Pursue Unity.
Choose Unity
Dr. Neil Epler
John 17:1-14 | May 17, 2026
(John 17:11) And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
(Psalm 133) Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.
How can we find unity?
1) Focus on God and God’s Word.
(John 17:3) And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
(John 17:8, 14) For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me ... I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
2) Focus on Prayer
(John 17:9) I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
3) Focus on what we have in common, not on our differences.
(Matthew 12:25) Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.”
4) Focus on the body.
(1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 20, 26-27) For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many ... As it is, there are many parts, yet one body ... If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
5) Focus on the church
(Acts 4:32-33) Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
(1 Corinthians 1:10-12) I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”
6) Focus on love.
Unity is Illusive.
40ish Days of Prayer
Week 1 (May 18-24)
What if…We prayed.
All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer... Acts 1:14
Each day of the week will have a prayer focus. Pray through the full Prayer Guide and use the focus to anchor your day in prayer. Spend a little more time there. Reflect on it throughout the day.
Connected Through History
“Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will — all I have and call my own. You have given it all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace; that is enough for me. Amen.” (Ignatius of Loyola, “Suscipe”)
Wesleyan Insight
“When we reflect on God’s infinite perfections, we are filled with wonder and astonishment. Words fail. We can only adore.” (John Wesley, “On the Omnipresence of God”)
Grounded in the Word
Daily scriptures, called “Watchwords,” were used by the Moravian 100 Year Prayer Movement (1727) to guide and to ground the prayers and the meditations of the heart throughout their day.
Monday, May 18: Adoration/Consecration (Who God is/Offering ourselves)
Watchword: Isaiah 6:1-8
Practice: Praise God for His holiness, pray to experience what it means to be undone by His presence.
Tuesday, May 19: Lament (Honest grief)
Watchword: Lamentations 3:16-24
Practice: Honestly express your depression and despair to God.
Wednesday, May 20: Confession (Honest before God)
Watchword: 1 John 1:6-10
Practice: Confess what sin you keep in the dark to God.
Thursday, May 21: Supplication (Bringing our need)
Watchword: Romans 8:26-30
Practice: Sometimes we just don’t know where to begin. Ask the Holy Spirit to interceded for you.
Friday, May 22: Intercession (Standing in the gap)
Watchword: 1 Kings 18:36-39
Practice: Pray for God to use this season of prayer to reveal Himself and to turn hearts to Him.
Saturday, May 23: Imprecatory (God’s justice)
Watchword: Romans 8:19-25
Practice: Pray for Jesus to come and for the ultimate defeat of sin and corruption.
Sunday, May 24: Thanksgiving/Blessing (What God has done/Speaking God’s favor)
Watchword: Ephesians 1:3-10
Practice: Thank God that you have been given every spiritual blessing! Speak that over a fellow brother or sister in Christ.