Getting In On A Miracle

Pastor Doug Heisel – March 8, 2026

John 17:20-23 – My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

This miracle moves me to…

1. Replace “ME” with “WE” more often.

…so that they may be brought to complete unity.

2. Exercise my HUMILITY muscle more by finding more ways to be LIFE-GIVING to others.      

Humility is not thinking LESS of yourself. It’s thinking of yourself less OFTEN — and thinking of the needs of OTHERS more often.

Philippians 2:3-8 – Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of Himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of Himself that He had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, He set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!

Having become human, He stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, He lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.

3. Keep JESUS and His MISSION my number one position.

…so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

OUR MISSION

We exist to invite more people to be filled with New Life in Jesus Christ.

Start Preparing Now…

Make plans to join us for our Good Friday Service as we reflect on the sacrifice and love of Jesus, and then celebrate the joy and hope of the resurrection at one of our three Easter Services.

GOOD FRIDAY

April 3 • 7PM

EASTER

April 5 • 9AM • 10:45AM • 12:30PM

Life Group Discussion & Questions

BREAKING THE ICE: If your group is new, take time to get acquainted. If you know one another, share a “win” from the past week. Sharing something you are grateful for is always a beneficial habit to grow.

DIGGING IN: One of Jesus’ most important prayers is a prayer He prayed specifically for each one of us. It was about one of the greatest threats facing the Church in any generation: the threat of disunity and mission-drift.  Read part of that prayer in John 17:20-23.

1. Why do you think conflict among Christians is such a turnoff to the world, and why is unity so positive?

2. Review point number one. What do you think are some practical examples of “ME-NESS” in the church?

3. Review point number two and the related verses.  Come up with some examples of what being “Life-Giving” can look like—at home, work or school, and even at church.

4. Review point number three and our New Life mission statement. Does that challenge you in some way?  Explain.

BRINGING IT HOME: Pray for each other’s needs, but also spend some specific time prayerfully thanking the Lord for the health and life of NLC, and for even greater days ahead.

The more united we are, the more Jesus is magnified to outsiders. This week, find a practical way to love and encourage someone. Lots of people around us need the overflow of what our unity provides.