Sermon Extras

SERMON NOTES

Jude Part 2 – Jude 1:3-4

REVIEW> WE started a new book of the bible last week! Jude! 

•  There is a battle over the Gospel of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Scriptures. 

•  Before we can ever contend for the gospel we must contemplate the gospel. 

INTRO> He was born on November 2nd, in Philadelphia in 1944. He served 3 years in the Vietnam War and in 1983 his made his announcing debut in his very first boxing match at the ring announcer! His name… Michael Buffer! He is now 76 yrs old and has been announcing for 40 years. Early in his career he wanted a signature catch phrase and said this in an interview…. “I wanted a hook to get the fans into knowing who the main event fighters are. The stars of the show. “The Great Muhammad Ali used to say: ‘I’m so pretty! I’m ready to rumble! Rumble, young man, rumble!’ And I kind of refined that to…. ‘Let’s get ready to rumble.’ Here is what he goes on to say…  He gets $100,000 every time he announces and has actually trade marked the phrase that has earned him.. $400 million dollars! This is what stuck out in the interview… “… Through the years, it became the call to arms. … It’s been a great way to let people know … that you’re going to see the main event.”

CONTEXT> That is what Jude is doing in these two verses. He is letting us know that we are now entering the main event. “our mind is forced to go to red alert. We are being asked to read standing in readiness. Required action is at hand. Urgency moves him. He wants contenders, and he wants them now. If Jude were to write a letter today, he wouldn’t change a thing we need this generation of Christians to contend.” -David Helm 

•  The word “contend” in v4 is only found here in the entire NT. It means “to fight strenuously in defense of, to agonize” that’s why some translations say “earnestly contend” to stress the severity. It’s pretty intense right? LET’S GO! 
• BUT.. that’s not all, because this sort of clarion call can be dangerous. hyping people up then sending them out! 
• Look at the first word in v3 “beloved” remember? how tender. Also the word “appealing” in v3 means “to comfort, encourage and exhort” 

Big Idea> We are called to contend for the faith with compassion and conviction

• “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.” 2 Timothy 2:23-25 

• “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Matthew 10:16

• “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. – John 1:14…. we change it to “grace OR truth” 

• We are compelled by compassion. 

• “beloved… our common salvation….. appealing” You know that word “common” actually translates “partnership.” I love that, again… look at Jude’s tone! There is an urgency to his tone as well… but the key is that he does something! 

APP> Compassion is love in action. 

APP> You know a lie that the world says, “You have to compromise your convictions in order to be compassionate.” WRONG! “And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Mark 2:16 

APP> When is the last time you were moved to action over what breaks God’s heart? 

2) We are confidant in our convictions. 

• “contend for the faith once and for all delivered…” 

we said this last week, there are things that have been handed down to us that we can compromise on! God as creator… etc. 

• “who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality..” that word pervert means to “change or alter” APP> The love of God is not a license to live however you want. 

• “and deny our only master and Lord, Jesus Christ..” APP> The love of God leads to submission of Jesus Christ. 

“If you read what you like in the Gospels and reject what you don’t like in the Gospels, it is not the Gospel you believe but yourself.” – Saint Augustine.

*ILL> Just recently during the ice storm. One of our kids septs sledding on purpose and we kept saying “don’t do that” finally they slipped and busted their head” 

APP> Every time God say’s “Don’t” It means “Don’t hurt yourself” 

Big Idea> We are called to contend for the faith with compassion and conviction

Application: 

• Do you find yourself compromising your convictions to be compassionate? 

• Do you find yourself using the “truth” like a baseball bat to beat people up rather than building people up?