Sermon Questions

Week 4: You Reap What You Sow - Jude 1:10-13

  • Opener
    • When have you planted or invested in something—literally or figuratively—and been surprised by the outcome?
  • Big Idea
    • Jude shows that what we sow, we reap.
    • False teachers—and any of us drifting from truth—sow to the flesh:
      • Cain – anger, jealousy, self-rule.
      • Balaam – greed, idolatry, and sexual indulgence.
      • Korah – pride and rebellion against authority.
    • The result is barrenness and decay: clouds without rain, trees without fruit, restless waves, wandering stars.  In contrast, wisdom (ḥokmāh) is a life aligned with God’s Word, design, and character—sowing to the Spirit and reaping eternal fruit.
  • Scripture Focus
    • Jude 1:10–13
    • Cross references: Genesis 4:1–8; Numbers 25:1–3; Numbers 16:1–3, 31–33; Galatians 6:7–8
  • DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
    • Sow & Reap
      • “They act on instinct, like unreasoning animals.” (v.10). What does it look like today to live by instinct instead of obedience?
      • Where are you most tempted to “sow to the flesh” (comfort, pride, pleasure, resentment)?
    • The Way of Cain, Balaam, & Korah
      • Cain: How do jealousy and bitterness quietly grow in spiritual environments?
      • Balaam: What voices tell us that compromise is “just being real” or “being free”?
      • Korah: Why is rejecting God’s authority often disguised as “authenticity” or “equality”?
    • Hidden Reefs & Empty Clouds
      • Jude warns that false voices “feed only themselves.” What modern examples might fit that picture?
      • What kind of fruit—or lack thereof—helps you discern if someone’s influence is Spirit-led or flesh-led?
    • Reaping to the Spirit
      • Which fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) do you most want to cultivate right now?
      • What would it look like to intentionally plant toward that fruit this week?
  • LIVING IT OUT
    • 1.  Set a Guardrail
      • Write one sentence to reorient your week:
      • “Because I belong to Jesus, I will _______ and I will not _______.”
      • (Example: “I will begin each day in prayer before checking my phone.”)
    • 2.  Replace an Influence
      • Mute one “cloud-without-rain” voice (show, account, podcast, song) and replace it with Scripture or worship that feeds your soul.
    • 3.  Partner Up
      • Share your guardrail and replacement with someone in your group. Check in midweek to encourage each other to sow to the Spirit.
  • PRAYER
    • “Search me, God, and know my heart. Expose the way of Cain in my anger, the error of Balaam in my desires, and the rebellion of Korah in my pride.Teach me to sow to the Spirit, so I may reap a harvest of joy, peace, and faithfulness. Amen.”
  • Challenge of the Week
    • Ask God daily: “Lord, what am I sowing today—into the flesh or into the Spirit?”

Week 3: Jude 1:5–10

  • Opener (2–3 min)
    • What’s a time you ignored a clear warning label…and paid for it? What did you learn?
  • Big Idea
    • Jude stacks three Old Testament warnings (Israel in the wilderness, rebellious angels, Sodom & Gomorrah) to show that rejecting God’s Word, God’s design, God’s will and God’s boundaries always ends in tragedy.  False teachers repeat that pattern by elevating experiences over the truth of Scripture, normalizing immorality, rejecting authority, and speaking arrogantly about spiritual realities. Humility under God’s Word is the way to stand.
  • Read the Text (aloud)
    • Jude 1:5–10 (invite multiple readers)
  • Discussion Questions
    • 1) “Remember” before you “React” (v.5)
      • Jude says, “Though you already know this, I want to remind you…” What key truths do you already know but need to be reminded of right now?
      • Where does unbelief show up as “prudence” or “comfort” in your life (like the Exodus generation)?
    • 2) Boundaries are a Blessing (v.6)
      • “Angels did not keep their proper position but abandoned their proper dwelling.” How does our culture frame boundaries—as harm or as help?
      • Name one God-given boundary (sex, money, power, truth, identity) you are grateful for, and one you’re tempted to cross.
    • 3) When Desire Drives (v.7)
      • “Gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion.” Where are we most pressured to accept and elevate desire as identity?
      • Share a time obedience felt costly upfront but proved wise long-term. What did it protect or produce?
    • 4) Four Marks of False Teaching (v.8–9)
      • Jude names: (1) exalted dreams/experiences, (2) defiled bodies (license), (3) rejection of authority, (4) arrogant talk about unseen powers.
      • Which of these four do you see most in today’s Christian content streams (reels, podcasts, books, sermons, internet sites)?
      • Why is Michael’s posture (“The Lord rebuke you”) the antidote to spiritual arrogance? What does his humility teach us about how to contend?
    • 5) They Don’t Understand (v.10)
      • Jude says they “slander what they do not understand.” Where do we risk speaking beyond knowledge or dismissing biblical teaching because it’s hard or because we lack real understanding?
      • How can our group cultivate a rhythm of slow study before strong opinions?
  • Living It Out
    • A. The “Authority Ladder” (personal practice)
      • This week, rank these influences by how much they shape your theology and ethics: Scripture • Prayer • Church tradition • Pastors/mentors • Podcasts/books • Personal experiences/feelings • Cultural norms.
      • Move Scripture to the top.
      • Identify one item that’s ranked too high and fast from it for 7 days.
    • B. Guardrails > Guilt (habit swap)
      • Pick one boundary God names (sexual integrity, financial honesty, truth-telling, Sabbath, peacemaking, etc).
      • Write a one-sentence guardrail (“I will… / I won’t… / I’ll invite ____ to ask me about…”)
      • Share it with the group and invite one check-in midweek.
    • C. Mercy + Truth (Jude 22–23 posture applied here)
      • Identify one person drifting toward license or “dreams over doctrine.” Pray for them daily and send one encouragement anchored in Scripture (not your opinions).
  • Group Exercise (10–12 min)
    • Give two or three real-life scenarios (anonymized) where teaching sounds inspirational but:
      • sidelines Scripture,
      • justifies immorality as “grace,”
      • rejects spiritual authority, or
      • mocks unseen realities
  • Practices for the Week
    • Memorize: Jude 24–25 or Jude 1:8–9.

Week 2: Jude — Dying on the Right Hills (Jude 1:3–4; Eph 4:1–6)

  • Opener (2–3 min)
    • What’s a hill you used to “die on” that you now hold more loosely—and what changed your mind?
  • Big Idea
    • Jude calls the church to contend for the faith—the once-for-all body of truth handed down to the saints. To do that well we need theological triage: know what to Defend, where we can Disagree, and what we should simply Discuss—so we fight error without fighting each other.
  • Scripture Focus
    • Jude 1:3–4 — Contend for the faith; watch for counterfeit grace and denial of Christ.
    • Ephesians 4:1–6 — Unity centered in one Lord, one faith, one baptism.
  • Discussion Questions
    • 1) Contend ≠ Contentious (Jude 1:3)
      • Jude “felt compelled” to write and urge believers to contend. What’s the difference between contending for truth and being combative?
      • Jude says, “the faith” (a body of doctrine), not “my private faith.” How does that reshape your view of discipleship (personal experience and shared confession)?
    • 2) Spot the Drift (Jude 1:4)
      • Jude names four marks of the infiltrators: condemned, ungodly, perverting grace into license, denying Jesus as Sovereign and Lord.
      • Which of these shows up most subtly today (podcasts, reels, books, classrooms)? Share a recent example and how you processed it.
      • Where is your own heart tempted to want permission instead of transformation (“license” disguised as grace)?
    • 3) The Three Circles: Defend / Disagree / Discuss
      • Defend (closed hand): Jesus’ full deity/humanity & saving work, the Trinity, salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone, Scripture’s inspiration/authority.
      • Which of these have you most needed to shore up biblically? What text will you learn this week to anchor it?
      • Disagree (convictions): baptism modes/timing, communion practice, spiritual gifts, church polity, end-times sequencing.
      • Share one you hold. How can you hold it with humility toward other faithful churches?
      • Discuss (preferences): music style, service format, schooling choices, politics, COVID-era judgments, etc.
      • Which “Discuss” topic has been treated like “Defend” in your circles? What has that cost?
    • 4) Two Ditches to Avoid
      • Fundamentalism: “everything is Defend.” Progressivism: “nothing is Defend.”
      • Which ditch is more likely in our context? What spiritual habits keep us out of it?
    • 5) Unity on Purpose (Eph 4:1–6)
      • Paul says, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit.” What concrete “effort” would most serve unity in our church right now?
      • How does one Lord, one faith, one baptism practically limit what we divide over?
  • Living It Out
    • Discernment Grid (this week)
      • When you encounter a teaching clip/article, ask:
      • Does it confess Christ biblically?
      • Does it submit to Scripture as final authority?
      • Does it promote holiness rather than license?
      • Does it center the gospel, not tribe/politics/therapeutic self?
      • If any “no,” pause and seek counsel.
    • Repair & Re-align
      • If you’ve been contentious over a secondary issue, apologize this week to that brother/sister. Then bless something you can celebrate together (shared mission, prayer, Scripture).
      • Practices for the Week
      • Memorize: Jude 3 (contend) and/or Ephesians 4:3–6 (unity).
      • Daily Doulos Prayer (30 seconds): “Jesus, I am Your servant today. Let me contend for truth with humility and keep me from pride or fear.”