Love Your Leaders (Hebrews 13:7-19)

Introduction

Share your testimony and highlight the significance of how Christian leaders like Jono and Paul helped shape my early years of faith and still continue to have an impact on me today.

Bear The Burden

Believers Need Christian Leaders in their life who truly know them. Do you have someone like that in your life? If you don’t, then this sermon is for you and will show you the kind of qualities to look for in your search for a Christian leader to follow.

If you do have someone like this in your life, this sermon is for you as well. The author of Hebrews spends this entire chapter focusing on what a gift Christian leaders are and how we are to respond to our leaders.

Tonight we will look at four actions that we are to pursue so that we can love our earthly leaders and our eternal leader more.

1. Remember Your Earthy Leaders (13:7)

Briefly review the context of this point of the letter.

He has written 12 chapters worth of material arguing for the point that Jesus is better

Now he calls them to action having given them multiple examples that show Jesus is better.

If they choose to heed the words of the author of Hebrews, this is how they live out the truths of what they have been told in this whole book and a major application that he is telling his audience is to remember their leaders.

7a- Look at the beginning of verse 7 with me. “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God.

In verse 7, he tells the readers to remember your leaders, specifically those who spoke the to you the word of God. The phrase, who spoke to you the word of God has in mind those leaders who preach and teach the Bible to them.

He is saying remember their faces, their names, their teaching of God’s word and the impact that their teaching had on the lives the people the author of Hebrews is writing to.

We can be so quick to forget the sermons we hear on Sunday morning or on Wednesday night. I’ve forgotten what I said 5 minutes ago. But i wonder if you have a sermon that comes to your mind, or a moment during a small group when you heard a leader you respect say something that just stuck with you and changed how you understand the Bible and God.

This doesn’t just have to be a preacher in your church. Your small group leader or discipler who speaks the word of God to you can be a perfect example of the kind of leader the author of Hebrews is telling you to remember. He does specify what you are to remember, the teaching of the word of God. The advice that leaders give should be rooted in Scripture. I don’t mean that leaders should only quote Scripture but as leaders, we should always have a biblical basis for any advice or guidance we give. As students, I encourage you to develop that same mentality.

I’ll never forget what one of my pastors told me when he was teaching about giving biblical wisdom he said three words that changed my life. Chapter and verse! When you give any sort of biblical answer or advice, have a chapter and verse to reference. Be the kind of Christian whether you are a leader now or a future leader in a church, be the kind of Christian that is saturated in the Scriptures and can speak confidently for God in whatever situation you are in.

7b and 7c- The author of Hebrews gets more specific on what remembering your leaders should lead to.

“Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.”

The word consider is similar to remember but it speaks of a deep and careful study of someone’s conduct. Like a detective examines the specific details of a case that help him conclude his findings and solve the case, we are to examine the lives of our leaders closely to learn how we can follow Christ like they do.

Illustration

-  Have you ever been asked,

What if instead, I were to ask you, who is a leader in your life that you just love spending time with because they live out what it means to truly be a Christian, who comes to your mind? For us who are leaders, I hope that moves us to live like Christ not just so people want to be around us but because we are examples to younger generations of Christians and for you students, if no one came to your mind. I challenge you as the Scriptures do, find that person in your life. Find them in your church! Find them in this Bible study. All of us need a leader in our life who models Christ for us.

Remembering and considering your leaders should result in you wanting to imitate your leaders.

He tells his audience, imitate their faith. This word in the Greek is where we get our word mimic in English.

 The point that the author of Hebrews is trying to drive home is that every believer needs an example of a faithful Christian in their life where they can look at that person and think, So and so is the real deal of what it means to be a Christian. I want to follow Christ like they do.

Believers are not to imitate their leaders in terms of their fashion or job or material possessions. That’s not what the author of Hebrews is focusing on. He says, imitate the outcome of their faith. In other words, ask them how is it that they have walked with Christ so long through the highs and lows of this life and everything in between. How is it that they still love and follow Jesus?

 Listen to those kinds of people with an ear that is willing to truly listen and with a heart that is open to change and follow their example.

Remember Your Eternal Leader (13:8-12)

Context- Verse 8 is the glue that holds the book of Hebrews together. Verse 8 is one of the most important verses in the whole book of Hebrews. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. If you are a Christian, Jesus Christ is Your Eternal Leader!

In verse 8-16 the main message from the author of Hebrews is Remember Christ! Remember the truths of your eternal leader and live out these practical applications.

This verse might seem out of context, but it isn’t. It connects what the author of Hebrews said in verse 7 to what he will go on to describe in the rest of this section. Christian leaders in the church serve the head of the church which is Jesus Christ. “Ephesians 1:22 “22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church.

We are to remember and imitate our church leaders because Jesus has put them there to serve and guide you.

Look at verses 9-12 (Read)

These handful of verses can be confusing but given the context of leadership, the author of Hebrews is telling his audience to Remember the truths of Jesus Christ.

Explain verses 9-12 and the connections of the Day of Atonement with the reference to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The author of Hebrews is showing his audience one last time, that Jesus Christ is better than the Old Sacrificial System and Jewish Law.

Identify With Your Eternal Leader

Identify with Christ Look at verses 13-16 (Read)

Verse 13&14

Verse 13 tells us that we are to identify with Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for our sins. We have been saved through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ who died outside of the city of Jerusalem which pictures him dying in an unholy place and taking the place of sinners on that cross. This would have shocked the original Jewish audience who were taught that outside the city and outside the camp of the Israelites was an unclean and unholy place.

This picture in verse 13 tells us that Christ died in the place of unholy and unclean sinners and we are to bear the name of Christ. We are to identify with Him!

As we do so, we are reminded that this world is not our home. Look at verse 14 with me again. The author of Hebrews says that we have no lasting city but we seek a city that is to come. This world is not our home even though it feels like it.

1 John 2:15–17 “15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

In this passage, John is writing to a church that has been hurt by false teaching and has left believers doubting the assurance of their faith. He is telling them that those false teachers have loved the world and their love is characterized by the desires of the flesh, the desires of their eyes, and pride.

As believers, we have a heavenly home that awaits us and although we cannot see it now, it is as real as this moment right now. One day you will see your eternal leader, Jesus Christ face to face and you will be with him forever if you are a believer.

We cannot love the things of this world. Whether it is a sin you are caught up in or a worldly desire that has become an idol to you like a comfortable life on earth or a possession that you don’t have that occupies your mind more than the fact that this world is going to be gone one day and so will you. This doesn’t mean you don’t plan and have dreams but all of those plans and dreams can’t outweigh your love for Christ and outweigh the truth of heaven.

3. Verses 15&16

In light of verse 14, the author of Hebrews helps us understand how we are to live knowing that we await the truth of heaven.

Look at verses 15 and 16 with me.

Verse 15 tells us that our continual sacrifice to Jesus is to constantly praise God which is by proclaiming his name! That is why you and I still remain on earth today. We are ambassadors for Jesus Christ. We have the best news that this world has to offer in the gospel. We are to proclaim the good news that Jesus Christ promises forgiveness and eternal life to all those who will repent of their sins and trust in Him for their salvation.

Illustration

Share about Sadako and 1000 paper crane story and the hopelessness of her story.

What if someone were to share the true gospel with her.

We are to also be generous with one another with our talents and treasures. Here the author of Hebrews is saying that Christians are to share their time and finances with one another. Christians are to be generous towards God and towards others. Everything that we have has been given to us from God. Our finances, job, food, clothing etc. We are to be generous with what God has given us. This looks different for everyone in how they apply it but we are called to be a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6–7 “6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Obey Your Earthly Leaders and Pray for Them (13:17-19)

Look at verses 17 through 19 with me (Read)

The author of Hebrews says obey and submit to your leaders.

These words are similar but are different in the Greek. Obey means to continually follow the example and teaching of your leaders but the word submit conveys a picture of someone following their leaders choice even if it is a hard decision or an unfavorable decision.

This is not talking about following a leaders sinful choice rather the author of Hebrews is commanding his readers to willingly submit to their leaders guidance even if the person would do things differently. There are so many examples of believers causing so much headache and hurt for their church leaders just because they don’t like certain aspects of that leader’s choices or habits.

I know I am guilty of being too critical sometimes of my leaders and my stubbornness of being willing to submit to their choices even if I don’t like them.

There is a difference of raising constructive concern to your leaders based on a desire to help them or gain a better understanding and then there is just being a stubborn and unruly to them Don’’t let that be you.

The reason the author of Hebrews tells his audience and us to obey and submit to our leaders is because they will give an account one day to God for how they shepherded you. James 3:1–2 “1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

The idea of a pastor giving an account to God for each member of his church and how that pastor shepherded them is astounding. The author of Hebrews is saying to his readers and to you and me, obey and submit to them and make it as easy as possible for them to lead you because they will answer to God one day. It is up to us to obey and submit to them so that they shepherd us with joy and not with groaning as the rest of verse 17 says.

We are to Pray for our leaders

Look at verse 18 and 19 with me.

The author is wrapping up this letter soon and he asks for his readers to pray for him

Someone once told me, “It is hard to stay mad at someone if you are praying for them.”

When it comes to Christian leaders, they can sometimes do things that make us mad. You and I have a choice. We can either harbor bitterness in our hearts to wards them that will cause us to be stubborn and not want to submit to them

Or we can pray for them and ask our Eternal Leader, Jesus Christ to help our leaders who shepherd us and we can pray that Jesus will give our leaders wisdom to shepherd the flock that God has given them.

The author of Hebrews asked for prayer. He clearly was a leader to them and he asked them to pray for him and those who were with him.

The author of Hebrews was a leader who desired to act honorably, so much so where he said of himself that he has a clean conscience. He was a leader who wasn’t ashamed of his teaching or his conduct. He was a leader who was worth following as he followed Christ.

Conclusion

COC, may we remember our earthly leaders as they teach us the word of God and minister to us. Let us remember our eternal leader Jesus Christ and identify with Him in how we live our lives, and let us obey and pray for our earthly leaders as they do their best to shepherd us in our walk with the Lord.

4. Please Pray with Me