Sermon Notes
Jude 1:3–4 (NIV)
3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. 4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
Jude 1:5–7 (NIV)
5 Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.
6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling — these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.
7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
Jude 1:11 (NIV)
11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain;
they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error;
they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.
Jude 1:12–13 (NIV)
12 These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm — shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted — twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.
Jude 1:20–21 (NIV)
20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Jude 1:24–25 (NIV)
24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy — 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Jewish Literature References in Jude
– Israelites in the wilderness (Numbers 14)
– Angels who rebelled with Satan (Genesis 6 & 1 Enoch)
– People of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19)
– The way of Cain (Gen. 4)
– The error of Balaam (Num. 22–24)
– The rebellion of Korah (Num. 16)
– Archangel Michael disputing with the devil (Testament of Moses)
Discussion Igniters
1. What stories have you heard that inspire you to pursue good character or be a better person?
2. Read through the book of Jude. What is Jude telling this church to do?
3. Jude references several stories from the Torah and extra-Biblical Jewish texts. Pick one to investigate as a group from the list in the sermon notes. What do you think this story is about?
4. How can regularly spending time in the Bible build ourselves up and allow us to contend for the faith?
5. What is something you can do this summer to develop a deeper level of knowledge of the Text?
Series Resources
Dig deeper into these “little books” of the Bible with recommended resources from our teaching team.