Christian Morality
Hebrews 13
November 17, 2024
Jay Haugh
We have a greater life!
…we receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken. —Hebrews 12:28 NASB
Hebrews 13 is a short synopsis of Christian morality.
(1) We love.
Let brotherly love continue. —Hebrews 13:1 ESV
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” —John 13:34-35 ESV
(2) We are hospitable.
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. —Hebrews 13:2 ESV
Don’t forget that the Church is bigger than your personal assembly.
(3) We are sympathetic.
Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. —Hebrews 13:3 ESV
(4) We are pure.
Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. —Hebrews 13:4 ESV
All sex outside of the covenant of marriage is outside of God’s prescribed boundaries.
(5) We are content.
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” —Hebrews 13:5-6 ESV
God will care for you, just like He cares for the flowers and birds.
(6) We are orthodox.
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. —Hebrews 13:7 ESV
…to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. —Jude 1:3 ESV
We remain orthodox, and we don’t depart from the apostolic teaching.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. —Hebrews 13:8 ESV
Jesus never changes. So, you don’t change the person and deity of Christ!
Our methods will change, but not our message.
Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. —Hebrews 13:9 ESV
God is not concerned about the external but internal.
(7) We are [spiritually] nourished.
We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. —Hebrews 13:10 ESV
(8) We willingly suffer.
For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. —Hebrews 13:11-12 ESV
Above all, we are loyal to Jesus.
Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. —Hebrews 13:13 ESV
For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. —Hebrews 13:14 ESV
(9) We worship.
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. —Hebrews 13:15 ESV
(10) We are obedient.
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. —Hebrews 13:16 ESV
I urge you brothers…to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. —Romans 12:1 NIV
We believe right. We live right.
(11) We are submissive.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. —Hebrews 13:17 ESV
(12) We are prayerful.
Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. —Hebrews 13:18 ESV
This chapter is a litmus test to see if our hearts are right.
I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. —Hebrews 13:19 ESV
You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon. —Hebrews 13:23 ESV
(13) We are a people of grace.
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. —Hebrews 13:20-21 ESV
Big Idea:
Believing rightly necessarily impacts and leads to living rightly.
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Memory Verse: Hebrews 1:1-2a NIV
Long ago in many ways and at many times God’s prophets spoke his message to our ancestors. But now at last, God sent his Son to bring his message to us.
The goal of these questions is to foster meaningful discussion and to encourage participants to reflect on God’s Word to lead to heart transformation. Feel free to modify or expand upon these questions based on the dynamics and needs of your Small Group.
Read Hebrews 13:1-19
How can you demonstrate brotherly love in your interactions with others, both within and outside of the church community? Share about a time when you experienced or extended hospitality to someone who was not expecting it. What impact did that have on you and them? What are practical ways we can open our homes and hearts to strangers in our current context?
What are some barriers or attitudes that might prevent us from being hospitable to strangers or those who are different from us? How can we overcome these obstacles? How does hospitality reflect the love of Christ?
What does it mean to you to honor marriage? How can we support others in doing the same? How do you navigate the challenges of maintaining purity in a world that often disregards it? What support or boundaries have you found helpful? How can we encourage and uphold one another in our commitments to purity and faithfulness?
In what areas of your life do you struggle with contentment? What does this reveal about your trust in God? How can practicing gratitude help combat the love of money and a lack of contentment in our lives?
How have spiritual leaders positively impacted your faith journey? How can you express gratitude or support for them? What does it mean to you to have confidence in and submit to spiritual leadership? How do you balance this with personal discernment? How can we be intentional about praying for our leaders and encouraging them in their roles?
Hebrews 13:9 warns against being “carried away by all kinds of strange teachings” and emphasizes that “it is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace.” How can you guard your heart and mind against teachings or practices that are not rooted in the grace of God? In what ways has understanding God’s grace strengthened you in difficult times? How can this perspective shape how you face challenges today? How can we share the truth of God’s grace with others who may be caught up in legalism or ritualistic thinking?
Hebrews 13:15-16 encourages offering “a sacrifice of praise” and doing good and sharing with others. What does offering a “sacrifice of praise” look like in your daily life, especially during times of difficulty or discouragement? How can you be more intentional about doing good and sharing with others this week? What specific opportunities are in front of you right now? How can we inspire and equip each other to make sacrifices that are pleasing to God, both in our individual lives and as a group?
Read Hebrews 13:20-25
What do you believe God’s will is for you in this season of life? How do you see Him equipping you to fulfill that? Consider the idea of God working “in us what is pleasing to Him.” What are some ways you have seen God transform your desires and actions to align more with His will? How can you cooperate more fully with this transforming work?