Sunday 14 February 2021 - Jude
Jude - Keep to the Truth
Worship:
Get ready for the day by putting your ‘God suit on’ (Cheeky Pandas):
Word:
As a church, we are looking at some of the big messages found in the little books of the Bible. Jude is a very little book found right near the end of the Bible (it is actually the next to last book). Jude is a letter, written to new churches to warn them to be careful of people who would teach and talk about untruths, things that were not of God!
Read together the opening greetings of Jude in chapter 1 verses 1-2. What does this greeting tell us about God? It reminds us that God loves us all and wants to keep us safe/protect us. That God is a God of mercy, peace and love!
Jude goes on to remind us that keeping us safe means helping us to know, to remember and to follow the Truth - God’s ways! I wonder how we discover the Truth? Talk about this with your family. Read the amazing promise of Proverbs 30: 5 and talk about how this makes you feel.
With older children, you might want to explore some of the old Testament characters and stories that Jude refers to (Jude 1: 5-16) and see how important it is to know the Old Testament too because the New Testament can only be fully understood in light of the Old.
Jude’s warnings to be careful of people who would teach and talk about untruths, things that were not of God is just as relevant to us today too. Sometimes it can be hard to stand up for what is right. Doing the right thing is not always easy. Have there been times when you have been in a situation where you were being encouraged to do something that you knew was wrong? Standing up for what is right and doing the opposite to everyone else can take real bravery. Knowing that God forgives us when we get things wrong (sin) does not mean that we can do the things wrong anyway, does it!
How can God help us to know and to tell the truth? We can remember that God is always with us and will help us. God wants us to learn of His ways by reading the Bible and finding out about how to live for Truth.
Read Jude 1: 20-21. What help is shown to be available to us here in these two verses? What can help us keep faith in Jesus? Spending time with other believers (being part of a church family), praying, loving others, trusting God, realising that Holy Spirit is with us to help us - these things can all help keep us safe and help us to know and to live according to God’s truth.
So although Jude is only a little book in the Bible, it carries a big and important message - Keep to God’s Truth!
Activity Suggestions:
Play a game of ‘True or False’ asking quiz questions about the Bible. Here are a few to get you started:
True or False: God told Moses to build an ark
False: It was Noah
True or False: David wrote the entire book of Psalms.
False: The Psalms are a collection by many writers (but David did write lots of them).
True or False: Jesus stayed away from people with bad reputations?
False – He often ate with “sinners”.
True or False: Jesus asked the children to stay back while he was teaching important things to grown-ups.
False – Jesus welcomed children
True or False: Jesus said the Old Testament rules don’t matter anymore.
False (See Matt 5:17)
Make a ‘belt of truth’
Cut out a number of tie shapes (use the template if you wish) and write a different verse about God’s Truth on each. Then staple to another longer piece of card or ribbon which can be fastened around the waist as a belt. (Possible verses include: John 8: 32, John 14: 6, John 17: 17, Proverbs 30: 5, 1 Corinthians 13: 13, 2 Timothy 1: 7 etc)
Reflection:
Read Ephesians 6: 10-17 together and then pray on the armour of God. Below is a possible prayer you can use or you can simply use each aspect from Ephesians; the belt of truth, breastplate of right living, feet ready with God’s good news and peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of eternal life and the sword of the spirit. Why not make it an active prayer and actually put on each piece of armour as you pray? Print out the pray and use it daily.
Father God,
We ask that you will help us every day.
That you will protect us so that we can stand strong for you.
That we will have the belt of truth around our waist.
That we will be protected by knowing your ways.
We pray our feet might be ready to help us share your Good News and truths.
That we will have your shield to keep us safe from those who try to turn us away from You, to tell us lies.
Lord help us to wear your helmet, knowing that only you can keep us safe forever
and Lord that we will read your Bible and get to know it so that your teaching will be like a sword to help us to always follow your ways and to believe your Truth.
We ask these things in Jesus’ name,
Amen
