Following on our series on 2 Peter we spend one week looking at the book of Jude, one of the most interesting and short books in the Bible. Jude is interrelated with 2 Peter, so this is a good time to explore it.
Sermon Outline
But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. (Jude 20-21)
Who Was Jude and Why Was He Writing? (Jude 1-3)
Ungodly People Infiltrating the Ranks (Jude 4-5)
God as the One and Only Judge (Jude 5-16)
- Israelites and the Promised Land
- Rebellious angels
- Sodom and Gomorrah
- Archangel Michael and his dispute with the devil
- Cain, Balaam, and Korah
Training for the Spiritual Battle (Jude 20-25)
- Keep yourselves in God’s love.
- Be a rescuer of straying believers.
- Show mercy to honest doubters.
- Intervene with those on the brink of hell.
- Pray even for those who are hardened.
- Trust in God who can bring you through the spiritual battle.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What do you think it would have been like to grow up with Jesus as your older brother?
- Read Mark 3:20-21 and John 7:1-5. How might it have been hard for Jude and Jesus’ other brothers to believe Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God?
- In verse 12, Jude accuses the ungodly leaders of being “shepherds who feed only themselves”. He probably has in mind Ezekiel 34:1-12. Read this passage and discuss the harm of bad shepherding.
- Jude says: But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” Reflect on how the apostles Paul and John warn about these scoffers [Paul in Acts 20:30; John in 1 John 2:18; Paul in 1 Timothy 4:1-3].
- Jude talks about three categories of people we need to contend for in verses 22-23: those who are wavering, those on the brink of hell, and those fully given over to evil. Discuss what God’s Word says elsewhere about how we need to respond as believers to people in these categories. See 2 Timothy 2:25-26, 1 Corinthians 5:5, and 2 John 10-11.
- What will you do to “keep yourself in God’s love” in 2024? (See Jude 20-21)
DIG DEEPER
- Do a comparative study of 2 Peter and Jude, noting where the thoughts are nearly exact. See especially 2 Peter 2:1-19.
- To explore some excellent apologetics resources, go to: reasonablefaith.org.
- Listen to Shane and Shane’s song based on Jude, Unto Him
- Or this beautiful song, Now Unto Him
- And just for fun, listen to this parody by ApologetiX, Take Jude