A Word from the Vine No. 537: The World is Watching

You’re listening to A Word from the Vine. I’m Pastor Loren Christensen.

Let me ask you something today—not as a preacher, but as a fellow believer:

If someone who didn’t know Jesus watched your life for a week… what would they learn about Him?

That’s a tough question. But it’s one we need to ask.

In John 17:23, Jesus prays this:

“I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me…”

Did you catch that?

Jesus ties the world’s belief in Him to our unity.

Not our arguments.

Not our clever posts.

Not even our theology—though that matters.

But our oneness.

Now, I’ve been around long enough to know this:

The world is watching the Church. Closely.

And sometimes… what they see breaks my heart.

They see us fighting over politics.

They see scandals swept under rugs.

They see churches split over carpet colors and coffee brands.

And they wonder:

“If this is what Jesus looks like… why would I want Him?”

But I’ve also seen something else.

I’ve seen two rural churches—one Lutheran, one Baptist—come together after decades of silence.

They started with a shared potluck. Then a shared prayer.

Now they share a mission: feeding hungry families in their county.

That’s what the world needs to see.

Not perfection.

But reconciliation.

Not noise.

But love.

So here’s today’s word from the vine:

The Gospel is most believable when it’s lived out in unity.

Let’s be the kind of Church that makes people curious about Jesus—not cautious.

Let’s pray.

Father, forgive us for the ways we’ve misrepresented You. Heal our divisions. Soften our pride. And make us one—not for our sake, but so the world may know You sent Your Son. Amen.

Thanks for joining me today. I’m Pastor Loren, and this has been A Word from the Vine. Stay rooted, and let your life preach louder than your words.