Introduction
Reflect on the ever present danger of false teachers and how this might cause us to wonder exactly how God will keep his church.
Explain how Jude 1:20-23 shows us that God keeps his church as his church keeps itself.
Explain how the love of God has featured in the letter of Jude and why love is such a powerful motive to prevent us from going the way of false teachers.
Explain that remaining in God’s love involves looking after ourselves and looking after others.
Remain in God’s love: build, pray, and wait
Explain & Apply: what does it mean to build on the most holy faith?
Explain & Apply: what does it mean to pray in the Spirit?
Explain & Apply: what does it mean to wait for the mercy of Jesus Christ?
Apply: remaining in God’s love does not mean we are passive but active.
Remain in God’s love: look out for others
Explain: why must we show mercy? Who are the individuals that he has identified?
Explain: what does mercy not mean?
Explain: what does it mean to show mercy?
Apply: what are some things that church members as individuals can do to show mercy to friends and family who might be taken in with false teaching?
Remain in God’s love: trust God to do what we cannot
Explain: the instructions from Jude set a daunting task but God will keep his people.
Explain: God is powerful. He will protect his church. He wants to keep his church. He wants to help us by his Spirit.
Apply: let us be confident in our obedience to God as we build, pray, wait, and show mercy.
Conclusion
Praise God that we belong to him and he will never let us go. Praise God that he will keep us to the end. To the only God be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,