Transformative Christianity: The Study of God’s Word
Psalm 119:9-16 ESV
Sunday, October 9, 2022
Our challenge for this week is to study a book of the Bible. This week as a congregation
we are studying the New Testament book of Jude.
You should read this short (23 verses) letter daily (yes every day). (For ease of use we
have included the entire letter on the back of this sheet.) Then, there are six questions to
reflect upon throughout this week. You should reflect on them in the given order as it’s
important to understand the author before we make any judgements on what they are
saying. You don’t have to go through every question on the first day, but, as you journey
through, note down what you are noticing each day.
1. What is the author saying?
Take what you are reading at face value and note down what the author is actually
saying. Don’t worry about trying to apply it or interpret it.
2. What does the author mean?
Think about the implications of what they author is saying. Why are they saying it and
what does it really mean? Is there a particular principle behind what they’re saying?
3. Is the author right or wrong?
This might seem a funny question to ask when you’re reading the Bible, but think about
whether anything you read seems particularly jarring. What do you struggle to
understand? Are there truths to be found?
4. How does my experience shape my reading?
This is about reflecting on how your life experience shapes your reading of scripture. For
example, if you have experienced great loss you might connect differently with a passage
of lament than if you had never experienced loss.
5. How do other books relate to this?
How does it relate to the Old Testament or other New Testament writings? If you aren’t
sure if there are any links, why not do some research of your own?
6. Who can I discuss this with?
Discussing with others is a key way of getting to grips with studying scripture. Why not
decide to read the same book as a friend and then schedule a call at the end of the week to
discuss what you have found?
Final Challenge: Memorize Jude, verses 24-25. Which states, 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.
The Letter of JUDE
Greeting
1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the
Father and kept for Jesus Christ: 2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
Judgment on False Teachers
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.
5 Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the
land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not stay within
their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy
darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities,
which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by
undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. 8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams,
defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. 9 But when the archangel Michael,
contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a
blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” 10 But these people blaspheme all that they do
not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand
instinctively. 11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake
of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion. 12 These are hidden reefs [e] at your love feasts,
as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by
winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam
of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.
14 It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord
comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of
all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh
things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following
their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.
A Call to Persevere
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. 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.
Doxology
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.
Psalm 119:9-16 ESV
Sunday, October 9, 2022
Our challenge for this week is to study a book of the Bible. This week as a congregation
we are studying the New Testament book of Jude.
You should read this short (23 verses) letter daily (yes every day). (For ease of use we
have included the entire letter on the back of this sheet.) Then, there are six questions to
reflect upon throughout this week. You should reflect on them in the given order as it’s
important to understand the author before we make any judgements on what they are
saying. You don’t have to go through every question on the first day, but, as you journey
through, note down what you are noticing each day.
1. What is the author saying?
Take what you are reading at face value and note down what the author is actually
saying. Don’t worry about trying to apply it or interpret it.
2. What does the author mean?
Think about the implications of what they author is saying. Why are they saying it and
what does it really mean? Is there a particular principle behind what they’re saying?
3. Is the author right or wrong?
This might seem a funny question to ask when you’re reading the Bible, but think about
whether anything you read seems particularly jarring. What do you struggle to
understand? Are there truths to be found?
4. How does my experience shape my reading?
This is about reflecting on how your life experience shapes your reading of scripture. For
example, if you have experienced great loss you might connect differently with a passage
of lament than if you had never experienced loss.
5. How do other books relate to this?
How does it relate to the Old Testament or other New Testament writings? If you aren’t
sure if there are any links, why not do some research of your own?
6. Who can I discuss this with?
Discussing with others is a key way of getting to grips with studying scripture. Why not
decide to read the same book as a friend and then schedule a call at the end of the week to
discuss what you have found?
Final Challenge: Memorize Jude, verses 24-25. Which states, 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.
The Letter of JUDE
Greeting
1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the
Father and kept for Jesus Christ: 2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
Judgment on False Teachers
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.
5 Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the
land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not stay within
their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy
darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities,
which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by
undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. 8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams,
defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. 9 But when the archangel Michael,
contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a
blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” 10 But these people blaspheme all that they do
not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand
instinctively. 11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake
of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion. 12 These are hidden reefs [e] at your love feasts,
as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by
winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam
of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.
14 It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord
comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of
all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh
things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following
their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.
A Call to Persevere
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. 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.
Doxology
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.