EXPLORE THE TEXT
Believers should respond to false teachers by continuing to grow spiritually and helping those in danger of believing their message.
20 But you, dear friends,
as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith,
praying in the Holy Spirit,
21 keep yourselves in the love of God,
waiting expectantly for the mercy
of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life."22 Have mercy on those who waver;
23 save others by snatching them from the fire;
have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. "
identify the words and phrases Jude selected to address false teachings.
(build up, pray, keep yourselves, wait expectantly,
have mercy, save others, be cautious). "
highlight how Jude directed his readers to respond to the false teachers
and those they had led away from the truth.
Review these points from Apply the Text on page 117 of the Personal Study Guide:
Guide the group to discuss the first set of questions on page 117 of the PSG. Allow adults to suggest false teachings that might be commonly believed and how Christians can respond to these modern-day heresies. Emphasize the need for mercy mixed with the fear of the Lord in our responses.
Close in prayer seeking God’s help in identifying false teachings and the destruction that results in the church and in the lives of those who adopt them. Lead adults to continue using the prayer prompts for Jude 3.
Reinforce the session by sending the group an email or text encouraging them to devote time in self-evaluation using the second set of questions on page 117 of the PSG. Let them know that you are available to talk with anyone who is struggling with false teaching in their own lives or in the lives of someone close to them.
Scripture reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human con-duct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. (See 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12.)"
Read, reflect on, and react emotionally to a Bible verse."
Focus on Jude 17-23. Read the passage aloud several times. Each time, emphasize different words or phrases as you read. For example, in one reading emphasize the verbs. Then read the verse again, emphasizing all the commands. Emphasize still other words in a third reading. Take note of your thoughts. How does the verse move you emotionally? What feelings were evoked by the different words and phrases as you emphasized them?"