OUTSIDE THE GATE

Hebrews 13 calls us to move from understanding the greatness of Jesus to living out that reality in our daily lives. The old covenant, with its rituals and rules, is replaced by a new and better way—one anchored in the finished work of Christ. No longer do we approach God with fear, as at Mount Sinai, but with confidence and acceptance at Mount Zion. This new covenant life is not about comfort or cultural acceptance, but about costly discipleship—following Jesus even when it means bearing disgrace, rejection, or loss.

True faith is proven not when it is easy, but when it is costly. The call is to go “outside the camp,” leaving behind the safety of popularity and comfort, and standing with Jesus where He was rejected. This means living with empathy, loving others as if their struggles were our own, and refusing to hide behind personality or preference. It means resting in the altar of grace—Christ’s finished sacrifice—rather than striving to earn God’s favor through religious activity or good works. Our acceptance is not achieved by what we do, but by what Christ has done.

We are reminded that this world is not our home. Like Abraham and the saints of old, we are pilgrims seeking a better city, an eternal kingdom. The approval, wealth, and status of this world are fleeting, but God’s city is unshakable. When our hearts are anchored in grace, we can love, serve, and endure hardship without needing the world’s approval or recognition.

The sacrifices God desires now are not rituals, but lives marked by praise, gratitude, and generosity. Our worship is not confined to Sunday mornings, but is a daily lifestyle of obedience and love, flowing from our identity in Christ. We serve, not to gain acceptance, but because we are already accepted. Even in suffering, rejection, or loss, we can offer a sacrifice of praise, knowing our hope is secure in Christ and our reward is eternal.

The challenge is to examine where we are tempted to seek comfort, approval, or safety, and instead to boldly bear Christ’s name, even when it costs us. We are called to live out our faith from a place of grace, not striving, and to shine the gospel light to a world in need, remembering that Jesus went outside the camp for us—will we go outside for Him?

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Costly Discipleship Means Following Jesus Beyond Comfort The call to go “outside the camp” is a summons to leave behind the safety of cultural acceptance and comfort, and to stand with Jesus even when it means bearing disgrace or rejection. True discipleship is not measured by how easy or popular it is, but by our willingness to follow Christ when it costs us something—our reputation, relationships, or even our lives. This is the mark of genuine faith: obedience in the face of opposition. [04:27]
• 2. Empathy and Brotherly Love Are Non-Negotiable Scripture commands us to remember those who suffer as if we were suffering with them, refusing to hide behind personality or preference. Empathy is not optional for the follower of Christ; it is a practical outworking of the gospel. We are called to put ourselves in the shoes of others, to love deeply, and to serve sacrificially, reflecting the heart of Jesus to a hurting world. [06:38]
• 3. Rest in the Altar of Grace, Not in Religious Performance The finished work of Christ means we no longer strive to earn God’s favor through rituals, good works, or religious activity. Our acceptance is secured by Jesus alone, and we are called to rest in that grace. Living as if we must earn God’s love is both prideful and futile; instead, we serve and obey from a place of gratitude, not guilt or fear. [19:15]
• 4. Live as Pilgrims Seeking an Eternal City Our true home is not in this world, and our hearts should not be anchored in its fleeting comforts or approval. Like the saints of old, we are to live as pilgrims, seeking the city to come, enduring hardship and rejection with joy because our hope is eternal. When we stop expecting this world to be our home, we are freed to love, serve, and endure with boldness and joy. [25:10]
• 5. Let Praise and Good Works Flow from Your Identity in Christ The sacrifices God desires are not rituals, but lives marked by continual praise, gratitude, and generosity. Our worship is a lifestyle, not just a Sunday activity, and our good works are evidence of our acceptance, not a means to earn it. When we live from our identity in Christ, everything else—obedience, sacrifice, and witness—flows naturally and powerfully. [30:34]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:55] - Opportunities to Serve and Learn
• [01:50] - Jesus Is Better: Review of Hebrews
• [03:05] - Two Mountains: Sinai and Zion
• [03:30] - From Theology to Practice
• [04:27] - Costly Discipleship: Going Outside the Camp
• [05:20] - Practical Commands: Love, Hospitality, Empathy
• [07:48] - The Altar of Grace: Christ’s Finished Work
• [09:47] - Following Jesus When It’s Unpopular
• [13:06] - The Danger of Comfortable Faith
• [15:56] - Genuine Faith Tested by Sacrifice
• [17:20] - Resting in Grace, Not Ritual
• [25:10] - Living as Pilgrims: Seeking the Eternal City
• [28:39] - New Sacrifices: Praise and Good Works
• [31:14] - Worship as a Lifestyle
• [34:08] - Cross-Shaped Living and Bold Witness
• [36:35] - Examining Our Motives and Boldness
• [38:19] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Reading

Hebrews 13:10-16 (ESV) — 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.
11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.
12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.
13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.
14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.
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.

John 15:18-20 (ESV) — 18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”

Observation Questions

1. According to Hebrews 13:13-14, what does it mean to “go to Jesus outside the camp,” and what are we seeking instead of a “lasting city” here?
2. What kinds of sacrifices does Hebrews 13:15-16 say are pleasing to God under the new covenant?
3. In John 15:18-20, what does Jesus say about the world’s response to his followers, and how does this connect to the experience of Jesus himself?
4. What practical instructions does the author of Hebrews give in the opening verses of chapter 13 regarding how believers should treat others?

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon describes “going outside the camp” as leaving behind comfort and acceptance to stand with Jesus in rejection. Why is this considered “costly discipleship,” and how does it test the genuineness of faith?
2. The preacher says, “Empathy is not optional for the follower of Christ; it is a practical outworking of the gospel.” Why is empathy so central to Christian living, and what does it look like in real life?
3. The altar of grace is contrasted with religious performance. Why is it prideful or futile to try to earn God’s favor through good works, and how does resting in grace change a person’s motivation for serving God?
4. The sermon says, “Our true home is not in this world.” How does seeing ourselves as “pilgrims” affect the way we handle hardship, rejection, or the pursuit of comfort and status?

Application Questions

1. The call to “go outside the camp” means following Jesus even when it costs us comfort, reputation, or relationships. Can you think of a recent situation where you felt pressure to hide your faith or blend in? What would it look like to stand with Jesus in that moment?
2. The sermon challenges us to show empathy and brotherly love, even when it’s not our natural personality. Who in your life right now is struggling, and what is one specific way you could “put yourself in their shoes” this week?
3. Are there areas where you find yourself trying to earn God’s approval through religious activity or good works? What would it look like to rest in the “altar of grace” instead, and how might that change your attitude toward serving or worship?
4. The preacher asks, “How many of us live our lives for here?” What is one area where you are tempted to seek comfort, approval, or status in this world? How can you shift your focus to the “city to come” this week?
5. The sacrifices God desires now are praise, gratitude, and generosity. What is one practical way you can offer a “sacrifice of praise” or do good and share with others in the coming days?
6. The sermon mentions that worship is a lifestyle, not just a Sunday activity. What is one way you can intentionally worship God in your daily routine outside of church this week?
7. The preacher asks, “Are we serving God for acceptance or from acceptance?” How can you remind yourself daily that you are already accepted in Christ, and let that truth shape your actions and attitudes?