SESSION EIGHT Defending the Faith SESSION SUMMARY This session shows that God calls on us to defend the faith against those who deny Christian morality. Our doctrine and our practice are fused together; both must be guarded from threats outside and inside the church. The Book of Jude also shows us our need to recognize that false teachers fuel division within the church and how we can build ourselves up in the faith as we also strengthen others to stand firm in the gospel. SCRIPTURE Jude 1:3-4,17-25 76 Leader Guide / Session 8
THE POINT God calls us to defend the faith against false teaching. INTRO/STARTER 5-10 MINUTES Option 1 According to the Federal Aviation Administration, roughly 43,000 flights carry over 2.5 million people over the United States each day. At any given time, there can be up to 5,000 aircraft in the sky.1 As passengers, most of us board these planes assuming we will arrive at our intended destination without giving any thought to the course the flight will take or any other detail, except where our seat is and what kind of snack the flight attendant will serve. However, moving passengers from one location to another requires absolute precision and meticulous planning. One tiny navigational error can cause a huge problem. If a pilot charts the course a single degree off, instead of arriving in Miami Beach for some time in the sun, passengers could find themselves in the Atlantic Ocean awaiting rescue. What are some other small decisions or changes that can have a significant impact? When Jude sat down to pen a letter to his friends in the faith, he had intended to write about the salvation they all shared (Jude 1:3), however his plan changed when he learned of false teachers in the church. Jude recognized the danger of these wolves in sheep s clothing in the church s midst and their potential to lead the believers astray. Instead of writing about salvation, he begged the church to fight for the faith the gospel of Jesus Christ (Jude 1:4). His letter is short, but powerful. He calls on the church to hold fast to the foundational tenets of the faith a message that rings just as true today. Option 2 On a whiteboard or poster board at the front of the room, write out the following statements. 2+2=7 Alaska has a tropical climate. A circle has sharp edges. The word faith begins with the letter p. The Olympics occur every year. Professional basketball players use a football during the playoff games. It s pretty obvious these statements are false. When you hear the term false teaching some of these obviously false statements may come to mind. However, false teachings can often be like white lies, or those lies we consider harmless or small. Unlike these statements, false teaching isn t always obviously false. Sometimes, it looks just enough like the truth to deceive us which makes those false teachings even more dangerous. This is why it s important for us to know God s Word and to test the Spirits (1 John 4:1) to be able to discern God s truth in a world that presents so many lies that sound good. We must know the truth to be able to identify the false teachings and defend our faith. When have you heard something that seemed like the truth, but in the end, turned out to be a lie? The Gospel Project for Students 77
HIS STORY 15-20 MINUTES THE POINT God calls us to defend the faith against false teaching. CHARACTERS Jude: half-brother of Jesus; wrote the New Testament letter Jude PLOT Defending the faith once delivered to the saints is a call on every Christian. Each new generation of the church brings its fair share of skeptics and cynics who try to do damage from the outside. Not only that, but there are also those from within who abandon the faith they once claimed and end up bringing division to the church on their way out of the door. Defending the faith is nothing new. Jude s letter will give us some insight on how to do it well. 78 Leader Guide / Session 8
TIMELINE DEFEND THE FAITH Guarding the truth against false teachers DEFEND THE CHURCH S FAITH Jude is listed as one of Jesus four half-brothers along with James, Joseph, and Simon (Matt. 13:55). Have you ever wondered what it was like to be a sibling of the Savior? What was it like to grow up with Jesus and then to see Him teaching, healing, and performing miracles? While we can only guess at what that was like for Jude, we know that he and his brothers did not believe in Jesus during His earthly ministry (John 7:3-5). The Scriptures do not record them being present at the foot of the cross with their mother, Mary, as Jesus died for the sins of the world. They seemed to be content to distance themselves from their brother, who was causing such a stir. However, that all changed after Jesus resurrection. Luke mentioned Jesus brothers in the Upper Room, along with Mary and the other disciples (Acts 1:14). At some point between Jesus resurrection and ascension, Jude had gone from being a related brother mocking Jesus in disbelief, to being a redeemed brother relating to Jesus as his elder brother in faith (Heb. 2:11). If anyone knew the danger of misunderstanding who Jesus is, it was Jude one who missed out on Jesus earthly ministry because of his lack of faith. With that background in mind, and a heart for his friends who were in danger of false teachers, Jude began his brief letter: WHERE IS JESUS? God s patience and mercy in Jesus absence JOHN S VISION Jesus is the First and the Last. 3 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. 4 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. (Jude 1:3-4) Jude s intention had been to write about the salvation they shared salvation held by all who trust in Jesus Christ. While Jude only touched briefly on the gospel before moving on to the matter he felt compelled to address, the idea of shared salvation is critical to what followed. There is only one gospel one way to be saved through the free gift of God through Jesus. And it is this gospel that serves as the foundation of the church and as the glue that holds every believer together as one. This is the gospel that was delivered to all the saints, including the recipients of Jude s letter. And this same gospel was being threatened by false teachers in the church. Instead of writing more about this gospel, Jude reminded the readers that this priceless treasure was entrusted to them and needed their protection. It was time to contend for the faith. The Gospel Project for Students 79
The word contend can mean to make a strong effort to fight for something or someone. Jude appealed to his readers to fight for the gospel that was in danger. The false teachers could not be tolerated they had to be dealt with strongly. Of course, when we think of false teachers, we might think of obviously false teachers people whose teachings are clearly contrary to the gospel. However, Jude described the false teachers threatening the church in that time as those who covertly came into the church. They were not outside the church but within it, and many might not have even recognized them as false teachers. These false teachers were a threat to the church by what they taught and how they lived. Jude was calling on the church to respond proportionally. To contend for the faith, the church had to defend and affirm Jesus Christ as Master and Lord, but they had to do more than that. They also had to defend and affirm Christian morality, by the way they lived more so than what they said. It wasn t sufficient to rebuke the false teachers they also had to live the truth of the gospel themselves. What we believe informs how we live. The world will fail to see the beauty of the gospel we believe if they are unable to see the beauty of the gospel we live. What are some teachings in our world today that are clearly opposed to the gospel? How can you respond in truth and love? (p. 54, PSG) DEFEND THE CHURCH S UNITY Jude addressed the sins of the false teachers more in-depth (vv. 5-16), using Old Testament accounts to support their condemnation. He then returned his attention to the believers, continuing the instruction for them he began in verse 3. 17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you, In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions. 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. (Jude 1:17-19) Once again, Jude reminded the church of what they already knew that false teachers would infiltrate the church. Jude called on the believers to remember what was previously told by the apostles. While we cannot be sure of what precisely Jude had in mind, there are several passages in the New Testament that warn against false teachers. Refer to the following passages and discuss how they describe false teachers (p. 55, PSG): Acts 20:28-30 1 Timothy 4:1-5 2 Peter 2:1-3; 3:14-18 1 John 4:1-6 80 Leader Guide / Session 8
The people of Jude s day should have been well aware of the fact that false teachers were coming. They should have known that the time was coming when false teachers would not only reject certain key doctrines of the faith, but also live in such a way that would be opposite to the Christian life and try to lead others to do the same. Along with leading some to abandon the faith and live wastefully, Jude warns that these false teachers would also try to divide the church. Whenever the gospel is attacked, the church s unity is placed in jeopardy. A fractured gospel splinters the church. TIMELINE THE SEVEN CHURCHES God s warning to His people THE LAMB ON THE THRONE STRENGTHEN EACH OTHER IN THE FAITH Jesus is worthy of all praise and honor. Jude s final instructions to the church focused on their need to build themselves up in the faith. Let s take a look: JESUS RETURNS 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. 24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 1:20-25) Jesus will fulfill His promise and make all things new. For the church to discern false teachers among them and contend for the faith, as important as that is, they have to know the faith. You cannot defend what you do not know. The church was not to stay on the defensive, but to be on the offensive too, growing in their faith. Building yourself up in the faith sounds like difficult work, and it is. But we aren t the ones doing the work our faith is. We can think of our faith as being the foundation upon which our lives are built. As God increases our faith, our lives will reflect this growth. We will trust Him more. We will love Him more. And we will serve Him more. We certainly have a role to play in this growth, but we are not responsible for it alone. It is God who is at work in us to complete the work that He began (Phil. 1:6). As Jude shared his closing instructions to the church, he moved his attention from how believers are supposed to build themselves up to how they should build others up (v. 22). The first thing he pointed out was for the church to be merciful toward those who doubt (waver). Based on the group Jude addressed next, it is likely that the wavering here centered on believers beginning to question whether the false teachers were really all that wrong. This is a group within the church who may have said, Let s slow down for a minute. Maybe these teachers have something worthwhile to share. Jude called on the church to extend mercy patience with this group and to gently answer their questions. The Gospel Project for Students 81
The next thing he called the church to do emphasizes the importance of fighting against false teachers. The church is in the business of contending for the faith for the simple fact that people s souls are at stake. If people are leaving the true gospel of Christ and turning to a false teaching without Christ, then the church should call them back to safety by defending the faith. Finally, the church is called to have mercy on those who seem to have turned away from the gospel to follow the false teachers and their teaching. The church should be cautious with this group, recognizing the seriousness of their sins; however, the church should also show mercy and love as they confront these individuals and pray for them to repent. The World Opposed to God (p. 55, PSG) There are times in Scripture where the term world refers to more than the physical planet Earth or the collective human population. In many instances, the term refers to an active and evil spiritual force that is in direct conflict with God and His kingdom. This evil world force operates under Satan s control (John 14:30; Eph. 2:2), displaying the same self-centeredness and deceit that is found in his character. Christians are called to overcome this world of spiritual evil by faith in the Son of God (1 John 5:4-5). CHRIST CONNECTION Jude warned the early Christians about people who would create division by teaching false doctrine and engaging in sinful behavior. Jesus is the One who protects His people from stumbling and who will enable us to stand blamelessly and joyfully in the presence of His glory. 82 Leader Guide / Session 8
YOUR STORY 10-15 MINUTES GROUP QUESTIONS God s Story has always been designed to connect with your story. It is because of His Story that our stories make sense, have meaning, and carry on into eternity. Use the questions below to help think through how His Story connects with your own. What threats does the gospel face today? Answers may include things the health, wealth, and prosperity gospel, or worldviews like consumerism, individualism, or nationalism. What are the dangers of either only proclaiming the gospel and not living it, or living it and not proclaiming it? If you only proclaim it without living it, then those who hear you will not be convinced by what you are saying. If you live it without proclaiming it, then no one will know the cause for your change in lifestyle. What are some ways we can protect ourselves from false teachings today? We can protect ourselves by studying our Bibles, reading additional books by people who can be trusted, taking an apologetics class at church, and so on. What are some ways churches should handle the wrong beliefs of church members today? Churches should handle wrong beliefs with mercy and grace, while not compromising on the truth of what is at stake. HIS STORY God s Story of Redemption, through His Son, Jesus Christ. YOUR STORY Where your story meets His. The Gospel Project for Students 83
YOUR MISSION 10-15 MINUTES HEAD When Jude described these false teachers, he mentioned that they turned the grace of God into an opportunity to behave in sexually immoral ways (v. 4). They intentionally lived in shameful ways and then defended their actions by claiming to be under God s grace. Of course, God s grace covers all sin, but it doesn t give us license to sin (Rom. 6:15-16). This just goes to show that people, even today, are willing to manipulate biblical teaching to feel better about living immorally. What is the connection between sinful actions and bad doctrine? Does one lead to the other? Explain. Sin has the profound ability to make us make poor decisions. When we engage in things we should be running away from, it is no wonder that we will eventually try to think of ways to justify our sinful behavior with some twisted use of Scripture. Can a person have right doctrine but still make sinful decisions? Why isn t just having right doctrine enough? Even the demons have right doctrine, such as them knowing that Jesus is Lord, but that obviously isn t enough. We can know the right things, but fail in allowing the truth of what we know to resonate deep within us to the point that it influences the way we live. God doesn t just pursue an informational change within us, but a complete transformation of all we are. HEART This session challenges our hearts and the way we should feel toward certain things. For instance, we should feel a certain way toward false teaching and those who try to divide the church. We should feel a certain way toward once professing believers who have abandoned the faith for something other than the gospel. And we should feel a certain way toward those who waver or doubt, extending mercy in particular. Whether these feelings be protective/defensive or that of love and mercy, it is important that the gospel not only influences the way we act but also the way we feel. How do you react emotionally when you see someone you care about fall into a pattern of sin? Answers will vary. Why is it important for us to feel passionate about defending what we believe? What does it communicate to others if we are only indifferent about it? Answers will vary. HANDS The gospel takes people who are opposites in many ways and joins them together as members of the same family. But remove the gospel, or compromise its purity, and this unity collapses. Unity of such a diverse people cannot be supported by anything apart from the gospel. And when the church s unity breaks, its witness to the world erodes. How does the unity of your church or youth group appear to those outside your church? Answers will vary. What are some things you can do better to increase unity around the gospel? Answers will vary. 84 Leader Guide / Session 8
ADDITIONAL INFO LEADER PACK For this session, refer students to pack item #8, which contains an informational chart on different forms of doubt and how to address them. SOURCES 1. F ederal Aviation Administration (FAA), Air Traffic by The Numbers, FAA.gov, accessed November 29, 2017, https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/by_the_numbers/. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Check out the following additional resources: Leader Training Videos One Conversations Midweek Studies (to access your Midweek Study, go to lifeway.com/tgpsum18rev) Circular Timeline Poster App (for both leader and student) Additional suggestions for specific groups are available at GospelProject.com/AdditionalResources And for free online training on how to lead a group visit MinistryGrid.com/web/TheGospelProject The Gospel Project for Students 85