September 3 Service
JUDE 3-4
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. 4 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’s calling is for us to CONTEND FOR THE FAITH. Contend in the Greek is “Epagonizomai”, meaning to struggle and fight with everything you’ve got. In this case, there are some who have infiltrated the church. They are distorting the truth of God’s grace, fostering sensuality and they deny the Lord Jesus Christ. These messianic believers are being tempted on all sides and Jude’s word to them is to fight, fight, fight for their faith in Christ and not be led away.
This word is for us today as well. Think about our culture and the many adversary’s at work doing the same thing. There is a strong cultural message promoting self, sensuality, sexual immorality as normal and common, even something to celebrate. There is increase of those who deny Christ and persecution of those who profess Christ. Our culture has declined rapidly in the past 50 years because God and the Bible are no longer where our country is anchored. This removal of God has led to a disappearance of truth. And al of this becomes all the more dangerous when it creeps inside the church. That has led us the church into a decline in virtues and increase of sin. And this leads to brokenness, pain and confusion for those inside or outside of God’s grace. For those of us who belong to Christ, Jude is saying - keep struggling and fighting for the faith, the faith once and delivered for all.
Reflection:
How are you doing contending for the faith? If you were to put it on a sale of 1 to 10, 10 being amazing, where would you be?
What are the cultural enticements that allure you and get your attention? Confess these and ask God to renew your desires for Him, for purity, and for truth.
What is God asking of you in response to His Word today?
Share what God has done in your heart this week with your community group and/or friends.
Grace and peace on this journey together,
Chad Hollowell
Executive Pastor
COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION
Don Logan
1) Read Jude 3,4. What stands out to you? What questions would you ask of this text?
2) Jude wants us to contend for the faith. What does this mean for the people of God, and what are we contending for?
3) How do you think bad doctrine creeps into a church today? Do you think that the “ungodly people” who do it know that they are doing it? Would they call themselves ungodly? What would they think of themselves?
4) How does John’s call to love relate to Jude’s call to contend? Are they at odds with one another? Why or why not?
5) Take a few minutes to talk about how Jesus contended for The Faith so that we might be saved. (Philippians 2:6-8, Hebrews 12:1-3)
6) Prayer and praise