This week, Pastor Chris continued in our Hebrews series with a message on loyalty to Jesus. True loyalty to the Lord is more than words—it is a steadfast devotion expressed through love, obedience, and faithfulness in every area of life. It calls us to love others selflessly, steward our resources wisely, honor the spiritual leaders God has placed over us, and continually offer our praise and good works to Him. In every action and attitude, loyalty to Jesus reflects a heart fully surrendered to His will and grounded in His unchanging love.
Biblical loyalty is a steadfast, unwavering commitment to God, people, and righteous causes, even in difficult times, rooted in faithfulness and love.
Loyalty to Jesus means we…
1. Love Others
Hebrews 13:1 (ESV)
1 Let brotherly love continue.
Romans 5:5 (ESV)
5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (ESV)
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Hebrews 13:2–3 (ESV)
2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.
Loyalty to Jesus means we…
2. Honor Marriage
Hebrews 13:4 (ESV)
4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
Purpose of Sex in Marriage…
- Reproduction.
- Our pleasure.
- To bond together a one flesh relationship.
1 Corinthians 7:2–5 (ESV)
2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Hebrews 13:4 (ESV)
4 Let marriagebe held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
Loyalty to Jesus means we…
3. Steward Wisely
Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)
5 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.”
Proverbs 10:22 (ESV)
22 The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
1 Timothy 6:10 (ESV)
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Luke 12:15–21 (ESV)
15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
Do I love money?
- Do I spend more than I make?
- Do I ever have “enough”?
- Are my goals about acquiring and accumulating or to live generously?
- Do I think I would be happier if I had more money?
- Do I struggle to give tithes and offering to God first?
- Am I content with what I have?
1 Timothy 6:6–7 (ESV)
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
Proverbs 11:24–25 (ESV)
24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. 25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.
Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)
5 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.”
Hebrews 13:6 (ESV)
6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
John 14:26 (ESV)
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
Loyalty to Jesus means we…
4. Honor God’s Leaders
Hebrews 13:7–8 (ESV)
7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:17 (ESV)
17 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.
“The way to a happy and successful church is a healthy relationship of responsible oversight on the part of the leaders and willing compliance and support from those they serve.” R.T. France
Hebrews 13:18 (ESV)
18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.
Loyalty to Jesus means we…
4. Sacrifice Praise to Him
Hebrews 13:15–16 (ESV)
15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Discussion Questions:
- Which description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 challenges you the most right now?
- How can contentment and generosity protect our hearts from greed?
- Why is prayer for spiritual leaders an important part of loyalty to Jesus?
- Why does God view doing good and sharing what we have as acts of worship?
Application Question:
- Of the four marks of loyalty to Jesus—loving others, stewarding wisely, honoring leaders, and offering praise—which one do you feel God is calling you to grow in most?