We concluded our series in the https://visionrdu.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=38b225582ed69766208fdf9a6&id=74c2f94c37&e=892855c997 and I've been amazed by what God has done. I almost cried seeing so many people come to the altar for prayer and to trust Christ. God is truly at work. We called the last installment of this series https://visionrdu.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=38b225582ed69766208fdf9a6&id=90f45e4e2d&e=892855c997!
Our Thought Tattoo this week is simple:We contend, Christ converts!
People to Pursue
1. Doubters (Jude 1:22) – those who waver.
2. Doomed (Jude 1:23) – those in hell fire.
3. Defiled (Jude 1:23) – those who are defiled.
The Anatomy of False Teachers
October 8, 2023 • Jerome Gay Jr. • Jude 14–19
Jude has a spiritual as well as a relational concern, and this concern leads him to give us a detailed description of https://visionrdu.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=38b225582ed69766208fdf9a6&id=4270de6391&e=892855c997. Jude wants to give his readers a reminder about the judgment that false teachers will face. This is an important reminder because sometimes it looks like false teachers and abusive leaders will get away with abusing people and taking advantage of them. Jude makes it clear that they won’t escape the judgment of God. To highlight the judgement that false teachers will face, Jude quotes Enoch 1:9 from The Book of Enoch.
The Tactics of False Teachers and Enemies
- Partnership (Ezra 4:22) – offer a relationship.
- Punishment (Ezra 4:4) – rejection.
- Payment (Ezra 4:5) – buy your loyalty.
- Plot (Ezra 4:11-16) – scheme against you.
The Fruit of False Teachers
September 24, 2023 • Jerome Gay Jr. • Jude 8–13
We learned three things from this section of Scripture:
False teachers reject biblical exposition (Jude 1:8).
False teachers rely on themselves (Jude 1:9-10).
False teachers rebel against God’s authority (Jude 1:11-13).
We must be aware of the teaching and character of false teachers because they lead people astray. In today's climate people can have millions of subscribers, the title pastor, prophet, or apostle and lead millions of people astray. As we continue our journey through this book, let's pray for false teachers to repent and people following them to find healthy communities of faith that preach the gospel.
Fighting for the Future
September 17, 2023 • Jerome Gay Jr. • Jude 5–7
We need to be loving while holding to a biblical sexual ethic and we need to be intentional about not highlighting homosexuality while giving a "pass" to heterosexual sin. God calls ALL to repentance and He desires that all regardless of sexuality would trust Him because the goal isn't to be straight, because sexuality doesn't save, but to be redeemed, which is something only He can do!
Fighting for The Faith and Family
September 10, 2023 • Jerome Gay Jr. • Jude 3–4
Jude has two main concerns—that we do not drift and that we are not be led astray by false teachers. He prays that they (recipients of his letter) will instead take the initiative and https://visionrdu.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=38b225582ed69766208fdf9a6&id=bf1dee0217&e=892855c997.
While we need to fight against false teachers and their teachings it’s important to remember that contending isn’t separate from caring. In fact, we contend out of a heart of love for people are being led astray. Here are several ways that we contend for the faith:
Care for the Wounded (Jude 1:22)
Compassion for People Struggling (Jude 1:22).
Contend Against False Teachers (Jude 1:3)
Complete the Mission (Jude 1:5-7).
Commune with Believers (Jude 1:20).
Chase After Those that are Wandering (Jude 1:23).
Condemnation for Unbelievers (Jude 1:15).
Let's be intentional about building ourselves up in the faith and warning people of the steps to apostasy from a place of love, not control.
Fighting from Victory
September 3, 2023 • Jerome Gay Jr. • Jude 1–2
Thought Tattoo: God preserves us in faith and propels us to fight.
Jude is going to tell us in two verses that we’re called, loved, and kept and that he wants mercy, love, and peace to be multiplied to his recipients and us because when it looks and feels like you’re losing you need to know that despite what it looks like, you and I win because He won!
