GROW
(JUDE 20)
To present
this sermon use two stacks of books and have additional books available to
increase one of the piles.
Jude
told the recipients of this book, “build yourselves up
in the most holy faith.”
1) The word translated build is a fascinating word.
2) According to Thayer’s lexicon this word means,
A) “Resting
on your most holy faith as a foundation, make progress, rise like an edifice
higher and higher” (p. 246).
B) Thayer understood the word “build” to mean that a foundation had been laid.
C) Some “building” had already been done in the lives of these Christians.
D) This foundation, of course, is the time when someone becomes a Christian.
E) When a person who is guilty of sin leaves that state, they have a new life.
F) When a person becomes a child of God they have a brand new beginning.
G) An entirely new way of life is begun.
H) This new start is represented by this pile of books.
I) This pile of books represents the state of Jude’s readers and all who are Christians.
J) Jude says to the people who have laid the right foundation (become a Christian),
K) Build. This building is, according to the text, to be “up.”
L) What does the word “build” mean?
M) Thayer, as previously noted, says that the term means to “make progress.”
N) This is not too specific; what kind of progress is meant?
O) Thayer added, “rise like an edifice, higher and higher.”
P) At some time or another most of us have played with building blocks.
Q) Most surely remember stacking blocks on top of each other to build a structure.
R) Jude applies this childhood imagery to Christianity.
S) As children stack blocks on top of each so we are to grow as Christians
T) We are to grow in our knowledge of God’s word (START ADDING BOOKS).
U) We are to grow in our number of good works (ADD BOOKS).
V) Christians are to grow in their abilities and zeal to share the gospel.
W) We are to grow in using our individual abilities to serve God.
X) We are to grow in our faithfulness and dedication to the cause of Christ.
Y) We are to grow closer to God and further from Satan.
3) The participle translated “build” (go higher and higher) is in the present tense.
4) This suggests that as long as we are alive we are obligated to be builders.
5) We build up ourselves in the faith that is called Christianity.
A) This means that we take responsibility for our spiritual condition.
B) We look for the areas where we are weak.
C) We search ourselves for the areas that need improvement.
D) As the years pass our building makes us better and stronger Christians
E) In the world many excuse their flaws and faults.
F) Bad behavior is justified by, “That is the way that I was taught.”
G) “This is how I am. It’s a bad habit.”
H) Instead of excusing faults and flaws (which is an approach taken by the world),
I) We “build ourselves up”. Christians work to find and fix their flaws and faults.
J) With the passage of time God’s people become better and better.
K) We become more and more like Christ.
L) By building ourselves up we reflect the images of salt and light.
M) The words of Gal. 2:20 are the result of “building ourselves up”. Paul said,
N) “I am crucified with Christ.”
O) “Christ liveth in me.”
P) The life I live is by faith in the Son of God.
6) The apostle Paul understood a little something about the word translated build.
A) One of the places where Paul presented information on this subject is 1 Cor. 3.
B) In
this chapter (
C) The word in the Greek text is very similar to our word “architect.”
D) This word meant, “The superintendent in the erection of buildings” (Thayer, p. 78).
E) Paul sometimes acted like a contractor when new congregations were established.
F) The entire 10th verse in 1 Cor. 3 says, read.
G) The word translated “build” in 1 Cor. 3 is identical to the term in Jude 3.
H) Comparing these two passages brings out a second point.
I) Not only are Christians to build up themselves (Jude 3), they have a duty to the church.
J) The
church at
K) This building was not being done with hammers and saws.
L) There is another type of building that is done in the spiritual realm.
M) Each congregation of the Lord’s church needs to be involved with spiritual construction.
N) As a physical structure gains in height so should Christ’s church be growing.
O) How should a congregation grow? What kind of increase should we seek?
P) Some might be quick to say, “The increase should be in number.” This is true.
Q) God’s will is for His church to increase in size.
R) One of the ways that we engage in building is to broaden the borders of the kingdom.
S) We have a responsibility to teach others or to take a teacher to others.
T) Part of our building is evangelism but this is only one part of the building process.
U) A congregation must also increase in its abilities.
V) If a congregation can pay its bills it isn’t done. That isn’t the ultimate goal.
W) The word build means that there should be new goals.
a) If a congregation can pay its bills it is time to build beyond that.
X) What mission works can be supported?
Y) If a congregation does some mission work it needs to reach even higher.
Z) A congregation can sponsor a missionary by itself.
AA) Some congregations have done this and then expanded even more.
BB) Sole support & responsibility has been taken for 2, 4, or even 5 full time missionaries.
7) Christians
are to build up both themselves and the place where they worship.
8) ALTHOUGH
THIS IS GOD’S WILL, NOT EVERYONE IS A BUILDER.
A) In some congregations there are members who tear down and destroy.
B) There are Christians who are like a giant wrecking ball.
C) Some, little by little, destroy a congregation of God’s people.
D) A bad spirit prevails and rumors are started (TAKE BOOKS AWAY).
E) Some are angry (MORE BOOKS).
a) Hard feelings form and fester (MORE BOOKS).
F) Strife and faction become commonplace (MORE BOOKS).
G) Works of the flesh like jealousy and envy are visible (MORE BOOKS).
H) Finally discouragement and apathy result in a dead church.
9) If
a congregation is not destroyed an individual Christian may be lost.
To my right is a second stack of books.
A) This stack represents a person who has become a Christian.
B) As we learned from Jude 3 this person has a foundation.
C) They have received many good things that can be built upon.
D) Unfortunately too many try to stay with the foundation.
E) Instead of building themselves up some conclude, “I will stay with what I have.”
F) I am content with what I have done and I will go on with life.”
G) If this were a choice from God we could select this option.
H) However, God gives Christians only choice consistent with His will: build.
I) Some do not fulfill this command and problems follow.
a) Little by little the good foundation is destroyed.
b) Perhaps a Christian is converted and a month passes.
c) During this 30-day period no building is done (REMOVE BOOKS).
d) Another month passes; still no building (REMOVE BOOKS).
e) 6 months pass (REMOVE BOOKS).
f) Now a year (REMOVE BOOKS).
g) What’s left? It will not be long and a Christian has returned to the world.
J) When anyone who is a Christian becomes a builder, a promise is given.
K) This promise is found in Jude 20.
L) Jude speaks of the “most holy faith.”
M) If a salesman tells us that an object is “the most expensive”, what does he mean?
N) If he is telling the truth he is saying that all other objects cost less money.
O) Jude speaks of a faith which is the “most holy.”
P) Does anyone in this room want to please God?
Q) As Christians do we want to be the best we can be?
R) Do we want to be the kind of person God looks upon and says, “I cherish that person.”
S) If we want to have the most holy faith (be a superb Christina in the eyes of
God—not man),
T) We build ourselves up.
U) In our own lives and where we worship we become like a child with building blocks.
V) We better and better our individual lives.
W) We consistently and patiently work in and with a local congregation.
X) Those who do this can know in their hears that they have a “most holy” life & faith.
Y) The books stacked on this table represent the people in this room.
Z) Are we like that have been stacked & unstacked represent the people in this room.
AA) Are we like the stack which once existed but has been slowly destroyed?
BB) We become a Christian but the building in our Christian life has stopped?
CC) Are we a Christian who is continuing to add more and more to our life & to this cong?
DD) Are we a destroyer of the church built by Christ?
EE) Or, are we someone who needs to lay the right foundation?
FF) If we can help you become a Christian by the plan God has given…
GG) Or we can help you build upon the foundation which you have already laid, come.