Jude Intro

Conversation Questions:



Vision: The picture you have in your mind of your future.



What are some of the most inspiring ‘visions’ that you’ve heard about over the years (ie. MLK’s “I have a dream” speech.)

What is your “vision” for your work or family?

What IS your “Spiritual Vision” for your future (how do you see yourself growing, spiritually)?



Bible Questions:

Jude (1-2) calls himself a “servant” or “slave” of Jesus Christ…What do you think he meant by that?

Jude says that his readers are “Called” by God, “Loved” by the Father, and “Kept” by/in Jesus. He also says that they have “Mercy, Peace and Love in Abundance”! Discuss the difference between Christians who live with this mindset and those who don’t.



Jude says that the threat that he’s writing about is that some leaders have ‘perverted the grace of God’, saying that it’s an excuse to sin. Read Romans 5:6-8, 20-21 and Romans 6:1-2. How does Paul treat this same issue?

Jude says that his readers must “contend (fight) for their faith”. How does the false teaching above endanger the Biblical Gospel message and real Christian faith?

How should they “fight for it”?



Jude cites several examples of people who’ve taken illegitimate approaches to God/faith (v.11):

· The Hebrews, who (despite all the signs and wonders by God on their behalf) refused to trust in Him and refused to go into the promised land. (Almost that entire generation died in the desert before the people went into the Land).

· Cain, who gave God an unacceptable sacrifice (approaching God on his own terms, rather than terms that God described), then killed his brother, Abel—who’s sacrifice God loved.

· Balaam, who prophesied for God, but refused to prophecy things—from God—that he disagreed with.

· Korah, who led a rebellion against God’s appointed leader (Moses).

All of these people approached God and his moves according to their own (human) wisdom, expedience, and sense of right/wrong and fairness. Neither of them really submitted to God. Each of them were punished.

In what way can WE relate that to OUR experience in 21st century, U.S.?



If God’s grace is not a ‘green light’ to sin, how are we to understand it, and how are we to understand the times we do sin? (Read Ephesians 2:6-10; 1st John 1:8-10; Titus 2:11-14)



Personal Sharing:

Read Psalm 139:23-24. As you ask God to “search you”, He probably puts his finger on some specific ways in which you may have been taking the grace of God for granted/giving into temptation too easily.

Share, as appropriate, what you think God is challenging you to give up/do differently in this area.



Pray this week that God would illuminate you and his Holy Spirit would make you aware of the mindset of compromise, motivating you to change!