Sermon Recap — January 7, 2024 | Grace Community Church

Keeping While Being Kept

Jeremy Bell
Jude 1:17-21
January 7, 2024
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Main Point: We keep ourselves in the love of God by building up our faith and praying in the Spirit as we wait on the Lord. And we find that, as we practice these means of grace, it is God that is keeping us.

I. Keep Yourself in the Love of God (Verse 21)

1. Build yourselves up in the faith (Verse 20)

“I have never met a mature, fruitful, strong, spiritually discerning Christian who is not full of scripture, devoted to regular meditation on Scripture, and given to storing it in the heart through Bible memorization.” — John Piper

“You cannot be profoundly influenced by that which you don’t know.” — Kent Hughes

2. Pray in the Holy Spirit (Verse 20)

“Satan will always find you something to do when you ought to be occupied about that, if it is only rearranging a window blind.” — Hudson Taylor

“Prayer is to the Christian what breath is to life.” — RC Sproul

3. Wait on the Lord (verse 21)

II. You are being kept by God (verse 1, 24)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” — 1 Peter 1:3-5

Questions for Discussion/Application:

Consider taking time to read Jude 1:17-21 out loud. What observations/insights do you have from reading the text?
Verse 21 says, “keep yourselves in the love of God” ? Take time to review and consider together — how does the gospel reveal the love of God?
What practical steps can we take to faithfully “preach the gospel to ourselves” daily such that we are indeed keeping ourselves in the love of God?
John Piper said, “I have never met a mature, fruitful, strong, spiritually discerning Christian who is not full of scripture, devoted to regular meditation on Scripture, and given to storing it in the heart through Bible memorization.” How does that quote affect you? In 2024 how do you want to grow in storing God’s Word in your heart?
RC Sproul wrote, “Prayer is to the Christian what breath is to life.” Over the years, how have you sought to pursue a vibrant prayer life? How practically do you want to grow in 2024?
In discussing topics regarding spiritual disciplines such as Bible reading and prayer, how can recalling the gospel help us to not be condemned and at the same time strive to pursue continued growth?
Re-read verses 1 and 24. What does it mean that God is keeping us? Consider the lyrics in the song “He Will Hold Me Fast.” What biblical truth is reflected in that song can be a great encouragement to us?
Consider taking time to pray that God by His Holy Spirit would help us, in 2024, to simultaneously rest in the gospel and in God’s grace and pursue growth in the areas of prayer and Bible intake.

Sermon Recap — January 7, 2024

Keeping While Being Kept

I. Keep Yourself in the Love of God (Verse 21)

II. You are being kept by God (verse 1, 24)

Questions for Discussion/Application:

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