Faith Worth Contending For ~ Hey Y’All It’s Jude

Today, our message will introduce the often-overlooked letter of Jude and emphasize its enduring importance for the Church. Though Jude is short, difficult, and contains challenging passages, its message remains God’s Word and calls believers to preserve and contend for the faith. Today’s message explores Jude’s identity as a servant of Jesus Christ and highlights how his humility points to Jesus as Lord and King. More importantly, Jude’s audience is identified as those who are called, beloved, and kept for, by, and in Jesus Christ. In this, believers are called by God, loved as His children, and kept secure in Christ. Jude then offers the beautiful prayer that mercy, peace, and love would be multiplied in his readers’ lives. The challenge as we begin reading Jude is to examine whether we are truly among Jude’s intended audience by responding to God’s call and being His beloved and kept, who live in His mercy, peace, and love.  Because the message is for those who are, and if we are those who are, we need to be prepared for the message ahead to contend and persevere for the faith, which is the message ahead.

((Audio Only))

STUDY GUIDE

1 – Why does the sermon suggest that the book of Jude is often overlooked? 

2 – What reasons are given, and why does its short length not diminish its importance?

3 – Who is Jude, and how does he identify himself? What stands out about Jude calling himself a servant of Jesus Christ rather than emphasizing his family connection to Jesus?

4 – Jude addresses his letter to those who are “called, beloved, and kept.” What does each of these three descriptions mean according to the sermon?

5 – What does it mean to be “called” by God? How does answering God’s call involve responding to Jesus as Lord?

6 – What does it mean to be “beloved” by God? How does our identity change when we respond to Christ?

7 – Jude says believers are “kept” for, by, and in Jesus Christ. What encouragement does this provide when we recognize our own weakness and failures?

8 – Jude prays, “May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.” How did the sermon explain the relationship between these three blessings?

9 – Would Jude have written to you? Based on the sermon, what evidence would demonstrate that you are among those who are called, beloved, and kept?

10 – Jude prepares his readers to contend for the faith. What do you think it means to contend for the faith, and why is it important for Christians today?

Personal Reflection: As you prepare to continue studying Jude, which of these three truths—called, beloved, or kept—most encourages you, and why?

Scripture References

Jude 5
Ecclesiastes 1:9
Jude 1-2
Galatians 1:19
Mark 6:3
Ephesians 2:1-10
John 1:12-13
1 Peter 1:4
Jude 3-4