05/22/2026
Sunday, May 17th concluded Pastor Robert Sandford's three part sermon series on the book of Jude: STEP STRONG - Grow In Your Faith. Here's the recap based on Jude 20-25:
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Jude's instructions to grow our faith are: know what we believe (the Truth) and to live out what we believe, to God's glory!
It takes concerted effort on our part to walk boldly and step strong through five aspects.
1. Build - be strong in belief, grow deeper in the foundation, firming up and grasping what God wants us to know and understand.
2. Pray - be a people of prayer, praying in the Holy Spirit. Memorized prayers are okay sometimes but God wants a real conversation. Let His spirit direct our thoughts as we pray, and in the moment as God prompts us. His spirit will help our prayers be appropriate and effective.
3. Reside In God's Love - (John 15:9-10) Dwelling in God's love is living in God's terms. His love is not conditional but we need to be open and responsive to that love. Only when we are living in obedience to Him is our joy full and complete.
4. Expect Christ - Watching for Christ's return helps us grow in our faith. We live for the day we are with Jesus in God's kingdom. Avoid the enemy's stumbling block of "it'll never happen" - keep believing and expecting!
5. Reach Out - We must be a friend to sinners but not to the sin, by being more concerned with the person than the sins they've committed. We should speak of God's mercy into their lives, with an attitude of concern, not condemnation. (Remember , we are sinners too, only cleansed by Jesus' sacrifice!)
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* As we live as disciples of Jesus Christ,
our spiritual growth will produce the desired result - God will be glorified.
* In due time Jesus will usher us into the presence of God, and He will be honoured by our faith, our love, and our lives.
* Jesus Christ is not only calling us to grow in our faith - He's prepared to make sure it happens.
What we believe can be our strength through every day.
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