God's people are called to be different; to be holy. When our actions are no different than unbelievers around us, there is a problem. Nehemiah confronted the corruption within the people of God with God's divine standard. A good encouragement to us as well - let's bring God's Word to bear on our own lives.

As God's people carried out the work of rebuilding the wall, each person had a part to play. One person could not have done what needed to be done. But at the same time, each person was dependent on everyone else as they worked together. In the church, we are a community. Each person has a part to play, and we are each dependent on the one another to help in the work!

"Nehemiah had a radical desire to impact his generation for the glory of God because God put it in his heart to do so. What has God put in your heart to do?"

God had a plan for His people. He always does. But in the days of Nehemiah, it looked like the plan was shattered! However, in God's plan, He chose to use ordinary individuals to accomplish his purposes. And He does exactly the same with us today.

Christians are supposed to be free from emotional turmoil, right? Our faith should create immunity from hurts of the heart, shouldn't it? Or at least that's what we've been told for so long. "You should't feel like that. Just trust in God. Let go and let God." Fortunately, we have some examples in the lives of some of God's chosen instruments who felt the depths of despair. Perhaps we can learn from them some things to do when despair knocks the life out of us.

As we finish our series on Jude this morning we come to a pressing question that must be answered..."So what?" So what will you do with what you have learned and what is our collective and individual responsibility? Jude helps us with a key word to grab on to and some action points to give us clarity.

As Pastor Josh reminded us last week, there are times we must "contend for the faith"! We often think of contending for the faith against attacks from the world. However, there are times when we must contend for the faith inside the church. Today Jude reminds us of the consequences and judgments which come to those who pervert the Gospel and teach false doctrine.

Many of us are familiar with the phrase "contending for the faith" and often think of it in relationship to apologetics. Christians are certainly aware of the world's hostility to the Gospel, but Jude pens this famous phrase to address a different foe. As we begin our look at this oft neglected and sometimes strange book we'll find that our assumptions about "contending for the faith" may need to be challenged...