FBCC - Second Serving

Behold, the Lord Comes...to Execute Judgment on All Jude 14–16 When people talk about Christianity, the topic of judgment usually makes them uncomfortable. Some think it is too harsh. Others think it does not fit with the message of grace. But Jude, the brother of Jesus, makes it clear that judgment is not a new idea. He quotes Enoch, the seventh from Adam, to remind us that God has always promised to bring justice to His creation. Judgment Was Always Part of the Plan Enoch said, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His holy ones to execute judgment on all." This was spoken long before Abraham, Moses, or the prophets. Long before the law, even before the flood. That means the truth of God’s judgment has been known since the beginning. It is not a man-made idea. It is the foundation of how God deals with evil. Judgment is not just about punishment. It is about setting things right. The kingdom of God, which was delayed after the fall, is still coming. And...

Jude 8-13 Relying on Their Dreams Introduction When a church forgets what God has said, it becomes vulnerable to what sounds good instead. That is the warning Jude is shouting to his readers. The church is not immune to danger just because it is a spiritual community. In fact, Jude writes because the greatest threat is not from outside the church but from within. People have crept in unnoticed. They look like brothers and sisters in Christ. They use the right words. They attend the right events. They sit at the same table. But their hearts are not ruled by Jesus. Jude gives strong language to describe these intruders. He calls them “hidden reefs” and “wandering stars.” He is not overreacting. He is sounding the alarm so that the church will remember what was taught, recognize the warning signs, and remain faithful to Jesus. This section of Jude explores how these false teachers think, how their rebellion is nothing new, and how their judgment is sure. Jude shows us how sin begin...

Jesus, the Merciful King Mark 5:1–20 Introduction Have you ever seen a thunderstorm roll in—loud, scary, and powerful—and wondered who could possibly control it? In the last story before this one, Jesus calmed a terrible storm, leaving the disciples asking, “Who is this man?” (Mark 4:41). Now, the story shifts. Jesus steps off the boat into a new region, and this time, someone else answers that question—not a disciple, but a man filled with unclean spirits. What happens next shows us that Jesus isn’t just powerful—He’s merciful, too. Background and Context As soon as Jesus steps onto the shore, He’s met by a man who’s possessed by many demons. This man lives in the tombs, far away from everyone else. People had tried to tie him up with chains, but he broke them every time. He was so strong and wild that no one could stop him. He screamed day and night and hurt himself with stones (Mark 5:2–5). His life was full of pain, fear, and loneliness. But when he sees Jesus, something a...

Mark 4:30–34 The Mustard Seed and the Kingdom of God Mark 4:30–34 Introduction Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed—something small and easily overlooked, but that grows into something massive and meaningful. This simple parable holds deep truth. Though it may begin in obscurity, God's Kingdom grows to include all people and nations, offering refuge, belonging, and unity in Christ. Verses 30–32: A Parable of the Kingdom for All People Jesus says: “With what can we compare the kingdom of God…? It is like a grain of mustard seed… when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade” (Mark 4:30–32). There is a false claim that Christianity is a European religion created for control. This is not true: Its origins are in the Middle East. It is the fulfillment of Judaism. Its central figure is a Jewish man—Jesus. The Kin...

Jude 5–7 "Now I want to remind you" Introduction: A Warning We Already Know Jude began his letter with the intention of encouraging the church in their shared salvation. But something urgent changed his direction. Instead, he urged believers to contend for the faith because certain people had slipped into the church unnoticed. These individuals twisted grace into an excuse for sin and denied the authority of Jesus Christ. Now, in verses 5 through 7, Jude calls his audience to remember something they already knew. God judges sin. Whether it is the unbelief of Israel in the wilderness, the rebellion of angels, or the immorality of Sodom and Gomorrah, none escaped judgment. Jude reminds the church that pretending to belong to God, while rejecting Him in practice, is no loophole. The grace of Christ is not a license to sin. And false teachers who remain unrepentant will not go unpunished. Remember the Judgment of God Scripture often warns us that when judgment is delayed...

Jude 1-4: Certain People Have Crept In Unnoticed Introduction: When Danger Comes From Within Some threats are obvious. Hostile empires, visible persecution, false religions with foreign gods. But others are quiet. Hidden. They creep in unnoticed. Jude opens his short, urgent letter not with a greeting of casual encouragement, but with a charge. A warning. A call to contend. This is not a letter about surviving difficulty. It is about standing firm in truth when the enemy has already entered the building. Jude writes with fire, and love. He writes as one who used to deny Jesus, now fully devoted as His servant. He writes to protect the church from those within who distort grace and deny Christ. 1. Jude: A Transformed Servant (Jude 1) Jude does not begin with “half brother of Jesus.” He does not start with authority from family ties. Instead, he introduces himself as a servant of Jesus Christ, a doulos. This is not forced labor. It is the identity of one who belongs to the Master...