Verses 1-16
In these verses Jude warns his readers about godless men that are hanging out with them. These men changed the grace God has given into a reason to live immorally. Please don’t take God’s grace and patience for granted. We don’t have unlimited chances or decades to live a life full of sin, then repent and accept God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. You and I aren’t promised to live past right now. There are people living godless and immoral lives, but they can choose to repent. Jesus made it possible. Jude warns his readers and us that those godless men, “pollute their own bodies, reject authority, and slander celestial beings.” Don’t spend most of your time hanging out with people like that. They aren’t living a life loving God or loving others. Would we describe godless people today how Jude did then? How much time are we spending listening to or watching negative people? Verses 17-25 In verses eighteen and nineteen, Jude warns his readers and us that scoffers/mockers are the people that divide us. They follow their “gut” and not the Holy Spirit. We are called Christians because we follow Jesus Christ. If we don’t have the Holy Spirit, we aren’t Christians. If we don’t have faith in Jesus Christ, we don’t have the Holy Spirit. We have to submit to the way Jesus made for us. Our “gut” isn’t going to get us into heaven. It also isn’t going to solve our problems. The Holy Spirit can lead us to solve our problems, but it requires faith. Self-reliance isn’t part of the good news Jesus preached. You and I can’t “pull ourselves up by our bootstrings” and make a better life for ourselves. Jude ends with a doxology that some pastors and preachers use today. Jude bluntly says that God is able to keep us from falling and to present us to himself without fault. God did this and is doing this through the life, death, and resurrection of his son Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit given to those that believe in Jesus Christ. How do we feel when people talk about a movement or revolution? How often are we praying in the Holy Spirit, asking it to lead and keep us?
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Chapter 2 Verses 1-22
In verses two and three, Peter warns his readers and us that there will be false teachers. These false teachers will make up things that are false so they can exploit people. They are greedy and will be condemned for how they live. Peter gives us hope in verses seven through nine. God is the same God now as he was when he spared Lot. God punished those that were living a lawless life and spared Lot because he was living righteously. God will spare those of us who are righteous, because our faith is in Jesus Christ. In this season, have we recognized false teachers for who they are? What are some ways Peter describes false teachers in this chapter? Chapter 3 Verses 1-18 In verses three and four, Peter tells his readers and us that people will follow their own desires and be scoffers or mockers. They are only remembering what they want to remember though. God will keep his word. He punished unrighteous people during Noah’s day. Jesus has told his followers and Peter reminds us that God will punish unrighteous people again before a new heaven and earth is revealed. God doesn’t want anyone to perish. That is why he tolerates so much. He wants people to repent and turn to him. Are we living like children of God, waiting patiently for the day of God? How do the words of Peter affect you in the current season we are all in? Chapter 1 Verses 1-11
Peter reminds the believers he was writing to that God gave them everything they need to live and be like Jesus. God called them and has called us by his glory and goodness. It is up to us to add and build on what he has given us. Verses five through seven list areas in our lives we should work on getting better at. We have a lifetime to become better than we were yesterday. The journey of becoming better, becoming more like Jesus, will prevent us from becoming ineffective and unproductive with the knowledge of who Jesus is. Are we motivated to become better today than we were yesterday? What are we doing each day to become better than we were yesterday? Chapter 1 Verses 12-21 Peter reminds the readers of his letter and us that he witnessed firsthand the time Jesus received honor and glory from God on the mountain. We are not living or placing our faith in a fairy tale. We are placing our faith in the son of God, Jesus the Christ. Do you believe what Peter and the other disciples witnessed firsthand? Have you witnessed God working something out? Chapter 4 Verses 1-11
In the first two verses, Peter writes that we suffer in our body so that we will be finished living a life of sin. We don’t live according to our evil human desires, but for God’s will for our lives. Other people that haven’t accepted Jesus Christ will not understand our new way of life. They will continue living a life pursuing their evil human desires. Peter encourages us to be clear minded, self-controlled, and loving. The end of all things is near. Do we spend more time following our evil human desires or God’s will? How have we showed loved to others since Memorial Day? Chapter 4 Verses 12-19 In these verses Peter continues to encourage his readers about suffering. Their suffering at being a Christian is reason to rejoice. They are being associated with Jesus Christ and will be overjoyed when the full glory of Jesus Christ is revealed. We shouldn’t go through suffering for committing crimes. Committing crimes isn’t going to bring God glory. In verse nineteen, Peter encourages those that suffer according to God’s will to place their focus on God and continue doing good deeds. Are we associated with Jesus Christ by those that aren’t Christian? What is God’s will for you during all the suffering going on right now? 1 Peter Chapter 5 Verses1-13 Peter addresses elders in the first four verses. He encourages them to lead God’s flock: willingly, not for money, eager to serve, and leading by example. It is time for those that are called by God into leadership to lead according to God’s standard and not the world’s. Peter encourages us to stay humble, because God will give grace to the humble. He also encourages us to cast our cares, our anxiety, our concerns, our doubts, our fears on God because he cares for us. Verse nine reminds us that we are to resist the devil and to know that our siblings in the faith are suffering also. Verse ten encourages us to hold on, because after a little while God will restore us. How do we resist the devil right now? How often do you take God up on his offer and cast your cares on him? |
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