other is proof of the love He has shown us.
REFLECTION
●How does your relationship with other believers demonstrate the truth of the gospel?
●What steps can you take to strengthen unity at The Hills?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Ask God to make your life and relationships a testimony to the gospel’s power.
●Pray for unity among Christians in Houston County and across the world.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 30
A FAMILY OF FAITH
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word…” John 17:20–23 (ESV)
A young man once said after being baptized, “When I came up from the water, I realized I had family everywhere I go.” That’s the beauty of belonging to God’s people.
Jesus’ prayer reminds us that we’re part of one great family: past, present, and future. We are united by faith, not background or personality. The gospel gathers people who would never otherwise sit at the same table.
In heaven’s family, there’s room for everyone who believes. We celebrate different stories but share the same Savior. Unity doesn’t erase individuality; it elevates it under one mission: to glorify God together. When we live in that unity, we show the world a glimpse of heaven on earth.
REFLECTION
●How can you strengthen your sense of belonging within the Shirley Hills’ family?
●What barriers of pride or division might God be calling you to break down?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Thank God for adopting you into His global family of believers.
●Pray for humility and grace to build deeper connections within the Hills.
A FAMILY OF FAITH
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word…” John 17:20–23 (ESV)
A young man once said after being baptized, “When I came up from the water, I realized I had family everywhere I go.” That’s the beauty of belonging to God’s people.
Jesus’ prayer reminds us that we’re part of one great family: past, present, and future. We are united by faith, not background or personality. The gospel gathers people who would never otherwise sit at the same table.
In heaven’s family, there’s room for everyone who believes. We celebrate different stories but share the same Savior. Unity doesn’t erase individuality; it elevates it under one mission: to glorify God together. When we live in that unity, we show the world a glimpse of heaven on earth.
REFLECTION
●How can you strengthen your sense of belonging within the Shirley Hills’ family?
●What barriers of pride or division might God be calling you to break down?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Thank God for adopting you into His global family of believers.
●Pray for humility and grace to build deeper connections within the Hills.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 31
THE POWER OF TOGETHER
“That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you.” John 17:21 (ESV)
A single snowflake melts quickly, but a field of snow can stop traffic. That’s the power of togetherness.
Jesus’ prayer for unity wasn’t a sentimental wish; it was a spiritual necessity. The early church’s strength wasn’t in wealth or influence but in oneness. They prayed, served, and suffered together, and the world couldn’t ignore them.
True unity requires humility. It means choosing forgiveness over offense and cooperation over competition. It means valuing people over preferences. When believers focus on Christ rather than differences, they become unstoppable in their mission.
Our unity doesn’t come from agreeing on everything; it comes from abiding in the same Savior.
REFLECTION
●What does “the power of together” look like in your church or family?
●How can you help create an atmosphere of unity where you serve or lead?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Thank God for the privilege of being united with other believers.
●Ask Him to help your church walk in love and purpose, showing the world His glory.
THE POWER OF TOGETHER
“That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you.” John 17:21 (ESV)
A single snowflake melts quickly, but a field of snow can stop traffic. That’s the power of togetherness.
Jesus’ prayer for unity wasn’t a sentimental wish; it was a spiritual necessity. The early church’s strength wasn’t in wealth or influence but in oneness. They prayed, served, and suffered together, and the world couldn’t ignore them.
True unity requires humility. It means choosing forgiveness over offense and cooperation over competition. It means valuing people over preferences. When believers focus on Christ rather than differences, they become unstoppable in their mission.
Our unity doesn’t come from agreeing on everything; it comes from abiding in the same Savior.
REFLECTION
●What does “the power of together” look like in your church or family?
●How can you help create an atmosphere of unity where you serve or lead?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Thank God for the privilege of being united with other believers.
●Ask Him to help your church walk in love and purpose, showing the world His glory.