On Sunday, July 27, 2025 at Wildwood Community Church, the sermon was based on the book of Jude.  This message was part 3 in the “Postcards” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion.  You will also find audio and video from the message to listen to/watch, download, or share.

Sermon Questions:

1. Pray
2. Read Jude
3. What are some examples of teaching or philosophies encouraging people to “do whatever feels right to them?”  Have you ever heard these philosophies in the world?  In a church?
4. Throughout Jude 4-16 we see a consistent case made that demonstrates God as a judge.  He has judged the rebellious in the past, and the implication is that He will judge the rebellious today as well.  Do you have a hard time imagining God in this way?  Why or why not?  Why do you think God imposes such a strict standard on those who teach inside the church?
5. In the message we talked about reading the Bible, revering the God of the Bible and realigning with the Bible.  From this section of the message did you have any particular plans or applications that you want to implement in your life?
6. Are there any in your life that God would have you reach out to compassionately to call to embrace the truth of the Scripture and not continue to live in willful rebellion?
7. In the doxology of Jude 24-25, we see a picture of Jesus fighting for us – upholding us from falling and presenting us in glory.  How does this picture of Jesus encourage you as you “fight for the faith” today?
8. Have you trusted in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins?  Is He your rescuer from sin and judgment?  If not, would you trust Him now?
9. What stands out to you most from this message?  Any particular takeaway?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here.

 

To listen to the sermon offline click link below:

Postcards #3 7.27.25

 

To listen to the sermon online use Media Player below:

 

To watch the livestream, use YouTube online:

 

Alongside many country roads lie two ditches.  Safely navigating these roads allowing you to arrive at your destination requires that you keep your vehicle between these two extremes.  Veer too far to the right, and you careen off the road and into the culvert.  Swerve too far left, and you crash either into oncoming traffic, or wreck into the ravine.  Only  by keeping your car on the road will you be able to avoid these two parallel disasters.

All of us who have done any rural driving can visualize this situation.  Visualizing it can not only keep your car on the straight and narrow, but it also is a helpful spiritual analogy.  What do I mean?

Alongside the Christian life lie two ditches.  Safely navigating this life requires that we keep our lives between these two extremes.

On the right side of the Christian highway are the legalists.  In this ditch lie the chariots of Pharisees of old alongside the self-righteous rides of today.  They argue that in order to please God, we must adhere to THEIR SET OF RULES (though they may argue they are God’s rules, they are more likely their interpretation of God’s Law.)  Do all the right things their way and be right. Do the wrong things and be shamed.  In the end, for the legalist, the Christian life is all about YOU and your performance.

On the left side of the Christian highway are the libertine lawless.  In this ditch lie the gnostic mystic mules of the first century alongside the “do whatever makes you happy” hatchbacks of today.  They argue that God is love and loves us doing whatever feels right to each individual, redefining sin as choice and error as opinion.  Do whatever you want, they argue, as we can never really know right from wrong anyway.  In the end, the Christian life is all about YOU and your pleasure.

Between these two ditches, lies Biblical Christianity.  We cannot drive to God through the right ditch of legalism because of our inability to transform our lives by looking at a list.  Our hope is found not in our list-keeping but in our Christ-looking.  He alone lived the perfect life and He gives His righteousness to all who trust in Him.

We also cannot drive to God through the left ditch of liberty.  We have an amazing ability to rationalize our sin, but that does not make it “not sin.”  Like a chef putting marinara on top of dog food, it may taste ok in a moment, but rationalizing sin is consuming a meal devoid of the spiritual nourishment we need.  Jesus came that we might have an abundant life, and that life is found in HIM – following His example in holiness, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

The Christian life follows Christ and avoids the ditches of both legalism and lawlessness.  Instead, we are called to drive down the Gospel road in both justification (being declared holy and saved) and sanctification (being progressively made holy in practice).

In our short 3 week series “Postcards” at Wildwood Community Church, we have been walking through the 4 shortest books in the New Testament.  This week in part 3, we will look at the letter of Jude.  This short one chapter book was written by Jesus’ half-brother (one of Mary’s other kids) and talks about fighting for the faith  and avoiding the ditch of lawlessness.  In our “anything goes” moral society, this is a message we need to hear to keep driving down the Gospel road.

Hope to see you this Sunday, July 27, in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 service as we dive into the 25 verses of Jude together.  Hope to see you Sunday … and bring friends!