Part 07: Hierarchy of Loyalties Pt. 2
Sermon Summary
This message presents a biblical framework for ordering our lives called the "Hierarchy of Loyalties" - a roadmap for where our affections should go as believers called to make an impact in the world. Pastor Jimmy emphasizes that all the meaningful purposes God has for us are rooted and grounded in the affections of our heart, and where those affections go will determine whether we have the strength to endure or whether good ideas never come to pass. Using the story of William Wilberforce and the Clapham group, the message demonstrates that true revival and reformation aren't just about doing good works, but about hearts fully surrendered to Jesus that are then empowered by the Holy Spirit to bring God's Kingdom into every sphere of society.
The Hierarchy of Loyalties establishes that our first three loyalties must be inward realities: (1) God Himself - staying connected through His grace and abiding in Jesus, (2) God's Word - submitting to Scripture as our authority rather than following our feelings, and (3) God's Family - commitment to covenantal relationships in both the church and our nuclear families. Without these inward realities secured, we cannot effectively look outward. The fourth level addresses our role in the world: we are all called to be disciples and disciple makers (understanding our authority), witnesses (understanding our power through the Holy Spirit), and ambassadors (understanding our identity as children of God). This identity piece is critical - we don't attach our identity to our vocation; rather, we attach the ministry of God to our vocation. Whether you're a company president or a construction worker, you have equal value, power, and authority from God.
Key Scriptures
Proverbs 4:23 (NASB1995) "Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life."
2 Corinthians 13:14 (NASB1995) "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all."
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB1995) "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."
Psalm 119:105 (NASB1995) "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Ephesians 5:31-33 (NASB1995) "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband."
Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB1995) "And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'"
Acts 1:8 (NASB1995) "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (NASB1995) "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."
Instructions for Groups
Choose a few of these questions from the various categories to go deeper in the sermon and put the truths of Scripture into practice. You don't need to answer every question—select the ones that will best help your group engage with God's Word and apply it to your lives.
Discussion Questions
Scripture Study & Deeper Understanding
Question 1: Looking at Matthew 28:16-20, the passage mentions that some of Jesus' disciples were doubtful even as they stood before the resurrected Lord. What does Jesus say immediately after acknowledging their doubt? How does the phrase "all authority has been given to Me" connect to His command to "go and make disciples"? What does this teach us about the basis for our calling?
Question 2: In 2 Corinthians 5:17-20, Paul describes believers as "ambassadors for Christ" with a "ministry of reconciliation." What does it mean that "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them"? How does understanding reconciliation help us understand our role as ambassadors?
Question 3: The sermon emphasized Ephesians 5:31-33, which connects marriage covenant to Christ and the church. What is the "mystery" Paul refers to in verse 32? How does viewing both marriage and church through the lens of covenant change our understanding of commitment versus convenience?
Encouragement, Challenge & Personal Testimony
Question 4: Jimmy taught that the first three levels of the hierarchy (God Himself, God's Word, God's Family) are "inward realities" that must be secured before we can effectively look outward. As you honestly assess your life right now, which of these three foundations feels strongest? Which one needs the most attention? What's one thing that's working well for you in maintaining that foundation?
Question 5: The message included a warning: "Sometimes prosperity is the enemy of God in our lives. Sometimes when we go from poverty to good, we get excited, and then we leave God." The pastor also challenged us to "try the Word of God before you follow your feelings." Which of these two challenges hits closer to home for you right now, and why?
Question 6: The sermon distinguished between three callings with three keys: Disciple makers need to understand their AUTHORITY, Witnesses need to understand their POWER, and Ambassadors need to understand their IDENTITY. Which of these three - authority, power, or identity - do you struggle to believe about yourself? Share about a time when you felt like you couldn't be effective for God in your sphere of influence because you doubted one of these three things.
Putting it into Practice
Question 7: Jimmy emphasized that we don't attach our identity to our vocation - we attach the ministry of God to our vocation. He said, "Whether you are the president of a company or a lineman in the electric company, you have just as much value, just as much dunamis power, and just as much authority from God." What is your current sphere of influence (workplace, neighborhood, hobby, role)? What would it look like this week to operate in that sphere not deriving your identity from it, but bringing the ministry of God into it?
Question 8: Julie Helton mentored Valeria for 30 minutes a week, and eight years later that fourth-grader is a freshman at UT walking with Jesus. The pastor said, "All of us are going to have to actually be Christians in every space that He's called us." What is one specific, concrete action you will take this week to be a disciple maker, witness, or ambassador in your everyday sphere? Who will you share this commitment with for accountability?
Prayer
Question 9: Listening to the Holy Spirit
We're going to take focused time to listen to the Holy Spirit and what He wants to speak to us personally based on our time in Scripture and discussion tonight. Let's sit in silence for 60 seconds and ask the Spirit to speak to each one of us.
[After the minute of silence] What do you sense the Holy Spirit highlighting or speaking to you as we prayed?
Question 10: Prayer Requests from Tonight's Study
What prayer requests come up for you based on our Scripture study and discussion tonight? How can we pray for you as you seek to apply what God has shown you?
This discussion guide is designed to help your group move from hearing God's Word to living it out in everyday life. Remember: without the inward realities of connection to God, submission to His Word, and commitment to covenant community, we cannot effectively be the disciples, witnesses, and ambassadors God has called us to be. Take time to pray for one another and follow up on commitments made during your discussion.