Pastor's Bible Study

We have a tendency to go our own way and do our own thing in disobedience to God. And amazingly, it's possible to be at peace with ourselves while in disobedience to God. However, it is a false peace that is produced by our lack of concern for God's will and way. This is what happened to Jonah. He ran away from God in disobedience and yet found himself sleeping peacefully on ship in the midst of a storm. He had a false peace and calmness produced by his lack of concern for God's will and lack of compassion for those who needed to hear God's Word.

How often do we resemble Jonah? How often do have a false sense of peace and calmness because of our own lack of concern God's will and compassion for those who need to hear the gospel?

We're all familiar with Jonah's story, but do we understand that we resemble Jonah more than we may want to. God called him to preach to a people that was different than him. He didn't want to. Instead of going the way God directed him, he went his own way. How often are we exactly that same? We resemble Jonah in many ways when it comes to sharing the gospel with those to whom God has called us to share the gospel.

How can we stand against apostates? How can we protect our church? Or, how can a church right their ship?

Jude gives us four exhortations: 1) Remember God's Word, 2) Build Up Your Christian Life, 3) Exercise Spiritual Discernment, and 4) Commit To Jesus.

The characteristics of an apostate that Jude shares shows us why apostates are so dangerous to churches and believers, especially the immature, uncommitted, apathetic, and young in Christ. Apostates are like "hidden rocks" (reefs) that sink ships. They can do great damage to a church.

Jude's little letter is a call to arms. As you read Jude, you will readily sense the military tone of the book. Jude, in essence, says that when it comes to "the faith" (that system of doctrine that was handed down from Jesus to the Apostles to the early churches) we must do everything we can to fight for it, i.e. to keep it pure, untwisted, etc. Jude says that false doctrine and false teachings will creep into the church unawares. Jude's message is like that of Paul who warned the Ephesian elders to beware of the wolves in sheep's clothing. The wolves will not spare the flock. If we don't fight for the faith, contend for the faith, there could be generations lost. Jude says this is war, therefore, we must earnestly contend for the faith.

If we're going to be a disciple (follower) of Jesus, we must daily deny ourselves and take up our cross (i.e. being hated by the world, being surrendered to God, and being "spent", i.e. a living sacrifice). Following is not a haphazard, sporadic, every now and then choice. It is a regular, consistent, frequent, daily choice. It is a choice a disciple makes faithfully. It is a discipline.

What we see in the Great Commission is the mandate to make disciples (i.e. see people saved, baptized, and brought into the church where they can be taught to observe all things - beliefs, practices, ministries, etc.). If we have a mandate to teach, then the flip side must also be true. We have a mandate to learn. A disciple is a learner. And to learn we must have some discipline. 

In Lk 2:46-47 Jesus was learning. He was doing it the old fashioned way, i.e. asking questions, reading the law, discussing, etc. If Jesus was determined to learn, then let's follow His example. Jesus didn't sit in a school of religious law, but He certainly leaned the Word of God. (John 7:15)

The one thing most of us lack when it comes to sharing the gospel is boldness. The early church and church leaders shared with boldness. It is what they were known for. How do we get boldness? Spend time with Jesus and pray for it. Take a listen to this lesson where we are encouraged to share Jesus boldly.

The disciplines of silence and solitude go hand in hand together, and when practiced help us to actually be more effective in other disciplines like prayer, bible intake, fasting, worship, etc.

When it comes to time we wish for more, but there isn’t more. It just comes down to how we use what we’ve been given, hence the exhortation from Paul to make the most of our time.

This lesson is going to focus on time in the context of spiritual disciplines. Time is required in order to participate in any spiritual discipline. Because this is true, we must make the most of the time afforded to us.