The Contenders - Part 3

Date: 11.30.08 Speaker: Kristian Martens Passage: Jude 11-19 Title: LOST SHEEP & LOST SHEPHERDS: of Spirit-less Leaders & Spirit-Filled Donkeys Summary: Jude, the half-brother of Jesus, after 30 years as a missionary, offers a timely warning for any new church...watch out! False gospels & religion, peddled by self-serving shepherds masquerading as Christians, will repeatedly & relentlessly attempt to undermine the truth of the Gospel. Don't let them! Stand firm. Be on guard! Contend for the Gospel given once for all. Perhaps knowing our propensity to gloss over details, get lazy with our theology, and blindly trust charismatic communicators - Jude gets specific on the methods & madness of these lost shepherds - dropping names along the way. And in doing so - he gives us not only a warning of what can come - but a reminder of how easy it is for us to embrace these same patterns. In the end - Jude's message is less about pointing fingers at others - and more about soberly reflecting on the person & work of Jesus - recognizing the depth of our own brokenness apart from Him. While lost shepherds will vainly attempt to lead us astray - there is a Great Shepherd who promises to protect, guide, advocate for & pursue us when we get lost. His name is Jesus. Lost shepherds beware.