Be Alert: Embracing Mercy and Defending Faith
Summary
The sermon begins with the speaker urging the congregation to be ready to share their personal stories of faith and the goodness of God. The speaker shares their own personal experience of coming to know Jesus through the love and influence of a youth pastor named Mike Goldsmith. They emphasize the importance of maintaining the fruit of the Spirit while explaining their faith. The speaker then introduces the sermon series titled "Be Alert," which is a study through the book of Jude. The book of Jude is described as a letter calling believers and the church to fight for truth, live on guard, and be alert.
The speaker then discusses the significance of God's mercy, which is defined as God not giving us what we deserve. They express gratitude for God's mercy and emphasize the importance of giving the topic the attention it deserves. The sermon then transitions to verse two of Jude's prayer, where the speaker mentions the love and honor they have for their family and the church. They express their belief that the greatest days are ahead and thank the congregation for their love and prayers.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of defending the faith with love, peace, mercy, and compassion. They acknowledge that many people in the congregation are actively involved in defending their beliefs in various aspects of their lives, such as at work, in the neighborhood, and even with their families. However, the speaker cautions against becoming combative, quarrelsome, or mean in the process. They remind the audience that Jesus calls them to live like Him, even when defending their faith.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of mercy and how it has transformed their own life. They express the belief that if mercy has filled their life, they are obligated to give it away and live like Jesus, showing mercy, peace, and love to others. The speaker then discusses the importance of defending one's faith but highlights that the way it is done is crucial. They point to Peter and Paul as examples of true evangelism, where persuasion with the good news is prioritized over confrontation, argumentation, or meanness.
The speaker concludes the sermon by emphasizing the role of the Holy Spirit in the church and in individual lives. They highlight that the Holy Spirit does not need human assistance but is capable of doing a good job on their own. The speaker encourages the congregation to make room and space for the Holy Spirit to work in their lives and in the lives of others, particularly those who have recently given their hearts to Jesus or are seeking transformation.
Key Takeaways:
- The speaker emphasizes the importance of sharing personal stories of faith and the goodness of God. They highlight the need to talk about Jesus and share their story with love, compassion, and grace. This is a reminder that personal testimonies can be a powerful tool for evangelism. [01:26:42]
- The sermon series "Be Alert" is introduced, which is a study through the book of Jude. The book of Jude is described as a letter calling believers and the church to fight for truth, live on guard, and be alert. This emphasizes the importance of being vigilant in our faith and discerning in the face of false teachings. [57:01]
- The speaker discusses the significance of God's mercy, defining it as God not giving us what we deserve. They express gratitude for God's mercy and emphasize the importance of giving the topic the attention it deserves. This highlights the transformative power of God's mercy in our lives. [01:00:02]
- The speaker emphasizes the importance of defending the faith with love, peace, mercy, and compassion. They caution against becoming combative, quarrelsome, or mean in the process. This is a reminder that the manner in which we defend our faith should reflect the character and nature of God. [01:20:03]
- The speaker emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in the church and in individual lives. They encourage the congregation to make room and space for the Holy Spirit to work in their lives and in the lives of others. This highlights the importance of relying on the Holy Spirit for personal transformation and the transformation of others. [49:32]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Jude 1:1-4 (NIV)
> "Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. 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. 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."
2. Romans 5:8 (NIV)
> "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
3. Psalm 103:8 (NIV)
> "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jude identify as his primary relationship in Jude 1:1? How does this shape the tone of his letter?
2. According to Jude 1:3, what was Jude's initial intention for writing the letter, and what caused him to change his focus? [59:25]
3. How does Romans 5:8 describe the timing and nature of God's love for us?
4. What characteristics of the Lord are highlighted in Psalm 103:8, and how do these characteristics relate to the sermon’s emphasis on mercy?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jude emphasize the need for mercy, peace, and love to be multiplied among believers? How does this relate to the challenges they face? [57:01]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that defending the faith should be approached with love, peace, and mercy rather than confrontation? [01:18:09]
3. How does the speaker’s personal testimony about Mike Goldsmith illustrate the impact of showing mercy and compassion in evangelism? [01:26:05]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the role of the Holy Spirit in personal transformation and the transformation of others? [01:15:05]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you shared your faith. How did you balance defending your beliefs with showing love and compassion? What could you do differently next time? [01:18:09]
2. Think of someone in your life who requires "extra grace." What specific actions can you take this week to show them mercy and patience? [01:03:59]
3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of personal testimonies in evangelism. Identify one person you can share your story with this week. How will you approach this conversation? [01:26:42]
4. How can you make more room for the Holy Spirit to work in your life and in the lives of those around you? What practical steps can you take to allow for this transformation? [01:15:05]
5. The speaker warns against being combative or mean when defending the faith. Reflect on your recent interactions. Have you been more argumentative or compassionate? How can you improve? [01:18:49]
6. Jude calls believers to contend for the faith. What are some practical ways you can stand firm in your beliefs while still showing mercy and love to others? [59:25]
7. The sermon highlights the transformative power of God's mercy. How has experiencing God's mercy changed your life, and how can you extend that mercy to others this week? [01:05:54]
Devotional
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Day 1: Sharing Faith Through Personal Stories
Our personal stories of faith and the goodness of God are powerful tools for evangelism. When we share our experiences with Jesus, we should do so with love, compassion, and grace. This not only glorifies God but also encourages others in their faith journey. [01:26:42]
1 Peter 3:15 - "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."
Reflection: Reflect on your personal faith journey. What is one story you could share with someone today that demonstrates God's goodness in your life?
Day 2: Vigilance in Faith and Discernment
As believers, we are called to be vigilant in our faith and discerning in the face of false teachings. The book of Jude reminds us to fight for truth, live on guard, and be alert. This vigilance is not born out of fear, but out of a deep love for God and His truth. [57:01]
Ephesians 6:14 - "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place."
Reflection: What are some ways you can cultivate discernment in your faith journey? How can you guard your heart and mind against false teachings?
Day 3: The Transformative Power of God's Mercy
God's mercy is transformative. It is Him not giving us what we deserve. When we truly grasp the depth of God's mercy towards us, it changes us. It fills us with gratitude and compels us to extend that same mercy to others. [01:00:02]
Lamentations 3:22-23 - "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced God's mercy. How did it change you? How can you extend that same mercy to someone else today?
Day 4: Defending Faith with Love and Compassion
Defending our faith is important, but the manner in which we do it should reflect the character and nature of God. We are called to defend our faith with love, peace, mercy, and compassion, avoiding combative or quarrelsome behavior. [01:20:03]
2 Timothy 2:24-25 - "And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth."
Reflection: Think of a recent conversation where you defended your faith. Did you do it with love and compassion? How can you improve in this area?
Day 5: Relying on the Holy Spirit for Transformation
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in our personal transformation and the transformation of others. We are encouraged to make room and space for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives and in the lives of those around us. [49:32]
John 14:26 - "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."
Reflection: How are you making room for the Holy Spirit in your life? What is one area of your life where you need the Holy Spirit's guidance and transformation today?
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Quotes
"Look for opportunities to tell your story, look for divine moments that God sets up for you to tell the story of the faithfulness and the goodness of God." [01:24:12]
"I stand here because of a man named Mike Goldsmith that kept showing me what the love of Jesus looked like and he showed me with compassion and he showed me with Grace and he didn't show me with judgment and he didn't show me with condemnation." [01:26:05]
"Live like Jesus, speak the words of Jesus, and do them with mercy and with Grace and with compassion." [01:13:06]
"Church let's never forget that defending the faith does not involve being combative quarrelsome or even mean we have to live like Jesus right even when we're defending our faith even when we're standing for our beliefs we do it what in love peace mercy and compassion." [01:18:09]
"We've got to give the Holy Spirit Room to work and then we come alongside and if God gives us the privilege we get the The Humble honor of of being a part part of the transformation and the change that's happening in somebody's life but listen it's all Jesus it's all the work of the spirit in their life and we have to give God room to do that he might use you that's a humble honor but he does the hard work he does the heart work." [01:15:05]
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