Sermons on Jude 1:3-4


The various sermons below interpret Jude 1:3-4 by emphasizing the proactive and ongoing effort required to contend for the faith. They highlight the necessity of vigilance against false teachings that can subtly infiltrate the church, using analogies like a gym membership to illustrate how grace should motivate a life that honors God rather than serving as a license for unaccountability. A common theme is the importance of knowing the true gospel to identify counterfeits, akin to studying a genuine bill to spot a fake. These sermons collectively stress that true grace compels believers to live in a way that honors God, emphasizing discipleship and the role of believers in helping others grow in their faith.

While the sermons share common themes, they also present interesting nuances. One sermon might focus more on the analogy of a gym membership, using it to explore the idea of spiritual discipline and growth through challenges, while another might delve deeper into the concept of grace, examining how it should not be misused as an excuse for immorality. Some sermons may place a stronger emphasis on the communal aspect of faith, highlighting the role of the church in safeguarding against false teachings, whereas others might concentrate on individual responsibility in discerning and upholding the true gospel.


Jude 1:3-4 Interpretation:

Contending for Faith: Embracing Growth Through Challenges (Boulder Mountain Church) interprets Jude 1:3-4 by emphasizing the importance of contending for the faith as a proactive and ongoing effort. The sermon highlights the necessity of being vigilant against false teachings that can subtly infiltrate the church. It uses the analogy of a gym membership to illustrate how grace should not be used as a license to live without accountability, but rather as a motivation to live a life that honors God. The sermon also stresses the importance of knowing the real gospel to identify counterfeits, similar to how one would study a genuine bill to spot a counterfeit.

Jude 1:3-4 Theological Themes:

Contending for Faith: Embracing Growth Through Challenges (Boulder Mountain Church) presents the theme of grace not being a license for immorality. It emphasizes that true grace compels believers to live in a way that honors God, rather than using it as an excuse to live without repentance. The sermon also highlights the importance of discipleship and the role of believers in helping others find and grow in their faith.

Jude 1:3-4 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Contending for Faith: Embracing Growth Through Challenges (Boulder Mountain Church) provides historical context by referencing the general epistle nature of Jude, indicating it was written to the church at large rather than a specific group. The sermon also mentions the historical example of Jonathan Edwards and the first Great Awakening, illustrating how a strong adherence to the gospel can lead to widespread revival.

Jude 1:3-4 Cross-References in the Bible:

Contending for Faith: Embracing Growth Through Challenges (Boulder Mountain Church) references Romans 9 to explain how God can use even evil people to accomplish His purposes, as seen with Pharaoh. It also mentions Matthew 7:15, where Jesus warns about false prophets in sheep's clothing, to support the idea that false teachings can infiltrate the church.

Jude 1:3-4 Christian References outside the Bible:

Contending for Faith: Embracing Growth Through Challenges (Boulder Mountain Church) references theologian Leon Morris, who describes Romans 3:23-26 as the greatest sentence in the Bible, emphasizing the importance of understanding the depth of sin and the greatness of grace.

Jude 1:3-4 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Contending for Faith: Embracing Growth Through Challenges (Boulder Mountain Church) uses the example of Vince Lombardi and the Green Bay Packers to illustrate the importance of returning to the basics of faith. Lombardi's approach of starting with "This is a football" emphasizes the need to focus on fundamental truths to achieve success, paralleling the need for Christians to focus on the core truths of the gospel.