Introduction

• John 13:34 – Love is the hallmark of Jesus’ disciples. They had personal contact with each other.
• Time on devices is starting to replace time with other people.
• When people cut back on social media, within two weeks they were happier and less depressed.
• 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High Tech World by Jean Twenge

Make sure your daughters and sons know how valuable they are.

• Genesis 1:26-27 – We are made in God’s image.
• Genesis 9:3-6
• John 4:24
• I Corinthians 15:50-53
• My body is not me. I just live here right now.
• I Peter 1:14-16
• I Peter 3:3-4
• Our value comes from being created in the image of God.

Teach your sons and daughters to be pure.

• Job 1:1; 31:1
• II Peter 2:14
• I John 2:16
• Matthew 5:27

Help them grow comfortable being different from the world.

• Matthew 5:29-30 – It is worth whatever it takes to make it to Heaven.
• Matthew 7:13-14 – We want to be one of the few.
• Romans 12:2
• Meta’s internal research shows that most people wish Instagram didn’t exist – including Instagram’s own users!
• Matthew 5:14-16

Jude 1

• Jude 1:8-9
  • See Deuteronomy 34:5-8 regarding the death and burial of Moses. It is not clear what this dispute was about or when it happened.
  • II Timothy 4:2; Titus 2:15 – We can rebuke sin, but we must do so with humility.
  • Michael the archangel:
    • Daniel 10:13, 21
    • Daniel 12:1
    • Revelation 12:7-9 – Michael was in a position of elevated power.
• Jude 1:10 – See I Corinthians 2:14; 3:1; 1:18.
• Jude 1:11 – See Numbers 22:16-17; 16:3
• Jude 1:12-13 – “love feasts”: See Proverbs 25:14; Matthew 21:19; II Peter 2:13.
• Jude 1:14-15 – This is the only place where we read of Enoch prophesying. There is a Book of Enoch, but here Jude claims to be quoting Enoch himself.
• Jude 1:17-19 – See Acts 20:29; I Timothy 4:1; II Timothy 3:5; II Peter 2:1; I John 4:1.
• Jude 1:20-21 – Trouble is coming. Build yourself up spiritually!
• Jude 1:22-23 – Help people, but do so in whatever way is appropriate to the situation.
• Jude 1:24-25 – When we are obeying God, He can protect us from the devil.

Introduction

• Psalms 119:129-136

“Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

• Romans 7:14-25

“… grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ”

• Ephesians 4:15-24 – Growing is a process over time. We must put on the new self. We can change! We can get out of old habits and change the way we live.
• Hebrews 5:12-14
• Over time, we can become stronger spiritually.

“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”

• Proverbs 13:20
• II Chronicles 24:1-2, 15-19 – The influences in Joash’s life changed and he also changed, turning away from God.
• It’s hard to have mature, spiritual conversations with worldly people.
• Psalms 119:9-16
• Philippians 4:8
• James Clear, Atomic Habits – example of heroine addiction and change of environment
• Can you change your environment to make things easier for yourself?
• Proverbs 5:8; 7:7, 25 – Get out of bad situations!
• What can I do to get away from temptation?
• James 4:7
• Luke 15:18-24 – God and the angels rejoice when we forsake sin!

“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’ All that are in Hell, choose it.”

– C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce, 1945

Discerning between good and evil

Sins that Christians “used to do”

• I Peter 4:1-4 – lewdness (indecent behavior), lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, idolatry

What happens when we aren’t sure?

• I Thessalonians 5:21-23
  • Test everything
  • Hold fast to what is good
  • Abstain from every form of evil
  • May God sanctify you

Questions that help us test

Is the action like something the Bible condemns?

• Galatians 5:19-21
  • Sexual immorality, impurity, lewdness, idolatry, witchcraft (sorcery), hatred, jealousy, outburst of anger, selfish ambition, division, envy, murder, drunkenness, revelries

Introduction

• I Corinthians 15:10

When we recognize the ugliness of sin, we appreciate grace even more.

• Ezekiel 16:15-17, 32-37
• Micah 3:1-4
• Malachi 2:1-3
• II Peter 2:20-22
• The ugliness of sin is totally contrary to the beauty and purity of God. Yet God is willing to forgive!

Grace is forgiveness, not a repayment plan.

• Isaiah 1:18
• Romans 4:1-5, 23 – No one earns their way into heaven. God deeds cannot wipe away sins.
• Romans 6:3-4

Grace should motivate righteousness, not sin.

• Acts 2:37-38 – See Jeremiah 31:31-34; Isaiah 53:11; Joel 2:32. The gift of the Holy Spirit is salvation.
• Acts 2:42-47
• Ephesians 2:8-10 – They were not working off the sin, but they were living righteously.
• Titus 2:11-14
• Grace is not a license to sin.
• Our response to grace should be gratitude and motivation to live righteously.
• I Corinthians 15:10