
Attend to Contend
Sunday, April 23, 2023
Jude 1:3-4
Pastor Andrew Boone
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. —Jude 1:3-4 ESV
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation,
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation,
Common means shared.
I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith
In a contest there are opposing forces fighting for the same prize.
contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
The faith at its core is:
Jesus’ atoning death and resurrection
Salvation by grace through faith
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit
A holy lifestyle that flows from a new nature
For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation,
For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation,
ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality
ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality
Grace is NEVER a license to sin.
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? —Romans 6:1-2
Your lifestyle reveals your allegiances.
deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
If Jesus is Master, then as his followers we obey whatever he says.
ATTEND TO CONTEND
Pay attention to what you proclaim and what you practice.
The faith at its core is:
Jesus’ atoning death and resurrection
Salvation by grace through faith
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit
A holy lifestyle that flows from a new nature
Pay attention to who is speaking in your life.
We contend by knowing scripture.
Big Idea: We contend for the faith by attending to what we believe.
Study Guide Questions
Memory Verse:
To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forever more! Amen. —Jude 1:24-25 NIV
What is the relationship between Jude and his readers? If you were to make a parallel to your life, and you were Jude, to whom would you be writing to? OR, who is the Jude in your life, helping you stay focused in the faith?
What did Jude want to write about? Why are letters like this necessary in a person’s spiritual life? Imagine you received a personal letter from Jude. What type of content would you find the most joy in reading? Do you ever struggle to personalize Scripture?
What does Jude end up writing about to his audience instead? Why is it important to contend for the faith? What would you identify to be the core non-negotiable aspects of Christianity?
How long has the battle for contending for the faith been happening? What are the impacts if a generation allows the creepers to hijack the faith? Do you see yourself as a vital link in the chain of assuring that the integrity of the Gospel is passed on to the next generation?
Where do you see the greatest need to contend for the faith today? Engage the Scriptures and find what the Bible has to say on these topics. When it comes to our opinions on cultural matters, what should be the foundation? What happens if we don’t like what the Bible says? Does it make it irrelevant or false? Why?
Read Romans 6:1-2. In what ways were the ungodly turning the grace of God into promiscuity and denying Jesus Christ? Sin pollutes the fellowship and intimacy we have with God. How does a person’s lifestyle give testimony to what they believe? What do you think your behavior says to those around you?
Have you taken time to evaluate what you believe? Do you believe everything that is stated in the Apostle’s Creed? What do you have questions about when it comes to Christianity? How does what you believe pave the way for how you behave? Is your lifestyle becoming more and more holy over time?
Are you mindful of who or what is influencing your life? What criteria do you use to evaluate the influences in your life? How do you evaluate an author, a podcaster, or a pastor from another church to determine if they should be speaking into your life? What percent of your influencers allow you a window into their actual lifestyle? Why is this important?
Before you can contend for the truth, you have to know the truth. What is our authoritative source of truth? How often do you engage with the Scriptures? What is the difference between reading your Bible devotionally vs. reading it for study? Do you do both? What is your rhythm for reading Scripture?