By Levi Warren
Begin with prayer
Gather together as a Community in a comfortable setting. Take a moment in silence, in the presence of Jesus and each other. Have one person read Jude 1v1-2 over the group and then pray to ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your time together.
Debrief the most recent teaching and discuss the following prompts
- What did you take away from the most recent teaching, and what has God been doing in your life this past week because of it?
- Remaining in God’s love is a big part of how we can contend for the faith. What are some things that help you to abide in the love of God?
- In life, we are often bombarded with false teachings, and it can be a challenge to follow the truth of God rather than a lie. What helps you to distinguish between a false teaching and the way of Jesus? When you know the difference, what helps you consistently choose to follow Jesus rather than the way of the world?
Talk over this coming week’s Practice
This next week, you will again set aside time to read through the entire book of Jude once each day. Each time you read this short letter, try to find something new that stands out to you. Then, ask Jesus to speak to you as you spend a few moments meditating on that part of the letter. Discuss as a group what time of day you will each be ready so that you can keep each other accountable.
Optional Practice for Parents:
This summer, as our church makes its way through the Scriptures in teachings and Practices, parents are invited to engage their children with the Scriptures by reading with them. Feel free to use age-appropriate Bibles or Bible stories for your kids. If you already have a rhythm, consider how you can add something to it – if your rhythm is to read with your child(ren) in the evenings, consider one morning in the week you could read a Bible story with them. If you don’t currently have a routine, think about one time a week you could read the Scriptures with them.
Close in prayer
End your time together by having someone pray these closing verses of Jude over your Community:
To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Jude 24-25