Hebrews 13:1-6

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Lifestyle that Should Characterize Every Believer

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. There are social dos and don’ts for the believers in the Christian community.
    a. Do love fellow believers.
    b. Don’t neglect to show hospitality.
    c. Do remember the prisons and the persecuted.
    d. Don’t violate your marriage vows.
    e. Do be content with what you have.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Let WWW mean We Won’t Worry.

QUESTIONS

  1. What is the emphasis for believers in Hebrews 13:1-6?

  2. Looking ahead, what is the emphasis for believers in Hebrews 13:7-11?

  3. What is the word used for “brotherly love” in Hebrews 13:1? What does it mean?

  4. Read Genesis 18. Who is showing hospitality? To whom is he showing hospitality?

  5. What does the term “fornication” include?

  6. If some of these activities are condoned by contemporary society as politically correct, it is alright to engage in them?

ANSWERS

  1. The emphasis is on the believers’ social duties in the Christian community.

  2. The emphasis in on the believers’ spiritual duties in the Christian community.

  3. Strangers here means fellow believers; not just our close Christian friends. This means opening our homes to traveling servants of Christ and to need fellow believers, for Bible studies, youth activities, and the like.

  4. Abraham is showing hospitality. The Lord and two angels are the recipients of his hospitality.

  5. It includes all forms of sexual activities that are outside the protective boundaries that God has set up: premarital sex, adultery, homosexuality, and other forms of sexual perversion.

  6. Absolutely not. Regardless of contemporary approval, all sexual sin will be judged by the Lord.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Refer to Hebrews 13:2. Hospitality is a demonstration of the brotherly love of Hebrews 13:1. See also 1 Peter 4:9. Are you willing to use your home for the Lord?

  2. Even the Christian community has suffered because of violations of the marriage vows. God’s boundaries are for the benefit and blessing of those who keep these vows sacred. Regardless of what is accepted and condoned in today’s world concerning these vows, God has given a directive and will judge those who violate this directive.

  3. Refer to Hebrews 13:5. Are you content with what you have or are you always looking and longing for more and better? The mature Christian finds his contentment in Christ, Who is sufficient for all our needs.

CHALLENGE

  1. Read Hebrews 13:5-6 and the sources of these quotations found in Deuteronomy 31:6 and Psalm 118:6. With guarantees like this we can’t lose. So why worry? Remember, WWW.

KEY VERSES

  • “ Let brotherly love continue. ” Hebrews 13:1

  • “ Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. ” Hebrews 13:4

  • “ For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ ” Hebrews 13:5-6



Hebrews, New Testament, TalksDeb HarmsHebrews 13:1-6