The McLaughlin Bible Class

11/20/16 - Ron Boyd

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"ON GUARD"

ON GUARD

God's Word is the only standard of truth in our world

I. 2 Peter 2:1-3 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

The Judgment of False Teachers

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves. ² Many will follow their unrestrained ways, and the way of truth will be blasphemed because of them. ³ They willexploit you in their greed with deceptive words. Their condemnation, pronounced long ago, is not idle, and their destruction does not sleep.

Open: In what ways do people today abuse their freedom?

Let’s Explore:
1. What did Peter warn his readers that false prophets would attempt to do? (2:1)
2. What did Peter say would happen when people followed false prophets? (2:2)

Let’s Consider:
1. What effect does living and working among sinful people have upon you?
2. How do you deal with the influence of immoral or rebellious people around you?

II. Jude 16-25 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
¹⁶ These people are discontented grumblers, walking according to their desires; their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering people for their own advantage.
¹⁷ But you, dear friends, remember what was predicted by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; ¹⁸ they told you, “In the end time there will be scoffers walking according to their own ungodly desires.” ¹⁹ These people create divisions and are unbelievers,[a] not having the Spirit.

Exhortation and Benediction

²⁰ But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. ²² Have mercy on those who doubt; ²³ save others by snatching them from the fire; have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
²⁴ Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless and with great joy, ²⁵ to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord,[b] be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time,[c] now and forever. Amen.*****

Let’s Explore:
1. What did Jude urge his readers to do? v. 17
2. What will it be like in the last times? v. 18
3. What are "scoffers" like? v. 18-19
4. How do those without the spirit behave? v. 19
5. How can Christians stand against scoffers? v. 20-23
6. How did Jude advise Christians to pray? v. 20
7. What were Jude's readers waiting for? v. 21
8. How is Jesus' return described? v. 21
9. How should we treat believers who doubt? v. 22-23
10. Who is able to keep believers from falling? v. 24-25

Application – Let’s Consider:
1. How should your life be different from the lives of the non-Christians around you?
2. How can we show mercy to believers who doubt?
3. How is it possible to build yourself up in the faith?
4. What difference does it make that Jesus is able to keep you from falling?