Bible ReadingJude 1:3-4 “Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”
[02:39] [12:25]Matthew 13:24-30 “He put another parable before them, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, ‘Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”
[13:10]Numbers 13:1-14:45 “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them.’ So Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran, according to the command of the Lord, all of them men who were heads of the people of Israel... And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh. They brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. And they told him, ‘We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there... Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, ‘Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?’”
[21:49] [39:39]Genesis 19:1-29 “The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth and said, ‘My lords, please turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.’ They said, ‘No; we will spend the night in the town square.’ But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, ‘Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.’ Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, and said, ‘I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.’ But they said, ‘Stand back!’ And they said, ‘This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.’ Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down. But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.”
[53:37]Observation questions- In Jude 1:3-4, what two things did Jude say he wanted to write about, and what problem made him change course? [12:25]
- In the parable of the wheat and tares, who sowed the good seed, who sowed the weeds, and when would the final separation happen? [13:10]
- What are some of the things Israel had already seen God do before they refused to enter Canaan? [36:34]
- In Genesis 19, what details show how widespread and aggressive the sin of Sodom had become? [59:29]
Interpretation questions- Jude says certain people pervert grace into sensuality. What does it look like when grace is treated as permission to keep living in sin, and why does that amount to denying Jesus even if his name is still used? [12:25]
- Israel was delivered from Egypt, saw God’s provision again and again, and still refused to trust him at the border of the promised land. What does that reveal about the difference between seeing God’s works and actually believing God? [39:39]
- The angels are described as leaving their proper domain. How does rebellion against God’s design show up not only in dramatic stories, but also in ordinary human life? [49:34]
- Sodom and Gomorrah are given as an example of judgment. How can a church speak truth about sexual sin without losing sight of the mercy of God toward sinners? [01:09:49]
Application questions- Jude called himself a bondservant of Jesus Christ instead of leaning on his family connection to Jesus. Where does pride most often show up in personal life right now—reputation, knowledge, background, gifting, or something else? What would choosing the lower place look like this week? [09:57]
- Grace does not free people to decorate Egypt; it frees them to leave it. Is there any sin being excused with thoughts like “God will forgive me” or “this is just how I am”? What would honest repentance look like there? [12:25]
- It is possible to get very close to obedience and still draw back in unbelief. Is there an area where God has brought conviction, but there has been a quiet refusal to step forward? What has made that step hard? [39:39]
- God created people with a purpose, and sin is stepping off the path he set. Where does life feel most “off the rails” right now? What habits or choices may be pulling the heart out of its proper place? [49:34]
- Love tells sinners the truth because eternity is forever. Is it harder right now to speak truth with love, or to receive truth with humility? Why? [01:10:06]
- Jesus receives sinners as they are, but he does not leave them as they are. Where is there a need not just for comfort, but for real change and new birth? [01:11:20]
- Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Is there someone in personal life who seems far gone, confused, or trapped in sin? How can the group pray and move toward that person with both compassion and truth? [01:13:22]
