Final Instructions

Devotional

Day 1: Love God More Than Sin

To love God is not simply to have warm thoughts about Him, but to obey Him and desire Him above all else, even above the fleeting pleasures of sin. True love for God is shown when we choose Him over the temptations that seek to draw us away, recognizing that sin always costs us more than we expect and isolates us from both God and others. Through Jesus, we are called to continually offer a sacrifice of praise—a heart overflowing with gratitude for a God who saves us and calls us His own. When we are so content in who God is, we no longer grasp for other things to fill us, but instead turn away from sin and toward Him, step by step, until the power of sin fades in the light of His love. [10:19]

Hebrews 13:15 (NASB)
Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you have been choosing sin over God, and what would it look like today to take the first step in loving God more than that sin?

Day 2: Love Each Other Through Generosity and Sharing

Loving each other goes beyond polite greetings or simply tolerating one another; it means actively doing good, sharing what we have, and pouring ourselves out in love, even when it is difficult or when past hurts linger. The enemy seeks to pit us against each other, fostering division, jealousy, and isolation, but God calls us to unity, generosity, and vulnerability. When we share not just our possessions but also our hurts, joys, and lives with one another, we reflect the heart of Christ and build a community where needs are met and burdens are carried together. This kind of love is not always easy, but it is pleasing to God and transforms both individuals and the church as a whole. [19:47]

Hebrews 13:16 (NASB)
And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Reflection: Who is one person in your church or community you can tangibly bless or share with this week—whether through your time, resources, or simply by listening to their story?

Day 3: Follow Leaders Who Follow Jesus

God calls us to follow and submit to spiritual leaders, but only as they themselves are following Christ. Leaders are accountable before God for how they shepherd His people, and their role is to guide, encourage, and correct in ways that help others grow in faith. It is important to discern whether those we follow are truly pointing us to Jesus, and to be willing to seek accountability and community rather than living in isolation. Following godly leaders is not about blind obedience, but about mutual trust, accountability, and a shared pursuit of Christlikeness for the good of the whole church. [25:36]

Hebrews 13:17 (NASB)
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

Reflection: Is there a leader in your life who is pointing you toward Jesus, and how can you encourage or support them in their calling this week?

Day 4: Pray for Those Suffering for Christ

We are called to pray for our brothers and sisters who are suffering for the sake of Jesus, not simply that their hardships would end, but that they would remain faithful and courageous in the midst of trials. Around the world, many endure persecution, imprisonment, and loss because of their faith, and our prayers join with theirs, asking God to strengthen, sustain, and use them for His glory. This kind of prayer requires us to look beyond our own comfort and busyness, making space in our hearts and lives to remember and intercede for those who bear the name of Christ under pressure. [31:42]

Hebrews 13:18-19 (NASB)
Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things. And I urge you all the more to do this, so that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Reflection: Take a moment to learn about a specific believer or group suffering for their faith today—how can you pray for their faithfulness and strength, and perhaps share their story with someone else?

Day 5: Make Room for God and Others in Your Life

A life that loves God and others is one that intentionally makes space—letting go of busyness, pride, and self-sufficiency to allow God to fill every part of our hearts and to let others in. This means being honest with God about our struggles, opening up to others about our needs, and seeking out community where we can be known, supported, and held accountable. When we choose to let go of what holds us back and embrace the next step God is calling us to—whether it’s forgiveness, vulnerability, or commitment to a church family—we find freedom and purpose in Him. [42:51]

Philippians 2:3-4 (NASB)
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Reflection: What is one thing you need to let go of or change in your schedule or heart this week to make more room for God and for deeper relationships with others?

Sermon Summary

As we near the end of Hebrews, chapter 13:15-19 offers us some of the most practical and challenging instructions for the Christian life. These verses call us to a life marked by continual praise, sacrificial love, genuine community, humble submission, and fervent prayer. The commands are simple to understand but profoundly difficult to live out, especially in a world that constantly tempts us to love ourselves and our sin more than God and others.

The first call is to love God above all else. This isn’t just about warm feelings or religious activity, but about a heart so full of gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice that obedience becomes our natural response. Loving God means choosing Him over the fleeting pleasures of sin, even when the enemy tries to convince us that our failures define us. Through Jesus, we are set free from the power of sin and invited to offer our lives as a sacrifice of praise, not out of duty, but out of delight in His grace.

Next, we are commanded to love each other. This love is not theoretical or sentimental—it’s practical, costly, and sometimes messy. It means doing good, sharing what we have, and refusing to let old hurts or differences divide us. The enemy wants to pit us against one another, but the gospel calls us to unity, humility, and generosity. True Christian community is built when we move beyond surface-level interactions and share our lives, our struggles, and our resources with one another.

We are also reminded to follow leaders who follow Jesus. Spiritual leadership is a weighty responsibility, and those who lead will give an account to God for how they shepherd His people. Our call is to obey and submit to godly leaders, not blindly, but as long as they are faithfully pointing us to Christ. This requires discernment, humility, and a willingness to be held accountable within the body of Christ.

Finally, we are urged to pray—especially for those who are suffering for the sake of Christ. Our prayers should not merely be for comfort or relief, but for faithfulness and endurance in the midst of trials. The global church is filled with brothers and sisters enduring persecution, and we are called to stand with them in prayer, asking God to strengthen their resolve and deepen their witness.

These instructions challenge us to examine our hearts: Are we loving God more than our sin? Are we loving each other in tangible ways? Are we following godly leaders? Are we praying for those who suffer for Christ? May our lives declare to a watching world that we love Jesus, even if it costs us everything.

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Key Takeaways

1. Loving God Means Choosing Him Over Sin True love for God is not measured by feelings or religious activity, but by a heart that treasures Him above all else—even above the secret sins that tempt us. The enemy tries to convince us that our failures define us, but Christ’s sacrifice frees us to take the first step of obedience, again and again, until our love for God eclipses our love for sin. This is a daily, sometimes difficult, but always transformative journey. [12:22]
2. Genuine Community Requires Costly Love Loving each other goes beyond polite greetings or surface-level fellowship. It means sharing our resources, our hurts, and our lives, even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable. The enemy seeks to divide us through comparison, old wounds, or selfishness, but the gospel calls us to unity, humility, and sacrificial generosity—especially with those who are different from us. [19:09]
3. Following Leaders Who Follow Christ Spiritual leaders are accountable to God for how they shepherd His people, and our call is to follow them as long as they are faithfully following Jesus. This requires discernment and humility, not blind allegiance. When leaders point us to Christ and encourage us in spiritual growth, our submission is not for their benefit, but for our own flourishing in the faith. [25:36]
4. Praying for the Persecuted Church Our prayers should extend beyond our own needs to include those who suffer for the name of Jesus around the world. Rather than simply asking for their suffering to end, we are called to pray for their faithfulness and endurance, recognizing that their witness in hardship brings glory to God and encouragement to the global church. [31:42]
5. Self-Examination and Courageous Change These instructions invite us to honest self-examination: What have we said yes or no to this week because of our love for God? How are we tangibly loving others, sharing our lives, and following godly leaders? What needs to change in our priorities, relationships, or habits so that our lives declare our love for Christ, even in suffering? [32:22]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:55] - Recap: Love and Discernment
[02:01] - The Value of All Scripture
[02:29] - Reading Hebrews 13:15-19
[03:22] - The Challenge of Simple Commands
[05:04] - What It Means to Love God
[07:07] - The Subtlety of Sin and the Enemy
[09:39] - Sacrifice of Praise: Loving God Over Sin
[12:22] - Freedom from Sin’s Identity
[13:51] - Loving Each Other: Practical Community
[15:42] - The Enemy’s Tactics in Relationships
[19:09] - The Power of Sharing and Small Groups
[21:10] - Following Leaders Who Follow Jesus
[25:36] - The Weight of Spiritual Leadership
[27:28] - Praying for the Persecuted
[31:42] - Faithfulness in Suffering
[32:22] - Questions for Self-Examination
[40:04] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Hebrews 13:15-19 (NASB) — 15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
16 And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them—for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account—so that they may do this with joy and not groaning, for this would be unhelpful for you.
18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.
19 And I urge you all the more to do this, so that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Observation Questions

According to verse 15, what kind of “sacrifice” are believers called to offer, and how is it different from Old Testament sacrifices?
In verse 16, what two actions are specifically mentioned as pleasing sacrifices to God?
What reasons does the writer give in verse 17 for obeying and submitting to spiritual leaders?
In verses 18-19, what is the writer’s request for prayer, and what does it reveal about his situation?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon described loving God as more than just feelings or religious activity, but as a heart full of gratitude that leads to obedience. Why is it so difficult to love God more than our sin, and how does the enemy try to convince us otherwise? [[07:07]]
The call to love each other is described as “practical, costly, and sometimes messy.” What are some real-life examples of this kind of love in a church community? [[19:09]]
The passage urges believers to follow leaders who follow Jesus, but not with blind allegiance. What does it look like to practice discernment and humility in following church leaders? [[25:36]]
The sermon challenges us to pray for those suffering for Christ, not just for relief but for faithfulness and endurance. Why is this kind of prayer important for the global church? [[31:42]]

Application Questions

The sermon asked, “What have you said yes or no to this week because of your love for God?” Can you think of a recent decision where you chose God over a temptation or sinful habit? What helped you make that choice, or what held you back? [[32:41]]
Loving each other means sharing our resources, hurts, and lives. Is there someone in your life or in this group you could share a need or struggle with this week? What keeps you from opening up, and how can we create a safer space for honesty? [[20:27]]
The enemy tries to divide us through comparison, old wounds, or selfishness. Is there a relationship in your life—maybe even in this group or church—where you need to pursue reconciliation or forgiveness? What’s one step you could take this week? [[16:31]]
The passage calls us to follow leaders as long as they are faithfully following Jesus. How do you personally discern whether a leader is pointing you to Christ? Have you ever had to lovingly question or challenge a leader? What was that experience like? [[25:36]]
The sermon highlighted the importance of praying for the persecuted church. Do you regularly pray for believers suffering for their faith? If not, what could you do to make this a regular part of your prayer life? [[31:42]]
The message ended with a call to self-examination: “What needs to change in our priorities, relationships, or habits so that our lives declare our love for Christ, even in suffering?” Is there a specific area where you sense God calling you to courageous change? [[32:22]]
The sermon mentioned that true Christian community is built when we move beyond surface-level interactions. What is one practical way you can go deeper in community this month—either by serving, sharing, or inviting someone into your life? [[19:09]]

Sermon Clips

But what we also forget, sometimes, is that when we love our sin more than we love God, the sin always costs us more than we ever planned. And it keeps us longer than we ever planned. And it isolates us more than we ever planned. Because here's what happens. Especially in the life of a believer, when you choose to love sin more than you love God, you begin to sit back and you begin to think, if I go back to church, everyone there is going to know everything I've done. And the enemy says, you got to stay away. You can't be with those people. They all are perfect. Look at the person next to you. Do they look perfect? Don't answer that out loud if you're sitting next to your spouse. Yeah, it's a lie of the enemy. The enemy wants to isolate you and keep you isolated because in a moment of weakness, you love your sin more than you love God. [00:09:00] (60 seconds) #SinCostsMore

What we offer is a heart filled up with gratitude for a God who looked upon me, the sinner of all sinners, and said, you're worth saving. And so we can't help, we can't help but say, God, I don't know why you love me, but you're awesome and I want to love you more than I love my sin. [00:10:30] (25 seconds) #BreakIsolation

But can I tell you a little secret? Lean in real close. We don't want everyone to hear. The enemy will convince you that your sin is who you are. So you don't just lie, you're a liar. You don't just steal, you're a thief. And what Jesus came to say is you can be turned loose of that. That doesn't have to be who you are. You say, but I'm helpless to do anything about it. Yes, you are. And he is not. [00:12:34] (37 seconds) #NotYourSin

What would it be like if instead of carrying around that hurt, we instead poured ourselves out in love? How many marriages would be fixed if we could do that? How many churches would be stronger? Love each other, do good, share with each other. [00:19:34] (24 seconds) #LoveAndShare

Every one of those men that stood up are elders in this church, and every single one of them one day will stand before the Lord and answer this question. What did you do with the precious men and women and boys? And girls that I gave you to minister to? Did you lead them towards me? Did you lead them away? By the way, Jesus had some pretty interesting things to say about those who wanted to deceive people. He said, you know what? If you lead one of these little children astray, it'd be better for you to have a millstone necktie and tossed into the ocean. [00:25:24] (35 seconds) #LeadWithLove

And so I asked her, now I don't remember her name. Isn't that terrible? I don't remember her name. But I asked her, I said, how can I pray for you? And this was her response. Please don't pray that the persecution stops. Say what? Every American has it easy and comfortable. And when something comes into our lives that we don't like, we want the church to pray for us. We don't want the preachers to pray for us. We want every child to want to come to God's mercy. And we said, as many, pray immediately. God will take it away. God, my knee hurts. This morning my back hurts. I was, had to sit down a little bit during worship because my back's hurting so bad. Y'all, pray for me because I shouldn't be hurting. No, that's not what she said. She said this, pray that I'll be faithful and I'll care for these kids the way they need. [00:29:49] (53 seconds) #IslandNeeds

``She looked at me when we got done praying. She said, you go home and you tell your church that there are people suffering for Jesus. Pray for them. Don't pray that things will get easier. Pray that they'll be faithful when it's hard. We need to be praying for our Christian brothers and sisters who are suffering for him. [00:31:20] (27 seconds) #LiveForGod

How are you living for God? How do you know you are? You say, I know I'm living for God because I came to church. Amen? I didn't get an amen. How do you know you're loving God? How do you know you're living for him? What in your life have you said yes to this week? Because you value Jesus. Because you're a follower of God. What have you said yes to? What have you said no to this week? Because you love God more than you love sin. Again, that's an easy question to ask but hard to answer. [00:32:22] (49 seconds) #BeyondVirtual

How are you loving each other? Look across the aisle at those weird people. That goes both ways, by the way. How are you loving them? I mean, if we can't love each other in church, what hope do we have outside of it? You say, well, I love everybody. I love everybody in church except that one guy. All right, well, if you're that, look at the person next to you. Are they that guy? Look to the person on the other side of you. Are they that guy? If neither one of them are that guy, guess who it might be? Just saying. [00:33:12] (40 seconds) #DoYouPray

Do you talk to God? Do you share with him the things he already knows that are in the deepest, darkest parts of your heart? Do you let him into every room of your house? Even the closet with all the junk in it? Who do you pray for when you pray? Do you pray just for you? By the way, praying for yourself is not selfish. It's confessing to God that you need him. Do you pray for others too? [00:39:18] (35 seconds)

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