Near to the Heart of God
A Study of the Book of Hebrews
Lesson 33
Hebrews 13:1 – 6
Keeping the Faith
I.
Introduction
A.
B.
C.
The priest and the robber – “Keeping the Faith”
Where endurance comes from (12:1-29)
What endurance looks like. Part 1: Love of the
Brethren (13:1)
1. Hospitality to strangers (13:2)
2. Compassion toward those who are suffering for the
faith (13:3)
3. Honors marriage (13:4)
4. Lives free from the love of money (13:5-6)
II.
Brotherly love must continue (Hebrews
13:1)
A.
B.
C.
Brotherly love is a command (13:1; John
15:17; Romans 12:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1
Peter 1:22; 2 Peter 1:7)
Brotherly love must endure (13:1).
Why is brotherly love commanded?
1. It is the evidence of discipleship (John 13:35; see
15:12-19)
2. Brotherly love doesn’t come naturally, and in
some cases not easily.
3. Hard times are coming and they are hard on love
(Matthew 24:9-13; John 15:17-25)
D.
Why does brotherly love come first?
III.
Show hospitality to strangers (Hebrews
13:2
A.
The crucial role of hospitality in the Bible
1. Genesis 18:1-8; 19:1-8; 24:10-20; Judges 19
2. Exod. 22:21; 23:9; Lev. 19:10, 33-34
3. Matthew 25:31-46
4. Acts 2:46; 16:15, 34; 21:1-10; Rom. 16:5
5. 1 Timothy 3:2; 5:10; Titus 1:8
6. 1 John 3:13-20; 3 John 5-12
B.
C.
Hospitality to strangers.
What would hospitality to strangers look like
at CBC?
IV.
Remember the persecuted and imprisoned
(Hebrews 13:3)
A.
These are suffering Christian brothers.
1.
2.
3.
4.
B.
Brotherly love (vs. 1)
As though with them, in the body (vs. 3)
Matthew 25:36, 40; Luke 21:10
Philippians (esp. 3:10ff.)
Who would such sufferers be today, and what is
our obligation to them?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
This may soon come closer to home
Jeff Humphries in Indonesia
Suffering saints in Pakistan (Ali Master)
Our partnership in prayer for Sudan
World Magazine – Zimbabwe
V.
Honor marriage (Hebrews 13:4)
A.
Honoring the institution of marriage
1.
2.
3.
4.
B.
Some had disdain for marriage, or for sexual
enjoyment in marriage (1 Corinthians 7:-5; 1
Timothy 4:1-5)
Some took marriage lightly (Matt. 19:3)
Some abused marriage (1 Peter 2:18-3:7)
Same sex “marriage” today
Honoring our marriages as Christians
1.
2.
3.
4.
Divorce and remarriage
Purity in the marriage relationship
Honoring our mate (1 Peter 2:17; 3:6-7)
How is this brotherly love? – Ephesians 5:1-8; 1
Thessalonians 4:3-8
VI.
Maintain a lifestyle that is free from the love
of money (Hebrews 13:5-6)
A.
B.
C.
D.
The issue is not wealth, but the love of money.
This is an issue of lifestyle
Contentment is the solution
Faith is the basis
1.
2.
E.
Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5
Psalm 118:6
Other texts about money
1.
2.
Matthew 6:19-34
1 Timothy 3:3, 8; 6:6-10, 17-19
VII. Conclusion
A. All these commands speak of a lifestyle that is to
characterize church leaders.
B. Hebrews 13:7 (17, 24) comes as no surprise.
C. Some questions to ask ourselves
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
When is the last time we had a stranger at our
table, or in our home?
Who would some “strangers” be?
What are we doing about those who are suffering
for their faith?
Has this economy increased or decreased our giving
to those in need?
Is our lifestyle trimming down or expanding?
How do we honor marriage?
Copyright © 2009 by Robert L. Deffinbaugh. This is the edited PowerPoint
presentation of Lesson 33 in the series, Near to the Heart of God, A Study of
the Book of Hebrews prepared by Robert L. Deffinbaugh for April 26, 2009.
Anyone is at liberty to use this lesson for educational purposes only, with or
without credit.