God has accomplished many great things through the church, but can the church be even more effective? Is there something the church can do to be both more pleasing to the Lord and more productive? Answer the Prayer of Jesus speaks to these questions. The church can be more effective if it seeks to answer the prayer of Jesus in John 17. Unity is important to the mission of the church of Jesus Christ. In this book both the challenges and possibilities of unity are examined. Drawing from Scripture and his experiences of contemporary church life, the John Lathrop gives specific examples of unity. He also offers practical advice about how one can become part of the answer to the prayer of Jesus. This book will enable you to see a small portion of what God is doing in the world today and will encourage you to become part of it.““I would recommend this book, written so thoughtfully, to everybody who desires to become part of the answer to the prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ for Christian unity. Unless we all take his appeal to heart and become pro-active in building unity, we will not have the joy of helping to answer the prayer of our Saviour.””–Mike PlayerGeneral Overseer, International Fellowship of Christian Assemblies"“At a time when our culture is marked by needless division and strife, our friend John Lathrop sounds a hope-filled trumpet call for the power of unity among the body of Christ. Just as marriages are transformed when two different people begin walking as one, so will the church be transformed–and world-changing!–when we become the unified people for which Jesus prayed.”"–Jeff and Shaunti Feldhahnbest-selling authors of For Women Only and For Men Only"“I have personally witnessed God use John Lathrop’’s commitment to see the body of Christ work together. I am glad John has put his passions to the pen (or keyboard in this case). I pray God uses this book to inspire us all to work together to see God’’s kingdom come, that we might be ‘‘one,’’ as Jesus prayed.”"–Garrett SmithDirector of Outreach and Spiritual FormationNewton Presbyterian Church and author of Comfortably Jewish"“In a broken and shattered world there is no greater challenge to the Church than to respond in the affirmative to its Lord’’s call to biblical unity (John 17). The call of Pastor Lathrop for us to be part of the answer to Jesus’’ prayer request is one that is both relevant and biblically sound. Taken to heart, Pastor Lathrop’’s biblical exposition and practical teachings should contribute significantly to ‘‘Answer the Prayer of Jesus.’’ This book is indeed a gift to the Church as it seeks to ‘‘stand firm in the one Spirit’’ (Phil 1:27).–Eldin VillafaneProfessor of Christian Social EthicsGordon-Conwell Theological Seminaryand author of Beyond Cheap GraceJohn P. Lathrop is a graduate of Zion Bible College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He is an ordained minister with the International Fellowship of Christian Assemblies and the author of two other books, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers Then and Now (2008) and The Power and Practice of the Church: God, Discipleship, and Ministry (2010).
