Resources & Links
Bible Studies
Archived Articles
Really Cool Links

Quick Links
Hear a Sermon
Read Our Blog
Listen to Music
What We Believe
Events Calendar
Worship Times

Other Resources
IFL Preschool
Cub Scout Pack 51
Girl Scout Troop 4144
Lutheran HS La Verne
Read the Bible Online Daily Devotionals
Site Map

Resources & Links > Bible Studies > Inductive Bible Studies

Inductive Bible Studies

The Book of Jude

notes from an adult Bible study by Pastor Carl Nelson

Pastor Nelson, as guest pastor, gave an inductive, verse-by-verse study of the book of Jude from the New Testament.

In it, he referred to the Apocrypha, a series of books not included in the Holy Bible because the early church fathers concluded they were not divinely inspired. These books were, however, accepted by the Roman Catholic church and are included in the Catholic translation of the Bible.

Verse 1

• Jude identifies himself as the brother of James, the leader of the church in Jerusalem. They are both the half brothers of Jesus (See Mark 6:3). Pastor Nelson taught that James needed no further identification, such as the traditional Simon son of Jonah, because everyone in the early church knew who James was - the brother of our Lord.
• At first, though, Jesus' brothers didn't believe in His divinity.
  

Verses 2-3

• A traditional greeting to Christians at the time.
  

Verse 4

• Man has taken something God says He is against and twists it into something that is good in man's eyes. People change the concept of right and wrong into whatever suits their fancy. The differences between Law and Gospel become relative.

Verses 5-6

• The Israelites who grumbles and rebelled against God suffered the judgment of God, as did the angels who with Lucifer rebelled against God...

Verse 7

• ...and Sodom and Gomorrah. Sin does not go unpunished.
• And yet many Christians don't seem to follow that truth. Nelson said that "they sin on Thursday, confess on Friday and go to church on Sunday." Someone in the class asked him what about Saturday. "They don't remember Saturday," he jokingly answered. :)
• In secular bookstores under spirituality are many books on self-help and meditation that cause us to look inward. But rather, we should look outward, to God, for our help. "The heart is wicked and deceitful above all things." The answer isn't within; the problem is within!

Verse 9

• Refers to "The Assumption of Moses", an extrabiblical book well known in Jude's time that is not part of the canon of Scripture. Michael did not pronounce a blasphemous judgment on Satan; he left that in God's hands. If even the chief of angels didn't make such a judgment, then neither should we.

Verses 10-11

• What we don't know or understand, we make fun of. Children do that all the time... and some adults, too.
  (Webmaster's note: For example, in college I used to make fun of conservative Christians all the time... and then I became one.)
• The error of Balaam was this: he wanted to change the word of God for his own gain.

Verses 12-13

• Using terms Jews living in the desert could understand, Jude says that these men are useless.

Verses 14-15

• The Book of Enoch is not apocryphal. It's not an authoritative source. However, the concept cited - God will punish evildoers - is affirmed throughout the Bible (i.e. Romans).

Verses 16

• The normal ways of sinful man. It also sounds like your average blogger, too. :)

Verses 17-19

• Jesus said there'd be people like these.

Verse 20

• Stay in God's Word and you will learn to discern what is false.
• "Pray in the Holy Spirit" - He is the channel through which our thoughts are transferred to God, and God's thoughts are transferred to us. Without it, we end up praying a lot of "gimme" prayers.

Verse 21

• Our relationship with God is a LOVE relationship. He's not an angry, bitter God. He has our best interests at heart. He tells us not give up, even when we stumble and fall. Our God is merciful, and we too should be merciful to those struggling in their faith.

Verses 22-23

• But yet some just won't get it. Just avoid them and release them to the Lord.

Verse 24

• A doxology - a traditional closing. God gets all the glory.

Back to top of page

©2009 Immanuel First Lutheran Church

Connect With Us

Share This Page