You're listening to Mountain View Church Audio. Christ-centered teaching from the Wilderness City, Whitehorse, Yukon. Here's this week's message. Hey, everybody. Skit Guys here. My name's Tommy. My name's Eddie. How's it going, everybody?
Hey, yeah, Miss Eddie, we just wanted to tell you it's back to school. Back to school time, everybody. Back to school time. Is everybody ready? Back to school. Yep, yep. I got my new backpack for back to school. And you've got an old... What I got is a hipster panty pack right here. This is what all the cool kids are going to be doing. Taking their stuff on their hip to school. Buddy, that's a lunchbox. No, it's not. I got my pencils in here. My lunch money's right here. I haven't got a place for my hipster spoon. Nope, that's a spoon because that's a lunchbox. Oh, nay, nay, nay. Oh, someone calling me? Hello? Bam, it's gone. Boom.
Shutting my fanny pack hipster lunch pail. So, welcome back to school. Welcome back to school, folks. It's going to be awesome. Completely awesome. Yeah. Hey, if you have one of those, don't wear that. Wear it! You're going to get beat up. Cool kids. Not cool. All day long. Not cool at all. Hashtag all day long. He's going to get beat up. Hashtag all day long.
The Lord bless you and keep you. Make his face shine upon you. Be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face towards you. Be gracious to you. Face towards your family and your children. And their children and their children. And their children make his presence.
Welcome to Mountain View Church. My name is Elizabeth. We're so glad you could join us today, and we'd love to get connected with you. Simply go to mountainview.church and click the connect button, or text connect to the number on your screen.
If you're watching this in-house, you can also fill out a Connect card and hand it at the welcome desk. And now, here's our Kids Minute. Hi, everyone. Aaron here. Today, we're celebrating our back-to-school Sunday. And this Sunday, we'll be at the Arts Center, and we're providing childcare for kids five years old and under. And to make this day even more special, we've prepared age-appropriate lessons, games, and snacks for our little ones, and pizza boxes with activities for our campers. And if you're attending online, remember that all the lessons and activities are available on our website at mountainview.church slash base camp.
As for scramblers, in today's lesson, we will be learning that God led his people in the desert and had a place to meet with them. This place was called the Tent of Meeting. And in that place, Moses talked with God to receive his instructions. So if you want to know more about what happened in this Tent of Meeting, check out the lesson on our website. Thanks for listening, and I hope you have a great school year.
The letter of Jude, or more accurately, Judah, according to the pronunciation of his name, both in Greek and in Hebrew. The behavior of these corrupt teachers has ancient roots. Rebellion against God's authority, sexual immorality, rejecting God's messengers. And this connects to the second trio of examples. They're all about rebels who went on to corrupt other people. So Cain, he murdered his brother, but then he went on to build a city where violence reigned. Balaam, the sorcerer, he couldn't curse Israel, and so he lured them into idolatry and sexual corruption. And then Korah, the Levite, he led a rebellion against Moses that ended in disaster for others.
Judah concludes the second trio with a barrage of Old Testament images to describe the teachers. They're like the selfish shepherds of Ezekiel, or like the clouds with no rain from Proverbs, or like the chaotic waves from Isaiah. Their self-absorption betrays their claim to follow Jesus. They create chaos wherever they go. Imagine a visit to a farm. As you arrive, you notice something very troubling. It looks abandoned. The yard lacks greenery and looks all dried out. You look at the fields, and they're barren, dry, and hardened by the sun. Your curiosity leads you to explore a bit further, and you discover there's no grain in the silos of the storehouses.
So you decide to check the old barn. As your eyes adjust to the dimly lit space, you see that it's empty. There's no hay stored up, no provisions whatsoever. But then, a heart-wrenching sight. In the corner, huddled together is a few emaciated, sickly animals. It's clear that they haven't been cared for in a long time. Their bodies display the scars of neglect. You assume that this farm has been abandoned for some time, but somehow they left these suffering creatures behind. You walk back outside and turn your attention to the farmhouse. You assume it's abandoned as well, but you knock just in case.
To your astonishment, you're greeted by a sight that leaves you speechless. There stands the farmer, a massive, wide man, easily over 300 pounds or maybe closer to 400 pounds. He's holding a turkey leg, gnawing on it with gluttonous delight as he welcomes you with a greasy grin. But what truly shocks you is the sight of a seemingly Thanksgiving feast spread out on the dining table behind him. The rest of the turkey's there with all the trimmings, accompanying with savory baked goods and a bounty of food to feast on.
It's in that moment that it dawns on you. This farmer has been consuming every resource on himself while allowing his animals to starve to death. It's a fictitious story, but it's worth asking, what kind of farmer feeds himself and not the creatures in his care? This is where we're going today. But throughout this month, we're studying an ancient letter written in the first century by a man named Jude, who is calling us to reclaim truth. Jude was the younger brother of Jesus Christ. Once a skeptic of Christ's deity, he would later become a great church leader. He was known for his unwavering courage to face deceit and falsehood.
As we learned in our introductory message last week, he confronted false teachers who infiltrated the church. They were promoting sensual and deviant behavior while denying that Jesus was the Son of God. If you missed last week's message, I suggest pausing this week, jumping back and watching the first one, and then come back to this one. But today, we're going to focus on three verses. That's right, only three verses. Jude chapter 1, the only chapter, verses 11, 12, and 13. Really focusing in on verse 12. Believe me, there's plenty to unpack. Jude uses vivid metaphors to convey a crucial message about false teachers and those who would lead the church astray.
If you have a print Bible like I do, turn to the book of Jude, which is at the end of your Bible. It's a single-page letter that appears just before the revelation of John. Now, if you don't have access to a print Bible, you can visit Bible.com or download a Bible app. If you'd like a print copy, text BIBLE to the number on the screen right now, and we will mail you one. But if you're in-house, you can take one of the Bibles located under the seat in front of you. Let's read Jude 1, verses 11 through 13. Here we go. Woe to them!
For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion. These are hidden reefs at your love feasts as they feast with you without fear. Shepherds feeding themselves, waterless clouds swept along by winds, fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted, wild waves of the sea casting up the foam of their own shame, wandering stars for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever. Our main point today is simple yet significant. We need to avoid self-feeding shepherds or risk being led astray. I'm going to say that again. We must avoid shepherds that feed themselves or we risk being led astray, eventually starving for the nourishment of God's eternal truth. Shepherds who are solely concerned with feeding themselves, like the farmer from our introduction, they create unhealthy, spiritually emaciated flocks. The imagery that Jude paints for us is more than a word picture. It's also a stark warning against those who prioritize their own interests over the well-being of God's people.
In verse 12, if we look a little deeper, Jude refers to these corrupt leaders and teachers as shepherds feeding themselves. These are false teachers who prioritize their own interests and desires, neglecting the crucial responsibility of nourishing the church with God's word. Remember, from last week, these church leaders are promoting sexual deviance while denying Jesus Christ as Lord and Master. They may look like shepherds and teachers, but they care more for their own physical and emotional appetites than the spiritual and intellectual needs of their flock. Jude is calling them out for indulging in their own desires while the church faces spiritual malnourishment. Let's dive a bit deeper into verse 12. You'll see, although Jude starts with a shepherd metaphor, there are two follow-up metaphors. Jude uses these to drive his point home. Next, he calls these false teachers waterless clouds.
You see, clouds are expected to bring refreshing rain. We know that. Same then as it is now. So too, these teachers were expected to bring spiritual refreshing. But instead, their words were empty, completely devoid of the living water that is the truth of the gospel. They look good, and the teaching appears promising, but it lacks substance. It offers nothing that would quench the thirsty soul that is seeking God's guidance. Then Jude uses another metaphor, fruitless trees.
Just like clouds should produce rain, trees should bear fruit. The fruit of a tree curbs hunger and sustains life. But these false teachers produce no good fruit in their lives, none for those who would follow them. Both in their teaching and in their behavior, they provide nothing. Instead of nourishing the spiritual growth of their followers, they leave them spiritually famished. But let's come back to Jude's first metaphor, the shepherding metaphor. I'd like to connect the dots between the warnings of Jude and the teachings of Jesus. In the Gospel of John, chapter 10.
we see that Jesus refers to himself as a shepherd. Allow me to read John chapter 10, verse 11. Jesus says this, I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Jesus declares himself as the good shepherd. Jesus is the epitome of selflessness. The shepherd who willingly sacrifices himself for the well-being of his sheep. What a stark contrast between the self-serving shepherds that Jude warns us about. While false teachers prioritize their own interests, Jesus lays down his life to protect and nourish his flock.
And Jesus doesn't just offer spiritual food while we navigate this life. He offers eternal security in heaven when we pass from this world. Let's jump down again in John 10 to verses 14 and 15. Jesus says this, I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me. Just as the father knows me and I know the father, I lay down my life for the sheep. Jesus further emphasizes the vital role of the good shepherd.
You see, when we give our lives to Christ and trust in him as our good shepherd, we experience restoration with God. There's a spiritual connection between the shepherd and his sheep, us. He knows each one of us individually and we recognize his voice. Once again, this level of intimacy and selfless love stands in stark contrast to the self-feeding shepherds who don't know their flock and have no desire to know them, nevermind serve them. Jesus is the exact opposite of a self-feeding shepherd. But here's the bigger truth that a false teacher will try to avoid.
There can only be one truly good shepherd. Every other shepherd is either failing or is about to fail. There's no pastor or teacher or leader that will ever come close to the shepherding work of Jesus Christ, because even the best pastor is still a fallen human being, struggling with a sin nature like everyone else. For those who know me best, we'll tell you that even with my best efforts, I still end up letting people down again and again. sure i try and try and try but no matter how hard i try i can't ever achieve the perfection of jesus i'll never be a perfect pastor that's why i need jesus to be my pastor. You need him to be your pastor too. I simply try my best to be used by him. I need him every day of my life. And I need him if I'm even remotely able to achieve any form of good shepherding work. It is completely because of him if I do anything good. And I would suggest to you that every teacher and leader that you know should always be pointing you to Jesus. And if they're not pointing you to Jesus, question everything they've taught you. Not convinced? Allow me to explain why.
First, Jesus is the only shepherd who can fully embrace self-sacrifice. Jesus, as the good shepherd, exemplifies selflessness through his willingness to lay down his life for his sheep. His self-sacrifice displayed at the cross is the ultimate act of love and care for his flock as he offers himself as a ransom for our sins. Second, Jesus is the only shepherd who carries personal knowledge of your inner being. Jesus knows his sheep intimately, and they know him. This deep personal relationship with his followers stands above any other system of faith or religion. Jesus knows us individually, understands our needs, and calls us by name. Third, Jesus is the only shepherd who holds everlasting spiritual nourishment. Jesus provides abundant spiritual sustenance for those who seek it. Seek him. He offers the living water of truth and the bread of eternal life. He guides his sheep to green pastures and still waters, ensuring that they lack nothing.
And finally, Jesus is the only shepherd who can provide spiritual protection. Jesus guards his sheep against the temptations of this world, including false teachings and temptations. Moreover, he fought a great spiritual battle at the cross. Then he won the battle against sin and death when God raised him from the dead. Soon after, he ascended to heaven to prepare a place for those sheep, people who would choose to follow him.
The truth is that Jesus embodies the qualities of a loving and selfless shepherd who cares deeply for his flock. He is divinely capable of providing for our needs, protecting us from harm, and ultimately sacrificing himself for our salvation. His actions and teachings serve as a powerful contrast to the self-serving shepherds warned against in the letter of Jude. Avoid self-feeding shepherds. Instead, cling to the good shepherd. In the journey of life, you will undoubtedly encounter leaders and teachers of all types.
it's essential to discern who you follow. Your spiritual well-being depends on it. Anyone who prioritizes their own interests and desires over the well-being of those they lead should not be followed. If you have a leader, a teacher, a mentor, a counselor, fill in the blank, who is not pointing you to Jesus, I suggest to you that you seriously consider where you might be going. Where are they leading you? Are you certain that it's toward truth? Are you certain that it's a good path for your life? Does it lead to eternal life? There can be a temptation to disregard this message. I get it.
Perhaps you're questioning the importance of Jude's message and his warning, and you're questioning a leader's connection to Christ. Does it really matter that much? Please understand that a person's relationship with Jesus and their ability to point others to him reveals their heart condition. Following someone who doesn't proclaim Christ as Lord and Master can have dire consequences. They might look great, they might sound great, but underneath, they could be self-feeding shepherds, simply in disguise. In contrast, when we follow those who prioritize Christ first, they will always point us back to him.
and his life-giving pastures. We'll always be full. We'll always be well-fed. We'll always be quenched. Seek Jesus and seek those that trust him. Seek those that seek him. Let's pray. Dear Father, thank you for Jude's letter that he calls out false teachers, calls out bad leaders.
and he proclaims your son Jesus as the true shepherd, the true teacher, the Lord master that we need to follow. Father, if there's anyone who's listened to this message and doesn't know you and has never accepted your salvation through your son Jesus, I pray that they would choose to follow him today and that you might lead them in such a way that they would receive him, receive the Holy Spirit and be on a new path. Father, convict us to look at those we follow and question their character and integrity. Are they pointing others to Christ or are they pointing to themselves or pointing to somewhere else that's selfish or self-centered? May we choose leaders, guides, teachers well. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. Thanks again for joining us today. If you gave your life to Jesus, or if you would like us to pray for you, go to mountainview.church and click the Connect button. Text Connect to the number on the screen, or fill out a Connect card and hand it in at the welcome desk. Before you go, just a couple of announcements. Next Steps is starting in September, September 10th at 1.30. If you're watching this at the UConn Arts Center, that's today.
Next Steps is a two-part course designed to help you in your faith journey, but knowing about or believing in Jesus is not a prerequisite to join us. If you'd like to learn a little bit more about our church, what we believe, and our history in Whitehorse, come on by to 2060 2nd Avenue, September 10th at 1.30. We'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported our church. If you'd like to make a tax-deductible donation, go to mountainview.church slash give or text give to the number on the screen. If you're in-house, you'll find a giving envelope on your seat that you can put in the black bin at the back.
Please feel free to grab another coffee or tea and chat with us for a while. Thanks for listening and I hope you have a great week. If you prayed to receive Jesus today or would like to connect with our church community, visit mountainview.church and click the connect link. If this podcast and radio ministry has been a blessing to you, please consider partnering with us or making a tax-deductible donation at mountainview.church. Thanks for listening to Mountain View Church Audio. Join us next week for more Christ-centered teaching from the Wilderness City of Whitehorse UConn.