BOOK 1
Content
Caleb Baumann, Cameron Bretsen, Dawn Gentry, Debbie Raymond, Isaiah Lackey, Joshua Lillie, Marc Montanye, Mark Ashton, Mary Claire Johnson, Matthew Johnson, Rachel Vaughn, Reid Brown, Wendell Nelson
Editing
Dawn Gentry, Grace Sadler, Jonathan Norton, Joshua Lillie, Leslie Feeney, Marie Dufour, Rachel Bebee, Tim Anstead
Art Direction
Jed Logue, Jonathan Norton, Marie Dufour, Mark Ashton
Wordmark
NEWFLIX (CreativeMarket.com), Jonathan Norton, Marie Dufour
Layout
Marie Dufour, Rachel Bebee
Photographs
iStockphoto.com contributor Photoguns; Unsplash.com contributors Alecsander Alves, Curology, Ian Dooley, Ryan Wilson
Illustrations
Dillon Wheelock (goat illustrations); iStockphoto.com contributors Fairywong, Moto-rama, Nadiinko, Palau83, Vectorios2016; J. R. Jones (tabernacle lithograph); Lightstock.com contributors Biblebox, Hebrewish Designs, Pearl, Sky Light Pictures, Travis Gann; Marie Dufour
Bible Verses
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture is from the New International Version (NIV), Copyright Š 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica; accessed through BibleGateway.com Published by Christ Community Church, Š 2021 404 S. 108th Ave., Omaha, NE 68154 info@cccomaha.org | 402.330.3360 | cccomaha.org
BOOK 1
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
Introduction | 07 How to Use This Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Series Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Visual Aids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Week One | 11 Day One: Learn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Message Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Visual Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Days Two–Seven: Daily Rhythms . . . . . . . . 14 Meet (Discussion Guide) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Week Two | 21 Day One: Learn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Message Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Visual Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Days Two–Seven: Daily Rhythms . . . . . . . . Meet (Discussion Guide) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
22 22 23 24 27
Week Three | 31 Day One: Learn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Message Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Visual Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Days Two–Seven: Daily Rhythms . . . . . . . . Meet (Discussion Guide) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
32 32 33 34 37
Week Four | 41 Day One: Learn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Message Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Visual Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Days Two–Seven: Daily Rhythms . . . . . . . . Meet (Discussion Guide) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
42 42 43 44 47
Week Five | 51 Day One: Learn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Message Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Visual Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Days Two–Seven: Daily Rhythms . . . . . . . . Meet (Discussion Guide) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
52 52 53 54 57
Week Six | 61 Day One: Learn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Message Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Visual Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Days Two–Seven: Daily Rhythms . . . . . . . . Meet (Discussion Guide) . . . . . . . . . . . . . Passover Seder Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
62 62 63 64 67 68
Conclusion | 71 What is Your Best Next Step? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
6
How to use this book: This booklet contains a reading plan through the book of Leviticus to be read throughout the week. Additionally, this guide walks the reader through activities repeated weekly. •
Day One: Learn. Room for sermon notes and visual aids on a teaching from Leviticus.
•
Day Two: Think. A devotional reflection building on the passage or theme.
•
Day Three: Study. Tools to help you unpack a passage of the Bible for yourself.
•
Day Four: Pray. A meditative, guided reflection through which you can communicate with God.
•
Day Five: Meet. A guide for discussion with others— friends, family, or community group.
•
Day Six: Do. A way to respond in obedience with compassionate gifts of time or resources.
•
Day Seven: Rest. A thought or prompt to help you pause and rest in the Lord.
Work through each week in order or rearrange the prompts to fit your week as you journey through Leviticus. For example, if you are a part of a group that meets on Monday nights, you may choose to substitute “Day 5: Meet” in place of a devotional. Likewise, you may choose instead to walk through a guided prayer in a group setting on any night of the week. We pray that these resources help you discover Jesus in the book of Leviticus and respond in obedience through rhythms to encounter and become more like him.
F o r m o r e r e s o u r c e s , v i s i t ccco m a h a . o r g / c l e a n
7 Clean | Book One: Introduction
Series Introduction Welcome to Leviticus and welcome to Clean! This is going to be the best Bible experience that you never expected! I know, I know. Maybe you’ve tried to read Leviticus before and gotten stuck. It was written over 3,000 years ago in the middle of a parched, wilted, shriveled desert after all! Reading Leviticus seems as juicy as the desert, until you dig into the story. The Israelites had just left slavery and God was trying to knock the Egypt out of them over a period of forty years. He set up the tabernacle in the middle of the camp to train the people to trust him. But this brought up a problem: How does an unclean people approach a holy God? Leviticus gives us the answer. More than that, Leviticus is a setup book. Though it was written for the Israelites, the book is truly about Jesus. Seriously. Every sacrifice, moral command, food habit, sabbatical, high priestly garment, and mold regulation law is a signpost pointing to the One who was coming. The Israelites didn’t know it then, but in the rearview mirror, it’s clear as day. So grab this guide, blow the dust off of Leviticus, participate in a church service online or in person every week, join a study group, and prepare for an amazing adventure—Clean: Finding Jesus in Leviticus. Your crazy lead minister,
Lead Minister
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Visual Aid: The Tabernacle What do you do when God becomes your neighbor? The setup for the book of Leviticus is that God has just moved in. As they wandered through the middle of a desert wasteland, the Israelites had a clear visual of God in their midst. The twelve tribes were arranged orderly: three to the north, three to the south, three to the east, and three to the west. Smack dab in the middle was the tabernacle, a portable tent-like precursor to what would become the temple. Both shared the exact layout, but the tabernacle was designed to be moved. Whenever God moved, the people moved with him. Coming up from the tabernacle was a sign of God’s presence: a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. It constantly reminded people that “God is in the camp.” This brings up the key problem that Leviticus tries to solve: “How does an unholy people live in the same camp as a Holy God?” The idea of being “clean”—clean enough to be in the camp—is central to this book. More importantly, people wrestled with how to be holy enough to approach the Tabernacle, make sacrifices, and be close to God.
9 Clean | Book One: Introduction
Visual Aid: Flow of Leviticus
Ritual Pu ty
Mo l Pu ty
(Ch. 11–15)
(Ch. 17–20)
Be different
P ests
P ests
(Ch. 8–10)
UNCLEAN
DEATH Ritual
FE CLEAN
Ritual
(Ch. 1–7)
BibleProject. (2016, January 29). Overview: Leviticus [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=IJ-FekWUZzE&feature=emb_imp_woyt
(Ch. 21–22)
10
(Ch. 23–27)
Morales, M. L. (2015). Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord?: A Biblical Theology of the Book of Leviticus. InterVarsity Press. 29.
Christ Communit y Church
Week One
11 Clean | Book One: Week One
Day One: Learn
F E B R UA RY 21 | M A R K A S H TO N
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Visual Aid: The Five Sacrifices
M A N D AT O R Y M A R K 8 : 31 - 3 3
F R E E W I L L / BY C H O I C E JOHN 10:7
Jesus Is Our... • Burnt Offering (Leviticus 1:2–17, 6:8–13) » Without blemish (Ephesians 5:27) » Substitute (1 Peter 3:18) » Atones (Romans 3:25) • Grain Offering (Leviticus 2:1–16, 6:14–23) » A memorial (Luke 22:19) » Fine flour/“best bread” (John 6:51) » Without leaven: leaven = sin/pride (1 Corinthians 5:6) » Oil/incense/Christ = “Anointed One” • Peace Offering (Leviticus 3:1–17, 7:11–21) » Brings together person, priest, & God = fellowship (Romans 5:1) » Peace/unity (Galatians 3:27–28, Ephesians 4:1) » Offered with praise (Colossians 3:15)
• Sin Offering (Leviticus 4:1–5:13, 6:24–30) » For groups of people/unintentional sin (1 John 2:1–2) » Issue of sin nature (Romans 7:17–25) » Cleansing blood (Leviticus 6:27) » Sacrifice brought “outside the camp” (Hebrews 13:11–12) • Guilt Offering (Leviticus 5:14–6:7, 7:1–10) » Unintentional/specific/individual (Matthew 5:23–24) » Restitution paid for offense (Matthew 5:38–42, Ephesians 4:28) » Restoration of harm caused by sin (Romans 8:19–21)
13 Clean | Book One: Week One
Day Two: Think Read Leviticus 6:8--7:21 SCRIPTURE “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” –Matthew 5:48
READ God dwelt amongst the people of Israel in the tabernacle as a declaration that he was their God and he had made them his people. Leviticus begins with God speaking from within the tabernacle to Moses, who is outside the tabernacle. The next book, Numbers, begins with God speaking from within the tabernacle to Moses, who is also in the tabernacle. The content of Leviticus discloses the system that God ordained to grant unholy people access to the favorable presence of a Holy God. Chapters 1–7 of Leviticus describe the various voluntary and mandatory rituals that God gave the people of Israel to allow them to say, “Thank you,” “I love you,” and “I’m sorry” to God. Through the sacrificial system, God extended forgiveness to Israel and gave the people a tangible way to clear their consciences and express their love for him. By faith, the people of Israel could know that they were at peace with God and that their sins were dealt with. God gave them the experiential opportunity to see, hear, smell, taste, touch, and believe that he remained faithful to his covenant. The cost of sin was death, but God had the power to forgive, their guilt was transferred, and there was a way to be restored into community with God and others. God desires peace, fellowship, and union with his people, yet a perfect God cannot dwell with an imperfect people. If God is life, the category all others find themselves in is death. To be restored to relationship with God, the unholiness and death in us must be removed and transferred and God’s holiness must wash over and fill us.
REFLECT 1. Do you walk in the assurance that God has granted you access to his presence? 2. How has Jesus accomplished all that the sacrificial system was meant to do and more?
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Day Three: Study Read Leviticus 1 SCRIPTURE Read Leviticus 1, paying attention to verses 1–5. Write down words that stick out to you or questions you have about the text.
OBSERVE AND INTERPRET Look back on what you've written. Using Leviticus 1, are you able to answer any questions you wrote down? Reread the passage in a different translation or two. A great resource for this is BibleGateway.com. CCC primarily uses the New International Version (NIV). Consider reading from the New Living Translation (NLT), the Christian Standard Bible (CSB), or the New American Standard Bible (NASB). Think about the word atonement, which appears once in this passage in verse 4. Conduct a word search on BibleGateway.com or in the concordance in the back of your Bible. What initial thoughts do you have about this word or where have you heard it before?
A P P LY 1. How does this passage point to Jesus? For more information, read Romans 3:23–25. 2. This passage means that you don't need to make burnt offerings today. Why?
P R AY Lord, thank you for being our offering for atonement and for the forgiveness of sins through Jesus. Thank you for being faithful and just to forgive us our sins when we confess them to you and for cleansing us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
15 Clean | Book One: Week One
Day Four: Pray Read Leviticus 2 SCRIPTURE “Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.” –Leviticus 2:13
U N D E R S TA N D Adding salt to offerings helped Israel to remember and preserve the covenant God made with them. Within a historical context, salt spoke of: • • •
Purity—sacrifices were to come from a pure heart Preservation—certain foods needed salt so they would not spoil Preciousness—adding salt made each sacrifice a bit more valuable and costly 1
R E F L E C T A N D P R AY Remember and write down a specific moment where God was faithful in your life. What does this reveal about his character?
SCRIPTURE “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” –Hebrews 9:15
R E F L E C T A N D P R AY Through Jesus, there is a new covenant. Sacrifices are no longer needed because of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus. He is pure. He preserves us. He is precious. Spend some time in reflection and prayer. • • • •
Thank Jesus Christ for his perfection and purity Contemplate Jesus’ endurance in his earthly ministry Remember how Jesus has preserved you in the past Express gratitude for the precious blood of Christ
Guzik, D. (2019, January 20). Seasoned With Salt. Enduring Word. https://enduringword.com/seasoned-with-salt/ 1
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Day Five: Meet Read Leviticus 3 Meet with friends, family, or a community group this week and pick several offerings to discuss. Read the passage from Leviticus about the Old Testament offering, then read the New Testament passages about how it points to Jesus and what it means for us today. God desires peace, fellowship, and union with his imperfect people, but God has no imperfection in him. The sacrificial system was a tangible way for the Israelites to be in right standing with God and to express their love for him.
"I'M SORRY" OFFERINGS
"THANK YOU" OFFERINGS
Atoning sacrifices remove the obstacles of sin or uncleanliness that hinder the worshiper.
Non-atoning sacrifices express a person's love for God.
Burnt Offerings (Lev. 1:2–17) To make atonement for sin; to cleanse and restore the worshiper to fellowship with God Mark 12:33; Rom. 3:25, 8:3; 2 Cor. 5:18–21; Heb. 10:1–18 Sin Offerings (Lev. 4:1–5:13) To make atonement for unintentional sins of ritual impurity, neglect, or thoughtlessness Gal. 6:1; Heb. 6:4–6, 10:26–31; 1 John 1:8–9 Guilt Offerings (Lev. 5:14–6:7) To pay for sins against God and against people in the community
Grain (Meal) Offerings (Lev. 2:1–16) To honor God with worshipful gifts and work 2 Cor. 9:1–15; 1 Tim. 5:17–18 Peace (Fellowship) Offerings (Lev. 3:1–17) To express thanks and gratitude to God through worship and a meal shared with family and friends Acts 2:42, 10:36; Rom. 5:1; 1 Cor. 10:16, 11:17–34; 2 Cor. 5:18–21
Matt. 5:23–24; Rom. 6:12–23, 7:21–8:4
DISCUSS 1.
How do these New Testament passages about offerings relate to the offering in Leviticus?
2. How has our worship changed from the Old Testament to now as followers of Jesus? 3. What do these passages tell you about the character of God (ultimately revealed to us in Jesus)? Tyndale House Publishers. (2008). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill.
17 Clean | Book One: Week One
Day Six: Do Read Leviticus 4:1--5:13 When you read Leviticus 1–7, you likely have an overwhelming sense of gratitude that you are not currently called or expected to offer animal and grain sacrifices for the atonement of sins. The Israelites were literally offering their livelihood, their food, to worship God. It calls into focus the depth of commitment and cost to the Israelites required for these sacrifices. In our 21st century context, the cost of atonement often seems far removed from our daily lives unless we are intentional about remembering Jesus’ sacrifice, the “once-for-all” sacrifice of his blood for our benefit (Hebrews 7:27, 9:12, 10:2). Yet our everyday discipleship should cost us something (Luke 9:57–62, 14:25–33). What can you do today to keep his sacrifice at the front of your mind? Make a sacrifice that costs you something. Give up some of your time, talent, rights, or resources. •
Sacrifice your time. If you normally spend the evening alone, offer the gift of time to someone you mentor, or an older adult who is shut in or lonely. Offer your time giving childcare to young parents who need a date night.
•
Sacrifice your talent. Offer to help coach a young person who is filing taxes for the first time. Offer construction skills to remodel a Hope House in Village One. Offer to sing in a nursing home worship service.
•
Sacrifice your rights. Let someone go ahead of you in line at the grocery store. Choose not to respond to an inflammatory social media post.
•
Sacrifice your resources. Offer a sacrificial, financial gift to support missionaries or residents. Give toward one of our local mission projects. Make space in your home to host an incoming resident.
These sacrifices are not just for the benefit of the receiver. You will grow in your faith and trust when you make sacrifices for Kingdom impact. Thank God for your gifts of time, talent, rights, and resources. Thank Jesus for his ultimate sacrifice on your behalf. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what you need to sacrifice to grow in your faith.
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Day Seven: Rest Read Leviticus 5:14--6:7 One of the core rhythms God established in the lives of his people in the book of Leviticus is a weekly Sabbath. The word Sabbath is mentioned over twenty times in Leviticus. In Leviticus 23:3, Moses, inspired by the Spirit, wrote, “There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of Sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the Lord.� Sabbath rest was meant to be a gift from God for renewal. Throughout this series on Leviticus, we will suggest creative ways to experiment with the rhythm of Sabbath. Sabbath focus: Our God longs for us to recognize his mysterious presence and activity in our lives. Set aside some time today to focus on God and listen to your soul. Journal some thoughts that God brings to mind regarding rest and renewal.
19 Clean | Book One: Week One
Week Two
21 Clean | Book One: Week Two
Day One: Learn
F E B R UA RY 28 | M A R K A S H TO N
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Visual Aid: (Un)Clean Eating
Barry, M. (2014). A Guide to (Un)Clean Eating [Graph]. VISUAL UNIT. https://visualunit.files.wordpress.com/ 2014/11/unclean1.pdf
*Educated guess; no clear instructions in Leviticus
23 Clean | Book One: Week Two
Day Two: Think Read Leviticus 8
What is the real issue—the food we eat or the condition of our hearts?
SCRIPTURE “Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” –Mark 7:15
READ In the book of Leviticus, this question is being addressed: how can a holy God dwell among an unholy people? We see this in a variety of laws and instructions, including a long list of what to eat and what not to eat. In the life and ministry of Jesus, he made several challenging statements in declaring all foods clean, “For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body” (Mark 7:19). This rattled Jesus’ mostly Jewish audience, and later would be abused by one of the early churches in Corinth. The church in Corinth viewed this liberty as extending into their sexual ethics, and the Apostle Paul rebuked them promptly: “You say, ‘Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.’ The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body” (1 Corinthians 6:13). In this way, we see Jesus’ chief concern is no longer about dietary restrictions or freedom to eat whatever, but instead about the hearts of those he came to save.
REFLECT In Psalm 51, David lamented, “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart…” (vv. 16–17b). Although he did not speak directly of food and food laws, how might the position of our hearts towards God inform our handling of food, substances, and behaviors—as opposed to the other way around? How has Jesus accomplished all that the sacrificial system was meant to do and more?
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Day Three: Study Read Leviticus 9 & Micah 6:6--8 SCRIPTURE Read through the Micah passage several times or in several translations. Try writing it out verse by verse to help you absorb it.
OBSERVE AND INTERPRET Much of the book of Micah is structured like one big lawsuit that God has brought against Israel for breaching their covenant in a multitude of ways. God has brought charges against his people: their government and leadership are corrupt and wicked (3:1–3), the people have engaged in idolatry (1:7), they have greedily oppressed their neighbors (2:2), and more. In this passage, Micah clarified the rules of the covenant that Israel broke. Write your observations about this passage. Mark things to do more research on or ask a friend about. Why did Micah include verses 6–7 before saying what God requires? What points was he making by including this rhetorical section? When you think of the word “holiness,” what comes to mind? Does it seem more like the things Micah lists rhetorically in verses 6–7, or does it seem more like the things God requires in verse 8?
A P P LY 1. How does this Old Testament passage relate to Jesus’ teaching? Consider Matthew 22:36–40. 2. Restate Micah 6:8 in your own words. When you consider your life, are you seeking holiness?
P R AY Prayerfully contemplate any questions or statements that have struck you as relevant from your study. Ask God to teach you what it truly means to be holy. Rest in his promises to extend grace when you feel like you can’t measure up.
25 Clean | Book One: Week Two
Day Four: Pray Read Leviticus 10:1--7 SCRIPTURE “Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.” –Acts 10:34–36 Read the passage again. Notice if a word or phrase strikes a chord within you. Meditate on the text. What do you observe? What emotions stir up inside you?
REFLECT Was there a word or phrase that the Lord impressed upon your heart? If so, ask the Lord what he might desire you to glean from the text. Where do you see Jesus present within this text? What role does Jesus have in reconciliation? What do you observe about God’s character? Read the passage a third time. Contemplate the significance this text has in your life today.
P R AY We follow a God that desires for all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:3–4). In response to this truth, spend some time doing the following: •
Praising God that he is impartial—he is accepting of all because of his great love (Deuteronomy 10:17, Ephesians 2:4–5)
•
Praying for individuals from every nation, specifically those within the 10/40 window, to believe the good news of the gospel
•
Asking God to send out workers into the harvest (Luke 10:2)
•
Requesting that God use you as an agent of peace and reconciliation (Matthew 5:9)
•
Declaring that Jesus Christ is Lord of all
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Day Five: Meet Read Leviticus 10:8--20, 11:44--45 SCRIPTURE “I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground. I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.” –Leviticus 11:44–45 What is the most bizarre food you have ever eaten? In Leviticus 11, the Israelites were taught how the interactions and consumption of certain animals was tied to being set apart as God’s chosen people. Read Leviticus 11:44–45 out loud. Why is it important for God’s people to be consecrated (set apart) from the world? What are some of your practices that reflect being set apart from the world? Read Acts 10:1–8 out loud. This passage introduces Cornelius, who lives in the region of Caesarea. What did you learn about Cornelius as a person and his understanding of God? Describe the vision given to Cornelius. Has God ever directed you to someone who helped you have a better understanding of who God is? Read Acts 10:9–16 and Romans 14:20 out loud. If God were to give you a similar vision, what items do you think would be on your “sheet”? Is there anything you should change from what you are currently doing that might keep others from discovering God? Read Acts 10:27–36, 44–48 out loud. How did Cornelius and Peter respond to what God had prepared for them in this meeting? Where can you join with God’s work in your family and neighborhood to share the good news of Jesus?
P R AY Seek God’s power to remove barriers that keep people you know from discovering his presence. Ask the Lord to open doors for people to experience the gospel this week. Pray to become receptive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance so as not to become a stumbling block to others. 27 Clean | Book One: Week Two
Day Six: Do Read Leviticus 11:1--28 In Acts 10, while Peter was praying, he received a visual aid about clean and unclean foods. He saw how his long-held assumptions about food rules had to take a backseat to the reality of God’s inclusive vision for the kingdom. It wasn’t just about what foods to eat. God wanted him to see the importance of who was invited to the table. If you are comfortable, take some time this week to schedule a meal with someone who is significantly different from you. It might be someone of a different race or age group. It might be someone with different political views or from another faith heritage. As you eat the meal together, “seek to understand, not to be understood.”2 Alternate sharing your story with hearing theirs. Ask specific questions such as the following: •
What shaped their views as they grew up?
•
What do you have in common?
•
What can you learn from each other’s differences?
•
How can you pray for one another?
Listen well. Pray together. Through this experience, perhaps we will learn, as Peter did, that “God does not show favoritism” (Acts 10:34).
P R AY God, forgive us when we spend all our time with people who are just like us. Help us to recognize each person’s intrinsic value as “made in God’s image.” Forgive us when we make assumptions about people or “put them in a box.” Give us compassionate hearts that listen well. Show us how we can learn and grow from every interaction with someone who is different from us. Amen.
Covey, S. R. (2020). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (30th Anniversary ed.). Simon & Schuster. 2
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Day Seven: Rest Read Leviticus 11:29--47 What does your Sabbath rhythm look like? Each of us approaches Sabbath in a unique way because we have different life circumstances and stages. We are also created uniquely by God and enjoy different things. Sabbath is a spiritual discipline, and disciplines take practice. How can you grow this year as you practice taking a Sabbath? If you are new to taking a Sabbath, start with the resource page at cccomaha.org/sabbath. Write down life-giving ideas to add, and stress/work items you want to remove (laundry, social media, emails, dishes, working, etc.). Then start small, spending a few hours doing what is restful and worshipful for you. If you are already enjoying the practice of keeping the Sabbath, is there anything that you would do differently? Think about opportunities you may have to share with someone else the joy of what Sabbath means to you to encourage them to begin the practice. Sabbath focus: What needs to change in my normal, weekly routine to make Sabbath happen? What activities are restful and worshipful for me? Revise your Sabbath rhythm to fit.
29 Clean | Book One: Week Two
Week Three
31 Clean | Book One: Week Three
Day One: Learn M A R C H 7 | M A R K A S H TO N
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Visual Aid: Clean vs. Unclean The Holy Space was the category closest to God. This category included things such as sacred artifacts, relics, or priests—anything designated as "holy" or "set apart" for the work of God. The common category was next. These items simply had an ordinary purpose. The unclean category was last, and it contained what was the furthest from God. These objects, people, and spaces were not necessarily sinful or evil, but were considered dirty. They could be restored to clean or common status through certain waiting periods or rituals. Throughout Leviticus, look for the various methods of promotion or demotion into different categories.
Wenham, G. J. (2008). Exploring the Old Testament: A Guide to the Pentateuch (Vol. 1). Amsterdam University Press. 92.
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Clean | Book One: Week Three
Day Two: Think Read Leviticus 12 SCRIPTURE “A woman who[...] gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period.” –Leviticus 12:2
READ Childbirth is messy. A mother labors for hours, sometimes days, with only one possible end. Helpless, her body gives everything to begin a new life. It is an involuntary act of courage, a testament to a woman’s resilience. But after sapping her strength and subjecting her to the mercy of others, childbirth makes this woman unclean. From our modern viewpoint, it is easy to see this as yet another indignity. But this law was not written for us. In the ancient world, a woman lived at the mercy of men. Her father ruled her life until she married, when he gave control to her husband. She had no rights or recourse. At a time when women had no voice, God stepped in and provided what she needed: time and protection. As someone declared unclean, a woman required help with daily life. She could not care for other children, tend animals, or perform basic household chores. Anything the new mother touched became unclean, threatening the community as it spread. Relatives and neighbors stepped in as a way to protect each other. Her husband, not wanting to become unclean himself, left her alone to heal. This law was not a punishment. It was provision. God spoke on her behalf, giving her the rest she needed and the community support she required. And in a culture where blood was taboo, God also provided a way out. While publicly announcing the end of her bleeding sounds mortifying, for this woman, it was a gift. It was her opportunity to reenter society, to be a part of everyday life again. No one would hesitate to have her in their home. They would not shy away from her touch. She was clean again, her body healed. Her need was met through God’s hedge of protection.
REFLECT Are there boundaries in your walk with Jesus which are, in fact, hedges planted to protect you? When restrictions chafe, stop and ask God to reveal his heart and the ways he provides every day.
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Day Three: Study Read Leviticus 12 & Mark 5:25-- 34 SCRIPTURE Read through Mark 5:25–34 twice. The second time through the text, notice if a word, phrase, or verse catches your attention.
OBSERVE AND INTERPRET See if you can answer any or all of the following questions: •
Who is highlighted in this story?
•
What questions do you have concerning the text?
•
What is the surrounding historical, social, and cultural context?
•
If a certain word or phrase caught your attention, what is the original definition in Greek?
•
Who is the author addressing/who is the original audience?
•
What commands, if any, do you observe in the text?
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What do you notice about Jesus’ character?
•
What does God reveal about himself?
Reread the passage in a different translation or two. A great resource for this is BibleGateway.com. CCC primarily uses the New International Version (NIV). Consider reading from the New Living Translation (NLT), the Christian Standard Bible (CSB), or the New American Standard Bible (NASB).
A P P LY In Mark 5:34, Jesus calls this woman “daughter.” This is the only time in Scripture that Jesus refers to someone as such. Do you live as though you are a beloved son or daughter of Christ? How might the tenderness of this title impact how you view God? What other ways does this passage have significance in your life?
P R AY Increase my faith, Lord. Grow my perspective of you. Expand my knowledge of your Word. Thank you, Jesus, that you came in the form of a slave. Thank you that you are a healer. Thank you for dying in my place. Amen.
35 Clean | Book One: Week Three
Day Four: Pray Read Leviticus 12 SCRIPTURE “When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering. He shall offer them before the Lord to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood.” –Leviticus 12:6–7
REFLECT This chapter may create an abundance of emotions as you read it. Perhaps you experienced confusion, indignation, gratitude, or a different emotion entirely. If you found yourself wrestling with this text, rest assured that you have a God who meets you right where you are. This Levitical law demonstrates that God takes sin seriously. Although childbearing is a command given by God (Genesis 1:28) and children are seen as a gift (Psalm 127:3), God wanted to remind the Israelites that new life brought another sinner into the world. The sin that was symbolically placed on the mother required atonement by a sacrificial lamb. A messy and gory blood sacrifice was needed for the woman to be considered clean (Leviticus 12:7). However, a New Covenant was forged through the slaughter of the perfect lamb, the Lamb of God (John 1:29). Through this covenant, all who believe are forgiven and cleansed from unrighteousness, once and for all (1 John 1:9). God still takes sin seriously, but now—through the Lamb that bore the sin of many—believers are declared clean (Isaiah 53:12).
M E D I TAT E : R E V E L AT I O N 5 : 1 2 “In a loud voice they were saying: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’”
P R AY Abba, I confess my sin to you and repent of the ways in which I fall short of the holy standard you require. Thank you for sending your Son, the Lamb of God, who would be slain for the sins of many. I stand fully reconciled to you Father, washed and covered by the blood of Lamb. Worthy, worthy, worthy is the Lamb who was slain. Amen. 36 Christ Communit y Church
Day Five: Meet Read Leviticus 12 Discuss the things you have heard, read, studied, and prayed about this week with friends, family, or a community group. Feel free to tap into other days or exercises from this week. Leviticus 12 deals with childbirth and its ceremonies for the ancient Jewish people. To many of us, childbirth can be both scary and beautiful, with its own ceremonies and practices before and after. What are “modern-day ceremonies” that you can think of surrounding the birth of a child? (Spoilers: visits to an obstetrician, packing a hospital bag, maternity leave, dedication ceremonies) Read Leviticus 12 out loud. What things stand out to you or confuse you? Read Luke 2:21–24 out loud. This passage is about the time following the birth of Jesus. Look at Joseph and Mary’s actions in these verses and point out the ties to Leviticus 12. What observations can you make about Joseph, Mary, and Jesus? Read Mark 5:25–29, 32–34 out loud. This passage is about a healing that took place during Jesus’ ministry. What is different about this situation from the other two passages? What does this tell us about Jesus, if a woman forbidden from touching anything sacred in her condition could be made clean, instead of making Jesus unclean? What power does he possess?
P R AY What are you thankful for this week? What has been difficult? Give thanks for mothers, for childbirth, and for Jesus, who has the power to make us clean, no matter what condition we are in.
37 Clean | Book One: Week Three
Day Six: Do Read Leviticus 12 & Matthew 9:20 Imagine how the women of Moses’ day must have felt when they heard the purity laws in Leviticus 12. Through no fault of their own (only based on their gender and a reality that God himself designed), they have an extra monthly sacrifice to make restitution for their “uncleanness.” The women have no choice in the matter. Simply by being female, they are considered “unclean” every few weeks. Multiply this pain for the woman in Matthew 9. Her “uncleanness” has been nonstop for twelve years, but she hopes that this time, this rabbi will be able to help her. She has faith that he can and will help her. And he does. This week, consider making a financial donation to support women or girls who are sometimes stigmatized because of periods, pregnancy, or both. •
Donate financially to Days for Girls. Their mission is to increase access to menstrual care and education by developing global partnerships, cultivating social enterprises, mobilizing volunteers, and innovating sustainable solutions that shatter stigmas and limitations for women and girls. Learn more at daysforgirls.org.
•
Donate resources to Assure Women’s Center. There are women right here in the Omaha area facing a pregnancy without the resources to raise a family. Assure Women’s Center makes sure women have emotional counseling and financial support to make the best decision for their circumstances. Assure also has volunteer opportunities available. Learn more at assureomaha.com.
P R AY Father God, we pray for women and girls that are stigmatized or abused around the world. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear when women are devalued simply because of their gender. Help us to be encouragers and equippers of both men and women, knowing that their sacrifice was already offered by Jesus, and that they have equal value in God’s eyes. Amen.
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Day Seven: Rest Read Exodus 20 In Exodus 20, the fourth of the Ten commandments is rooted in creation. “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy” (v. 11). Hans Urs von Balthasar (a Swiss theologian in the mid1900s) wrote, “God’s beauty is God’s power to attract, to give pleasure, to create desire, to awaken joy and wonder.” Beauty has power to reinforce in our hearts and minds that God is good to the core—even in a broken world. Sabbath focus: For Sabbath rest today, set aside time to delight in creation beauty as a means of connecting with our creative God. What beauty will you receive and then give back in the praise and honor that God deserves? Surround your senses with colors, textures, tastes, fragrances, candles, sounds, and sweetness. Delight in it, just as God did with his own creation on the seventh day.
Allender, D. (2010). Sabbath: The Ancient Practices. Thomas Nelson. p. 44, 70.
39 Clean | Book One: Week Three
Week Four
41 Clean | Book One: Week Four
Day One: Learn M A R C H 1 4 | J E D LO G U E
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Visual Aid: The Cycle of Sanctification Levitical rules demonstrated that Israel was separate for God. Certain foods, people, and spaces in Leviticus were considered holy, clean, or unclean. The food they ate, the clothes they wore, their sexual ethic, the manner in which they treated outsiders, and how they dealt with mold and skin diseases made them different from other nations. As an Israelite, if you became unclean, there was a way to move back to a clean or holy status. The relationships with God and with your community were able to be restored. These rules also managed infectious disease, molds, and unhealthy foods in a practical manner. Leviticus was designed to be a gift to Israel, enabling them to be clean and holy before the Lord who lived in their midst.
Hill, A. E., & Walton, J. H. (2009). A Survey of the Old Testament (3rd ed.). Zondervan. 133.
43 Clean | Book One: Week Four
Day Two: Think Read Leviticus 13 SCRIPTURE “Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’” –Leviticus 13:45
READ How horrible to be forced to cry out in the presence of another person, “Unclean! Unclean!” We spend a great deal of our combined resources doing the exact opposite, creating an image that says, “I have it all together! I have it all together!” Truth be told, our reality is that we are crying out, “Unclean! Unclean!” but we do so in silence, suffering internally. We are hoping someone will come and save us. There is someone who has saved us from being unclean—his name is Jesus! The prophet Isaiah speaks of being unclean in Isaiah 6:5, taking the concept to a deeper level within human nature. “For I am a man of unclean lips,” he cried. What we discover in Isaiah refers to something from within the man, not something outside the man, that causes him to be ceremonially unclean. In the New Testament, we discover the fullness of the concept in Jesus’ statement, “Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them” (Mark 7:15). In the fullness of uncleanliness, we discover something spiritual. Being unclean pierces through the skin, through the lips into the heart of the man or woman. What causes us to be unclean comes from our heart and mind, existing in our soul. The corrupt heart longs to fill its emptiness with the desires of the flesh, while the corrupt mind produces corrupt thoughts and corrupt reasoning, leading to destruction. To remedy this, we must begin to trust others and God. In The Anatomy of the Soul, Curt Thompson, M.D. writes, “your relationship with God is a direct reflection of the depth of your relationship with others.” 3 The consequence of being unclean for the Israelite was to be removed from the community and from relationship. In Christ, we discover acceptance, love, and grace, all while being invited into community and into relationships that lead to the healing of our heart, mind, and soul. Thompson, C. (2010). Anatomy of the soul: surprising connections between neuroscience and spiritual practices that can transform your life and relationships. Carol Stream, IL: SaltRiver. 24. 3
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Day Three: Study Read Leviticus 13:3, 6, 8, 11, 15, 17, & 22--23 SCRIPTURE “Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’” –Leviticus 13:45 “‘Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.’” –Isaiah 6:5 “Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, ‘Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.’” –Mark 7:14–15
OBSERVE AND INTERPRET What are the basic, timeless truths found in the passages from Leviticus, Isaiah, and Mark?
A P P LY How can these truths be applied to your life? In view of these truths, what changes can or should you make in your life? How do you plan to carry out these changes? Be specific.
P R AY Ask God for his grace, wisdom, and discernment in answering these questions and in carrying out any changes needed.
45 Clean | Book One: Week Four
Day Four: Pray Read Leviticus 13:29--39, 46 SCRIPTURE “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” –1 John 1:5–10 (ESV)
U N D E R S TA N D John sees an intrinsic connection (as we see in 1 John 1:3–4) between our relationship with each other and our relationship with God. One is not possible without the other. It is curious that instead of saying that those who walk in the light “have fellowship with God” (as his opponents argued in verse 6), John says that fellowship with each other is the most obvious consequence.4
R E F L E C T A N D P R AY Think back to a time in your life when you needed Christ to cleanse you from sin. How was his faithfulness revealed to you? Was the burden of guilt or shame lifted from you? If yes, give him thanks for his faithfulness. If there’s a remnant of guilt or shame, ask him to reveal to you what needs to be overcome to experience the fullness of his grace.
Burge, G. M. (1998). The NIV Application Commentary: The Letters of John. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. 69. 4
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Day Five: Meet Read Leviticus 13:40--46 Discuss the things you’ve heard, read, studied, and prayed about this week with friends, family, or a community group. Feel free to tap into other days or exercises from this week. The diversity of the people Jesus choose to heal is one of the amazing aspects of his ministry.
SCRIPTURE “When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, ‘See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’” –Matthew 8:1–4
DISCUSS In Matthew 8, Jesus heals a leper, the centurion’s servant, Peter’s mother-in-law, and a demon-possessed, sickly person. Regardless of a person's background, their social standing, gender, or age, Jesus healed people from all walks of life. He is still doing so today. 1. How do you see Jesus continuing to engage in healing today? 2. Can you recall a moment in which you received healing from Christ? 3. Have you ever sensed the Holy Spirit calling you to be a part of another person’s healing journey, whether the healing was in their thinking, their relationships, or their physical body?
47 Clean | Book One: Week Four
Day Six: Do Read Leviticus 13:47--59 & Matthew 8:1--4 READ Growing up in the middle of America during the Cold War, my* views on communist countries were filled with disgust—even hatred—of a land and a people I only knew through the evening news. As I grew older and became a believer, my worldview changed. I gradually became more compassionate and graceful, so much so that I would eventually make several trips to those countries I once hated. Recently, I traveled to El Dorado (CCC's code name for a country south of Florida) to help house-church pastors develop counseling skills. I discovered that not only do I not hate them, I have brotherly affection for them as individuals and as a body of believers! In Matthew 8:1–4, Jesus brought the Kingdom of God into a broken world by demonstrating compassion and mercy to people in desperate need of both. As you read on through chapter nine, and indeed throughout the whole of the gospels, we continue to see Jesus’s provision to people in need. As we continue our sanctifying journey with Christ, we are called to demonstrate compassion and mercy as well. Family members, friends, coworkers, and people we would consider strangers are in need of our compassion and mercy.
REFLECT Take time this week and consider those around you who are in need of compassion and mercy, such one or several of the following: • • • • •
A family member A friend A coworker A stranger A group of people, an organization, or a nation
Is Christ calling you to be on mission to reach a specific people group (a local group or a nation)? As you seek to be on mission with him, ask Christ to lead you to people who need compassion. Then, follow the wind of the Spirit! *This devotional was written by Marc Montanye.
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Day Seven: Rest Read Leviticus 14:1--32 In Deuteronomy 5, Moses repeated the Ten Commandments and anchored the fourth commandment in God’s redemptive work of delivering the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. Inspired by the Spirit, Moses reminded the people: “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore, the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day” (Deuteronomy 5:15). Just as the Israelites needed freedom from hard labor and slavery, so we need freedom from a “culture of more… Lust for more food, more drink, more clothes, more devices, more apps, more things, more square footage, more experiences, more stamps on the passport—more.” 5 Sabbath focus: As you practice Sabbath rest today, reflect on things that tend to enslave you. Through God’s grace, set them aside so that you might carve out space to simply enjoy God and his blessings. Write down all the things for which you are grateful and then wait quietly to see if God wants to respond to your grateful heart. Write down whatever impressions come to mind. You can test them or discern if they really came from God later. Not only is this a great practice to do on a Sabbath, but is a great spiritual discipline to engage in throughout the week as it fosters dialogue with our personal God.
Comer, J. M. (2019). The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. Waterbrook. 165.
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49 Clean | Book One: Week Four
Week Five
51 Clean | Book One: Week Five
Day One: Learn M A R C H 21 | M A R K A S H TO N
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Visual Aid: Ritual Purity There were five common things that caused a person to become unclean: skin diseases, bodily fluids, dead bodies, mold, and certain foods. Remember that “unclean� does not mean evil, but impure. Unclean items were a reason to avoid people, spaces, or behaviors that would spread contamination. When an unclean person touched other people or objects, those people or objects also became unclean. In order to stop the spread of disease, unclean people were required to leave the camp. These laws also helped people distance themselves from things that could adversely affect health, such as dead things, leprosy, and mold.
e Five Catego es of Unclean: S n
Bodily Fluids
Dead Bodies
Mold
Food
53 Clean | Book One: Week Five
Day Two: Think Read Leviticus 14:33--57 SCRIPTURE “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate.” –Matthew 7:13a (NLT)
READ Since the start of COVID-19, we've been told to wash our hands. Bottles of hand sanitizer and precise directions for hand washing are everywhere. Hand washing is a simple, yet effective, method for preventing the spread of the virus. In Leviticus 15, the Lord gave Moses and Aaron precise rules for the Israelites regarding bodily discharges, many related to marriage activities. These rules kept the Israelites from the spread of disease and the infection of spiritual and sexual practices of the people surrounding them. Just as washing our hands prevents the spread of COVID-19, for God’s holy people to survive, the Israelites needed to follow the rules God gave to be kept from physical and spiritual disease. God has given the Ten Commandments as rules to follow, but as we try to follow them, we fall short every time. Cleansing ourselves of sin is impossible because the sin is not on the surface, like dirt on our hands, but it has seeped into every part. In Matthew 7:13, Jesus stated that we can only enter heaven by the narrow gate, and he is that gate. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, he washes not only our hands, but our hearts. We can lift our cleansed hands and hearts and praise him! As disease spreads and harms, so sin spreads and harms those around us. Jesus desires for us to strive to be like him every day. He is concerned about the purity of our hearts. In Matthew 7, Jesus shared ways to keep our hearts clean. He tells us to stop judging others, to be concerned with the log in our eye, to keep asking in prayer, to stay on the narrow path, to watch for false prophets, and to be doers of the Word. He wants us to check our hearts daily to be sure they are clean. Just as washing our hands can help stop the spread of COVID-19, accepting Jesus as Lord and striving to be like him daily can help stop the spread of sin. Jesus is concerned about our clean hearts. How clean is yours?
REFLECT 1. Have you asked Jesus to cleanse you from all of your sins? 2. Are you striving to live as Jesus did daily? 54 Christ Communit y Church
Day Three: Study Read Leviticus 15:1--15 SCRIPTURE Focus on verses 13–15. Write down words that stick out to you or questions you may have about the text. You may read the entire chapter if you desire.
OBSERVE AND INTERPRET Revisit what you wrote. Can you answer any of the questions with the passage? Reread the passage in a different translation or two. A great resource for this is BibleGateway.com. CCC primarily uses the New International Version (NIV). Consider reading from the New Living Translation (NLT), the Christian Standard Bible (CSB), or the New American Standard Bible (NASB). Think about the word cleansed, which appears multiple times in Leviticus 15. According to the KJV Bible Dictionary, the definition of cleanse is “to make clean; to remove filth [...] by washing,” “to purify from guilt,” and “to remove; as to cleanse a crime.” Conduct a word search on BibleGateway.com or in the concordance in the back of your Bible. What initial thoughts do you have about this word or where have you heard it before?
A P P LY 1. How does the passage point us toward Jesus? Why don’t we offer sacrifices anymore? 2. Consider 1 John 1:7 (NLT), which says, “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.” 3. What are the similarities and differences between the way Jesus cleanses us from sin and the way the Israelites were cleansed from their bodily discharges? 4. Having been cleansed by his blood, how can you walk fully in the light?
P R AY Lord, thank you for cleansing us from all sin so we might have fellowship with you. Help us to live in the light, as you are in the light. We pray for clean hands and pure hearts (Psalm 24:4). 55 Clean | Book One: Week Five
Day Four: Pray Read Leviticus 15:16--24, Mark 7:1--23 SCRIPTURE Meditate on Mark 7:6–8: “He replied, ‘Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.’”
R E F L E C T A N D P R AY Spend some time in prayer by meditating on the prompts below. Adoration •
Worship God for his greatness and goodness (Psalm 104)
•
Exalt God for the perfection of his Word (Psalm 19:7–10)
Confession •
Profess ways in which you may have followed God’s commands, yet your heart was far from him
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Acknowledge if you have relied on salvation by works of the law and not through faith alone (Galatians 2:16)
Thanksgiving •
Express gratitude that God desires our hearts and not our works (Psalm 51:16–17)
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Praise Jesus Christ that he has set believers free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1–4)
Supplication •
Ask God for help in drawing your heart closer to him
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Request that you be reminded that salvation is through grace alone, and not by works
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Day Five: Meet Read Leviticus 15:25--33 Leviticus 15 instructs the Israelites when they were to observe certain washings and cleansing to remain undefiled and clean. Think back to when you were a child. What was the most fun you had getting dirty? This chapter addresses two types of cleansing from defilement: ceremonial (15:13, 28) and sexual (15:18, 24). Read Leviticus 15:31 out loud. Why was it so important that the Israelites enter God’s presence clean and undefiled? What has God done to allow you to be clean and undefiled in his presence? Read Mark 7:1–5 out loud. What did the Pharisees and teachers of the law believe defiled a person? What interactions and activities would an Israelite experience in the marketplace that would make them ceremonially unclean? What does ceremonial washing reveal about their view of religion? Read Mark 7:8–16 out loud. An item declared corban (devoted to God) would be unavailable to be given away. What does this practice reveal about how twisted the Pharisees had become about observing the law? How has the system of this world and selfish desires gotten you off track in a proper view of what defiles you? Read Mark 7:17–23 and 12:30–31 out loud. How does Jesus help his disciples understand the difference between an unclean and clean heart? What are specific things that come out of your heart that you wish would change? How can the group help you take steps this week to love God and our neighbors?
P R AY Pray through Psalm 51. Linger over verses 2, 7, and 10 and express that desire unto the Lord. Use verses 14–15 as a group to prayerfully express joy and thankfulness for the cleansing power of the heart.
57 Clean | Book One: Week Five
Day Six: Do Read Leviticus 15, Mark 7:1--23 The Pharisees criticized Jesus and his followers for eating with “unclean” hands. Focusing on exterior rules (“Wash your hands!”) instead of the needs of the people (“We are hungry!”) meant that the Pharisees missed out on the heart of God. We’ve heard a lot about “unclean” hands this past year. While polarization runs deep between hand-washers, mask-wearers, and rights-claimers, the heart of God is that we show love and compassion for the people around us. Our motivation for washing hands and wearing masks is based on God’s love for others, and not on a strict rule-following paradigm. Whether you’ve had COVID personally, had to quarantine to avoid getting it, or had to isolate from family because of it, it’s likely that all of us have gained compassion for the “unclean” over the last year. Spend some time this week offering comfort to someone you know who is sick or isolated. •
Mail a card or send flowers to someone who is sick. If you have children in your household, make homemade cards together and deliver them in person (or at least do a window visit).
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Call someone who is currently in quarantine or isolation and share some encouraging conversation. If you don’t know anyone in that situation, reach out to our Seniors Minister Paul Gedden, who can connect you with some shut-ins (PaulG@cccomaha.org, 402.938.1574).
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Pray over email or social media with someone who is lonely.
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Send a thank-you card to a healthcare worker, a parent of young children, or an educator. This season has been particularly hard for them.
P R AY Creator God, we know that you made every cell in our bodies and that you know exactly what each virus entails and what each person needs. We ask that you heal sick bodies, encourage the lonely, and strengthen the healthcare providers. Give us patience as we wait for vaccines and wonder about their viability. Give each of us the capacity to stay well, and compassion for those who are sick. Amen.
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Day Seven: Rest Read Mark 7 In the New Testament, Paul focuses on freedom from the law (which would include Sabbath keeping—see Colossians 2:14–17) because the Spirit enables us to fulfill God’s will apart from external observance of the law’s demands. The author of Hebrews speaks of the Sabbath as a type of “God’s rest” (Hebrews 4). He does not tell his readers to keep the Sabbath, but rather urges them to “strive to enter [the] rest” Christ provides (Hebrews 4:11, ESV). However, because of inventions like the clock, the lightbulb, 24/7 shopping options, and the iPhone, our lives have become so hectic and noisy that we miss God and an awareness of his presence in our lives. Sabbath focus: Consider these ways to cultivate a rest-filled Sabbath. Enjoy a meal with friends, time with family, a walk in the forest, an afternoon tea. Slow down long enough to enjoy life with God, who offers everything that materialism promises but can never deliver on—namely, contentment.
59 Clean | Book One: Week Five
Week Six
61 Clean | Book One: Week Six
Day One: Learn M A R C H 28 | M A R K A S H TO N
If you missed this message or would like to watch it again, visit cccomaha.org/messages.
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Visual Aid: The Scapegoat Process “Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the Lord and sacrifice it for a sin offering. But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat.” –Leviticus 16:9–10 On the Day of Atonement, the pinnacle of the Jewish calendar, two key elements took center stage. After the high priest made sacrifices for himself and his people, entering into the Holy of Holies to make atonement—the second major element began. Two goats were brought forth. One was offered as a sin offering on behalf of the people. The second, called the scapegoat, wore a red collar while the high priest confessed the nations’ sins over its head, symbolizing their transfer to the goat. This goat was sent out of the tabernacle and into the wilderness—and the goat and sins it carried went far away, never to return.
The Sacrificial Goat
The Scapegoat
SIN OFFERING
S E N T I N TO THE WILDERNESS
63 Clean | Book One: Week Six
Day Two: Think Read Leviticus 16 SCRIPTURE “He [Jesus] did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.” –Hebrews 9:12
READ The Day of Atonement was the greatest day of the year for Israel. It was the day when the high priest would enter into the inner sanctuary to offer sacrifices to God to atone for the sins of the people. This word atone simply means to cover over one’s debts. As great of a day as this was for the Israelites, God used it to point to something even greater. It was prophesied in Isaiah that one would come to make an atoning sacrifice once and for all: “...my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:11). Jesus fulfilled this prophecy! He died a gruesome death on a cross to atone for the sins of the whole world, both past and future sins. Unlike the animals sacrificed on the Day of Atonement, he defeated death and came back to life. His sacrifice obtained for us eternal redemption. As a result, it is no longer necessary for us to sacrifice animals to cover over our sins. His one-time sacrifice does more than just cover over our sins, it takes them away permanently.
REFLECT “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm, and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf” (Hebrews 6:19–20a). How does the Day of Atonement show us the need for such a sacrifice? God sent his son to be this ultimate sacrifice and die the death we deserved. Rest in the truth that our salvation is secure in Christ.
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Day Three: Study Read Leviticus 16 in a new translation & Hebrews 10:11--18 What is God speaking to you through the text upon first examination? Invite God to make things stand out to you. Write down words that stick out to you or questions you have about the text.
OBSERVE AND INTERPRET Read the passages in a different translation. Revisit the things you jotted down. Have you gained insight to answer any of the questions you wrote down? God calls the Day of Atonement “a lasting ordinance” in Leviticus 16:29, 31, and 34. What does it mean that God created the Day of Atonement to be a “lasting ordinance”? Why does God take this ritual so seriously? How does Jesus’ work fulfill and replace the yearly Day of Atonement? You may have to read more of Hebrews to feel like you have a good handle on this.
A P P LY Leviticus 16:30–31 says, “because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins. It is a day of Sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance.” The people of Israel are told to practice Sabbath rest and self-denial in light of the atonement. How is this similar to our response to Jesus’ atoning work? Hebrews tells us that in Jesus we are not only forgiven from the sins we have committed, but that God rewrites his law on our hearts and minds. There is a powerful, permanent, transformative work in Christ that “by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10:14). Why can we believe we have been “made perfect” and “holy” even when we don’t feel, think, or act like we’ve been “perfected”? How does that affect the way we hope and live?
P R AY Lord, thank you for being our offering for atonement, for the forgiveness of sins, and for making us new by writing your law on our hearts and minds through Jesus. Thank you for being faithful and just to forgive us our sins when we confess them to you and for cleansing us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
65 Clean | Book One: Week Six
Day Four: Pray Read Leviticus 16:6--10 SCRIPTURE “From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’). And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.” –Matthew 27:45–46, 50
M E D I TAT E Reflect on the song “Jesus Paid It All” (originally written by Elvina M. Hall). To listen to the song, scan the code below. I hear the Savior say "Thy strength indeed is small; Child of weakness Watch and pray Find in Me thine all in all"
Jesus paid it all All to Him I owe Sin had left a crimson stain He washed it white as snow Oh, praise the One Who paid my debt And raised this life up from the dead Oh, praise the One Who paid my debt And raised this life up from the dead (Repeat 3x)
Lord, now indeed I find Thy power and Thine alone Jesus died my soul to save And melt my heart of stone Jesus paid it all All to Him I owe Sin had left a crimson stain He washed it white as snow
To listen to this song on YouTube, scan this code with the camera on your smartphone or go online and type in urlgeni.us/youtube/worship.
And when before the throne I stand in Him complete Jesus died my soul to save My lips shall still repeat
P R AY Adorn Jesus with all praise, honor, and glory for serving as the perfect atonement. Thank Jesus for paying your debt and melting your heart of stone.
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Day Five: Meet Read Leviticus 16:11--19 Discuss the things you have heard, read, studied, and prayed about this week with friends, family, or a community group. Feel free to tap into other days or exercises from this week. Leviticus 16 introduces the Day of Atonement to God’s chosen family. It is an instruction manual for Aaron, the priest, to offer very special sacrifices on behalf of himself and all of the people. What is your favorite clothing item or outfit? What is your favorite scent (candle, perfume/cologne, food, etc.)? Why are they your favorite or important to you? Read Leviticus 16:3–5, 11–14 out loud. What was the priest Aaron instructed to wear? What was he instructed to carry behind the curtain? Read John 19:38–42 out loud. This passage is about the burial of Jesus after his gruesome death, according to John’s gospel account. Who was present in this passage? Where else did they appear in Scripture? What elements can be tied back to the specific instructions given to Aaron in Leviticus 16? Read Hebrews 9:11–14 out loud. The author of Hebrews most likely wrote to a Jewish audience, making the case that Jesus fulfilled, completed, and is greater than the Levitical law given to the priests. What key player from Leviticus 16 could you say that “Jesus is greater than?” Based on the three passages read, what similarities and what differences exist between Jesus and Aaron? If we are followers of Jesus, what does this mean for us today compared to the Israelites in the time of the Levitical law? What is the good news here?
P R AY Give thanks together in prayer. Give thanks for Jesus, a greater high priest, who both offers an eternal sacrifice and is himself that sacrifice. Pray for the needs of your group together, and that God’s Spirit will continue to cleanse your consciences and lead you into continued service to God.
67 Clean | Book One: Week Six
Good Friday Special:
Day Six: Do
THE PASSOVER SEDER MEAL
Read Leviticus 16:20--28 WAT C H Scan this code with the camera on your smartphone or go online and type in urlgeni.us/vimeo/passover. This will bring up a video of Justin Kron explaining the significance of the “Passover Seder,” a traditional Jewish meal that Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion (watch 16:26–38:22 [22 minutes total]).*
DO Invite your family and friends to share this special meal and to see how it points to Jesus! Use the list below to prepare and use the script on the right for the dinner.
REFLECT After the meal, reflect on what you’ve learned. How might you continue to practice remembrance, thanksgiving, communion, and anticipation in your daily rhythms with friends and family? Consider hosting another meal with the same people in the weeks to come!
LEARN MORE If you're interested in learning more about the Passover Seder, or learning about some elements we did not include in this script, look up the following: • •
Charoset (replaced here with applesauce) Hand washing before the saltwater/herbs
What You Need • • • • •
One pillow per person A print or digital Bible Parsley or celery Salt water Romaine lettuce
• • •
Hiding the Afikomen The Beitzah A plate set for Elijah and opening the door
Adjusted to be accessible with simple groceries
• • • •
Horseradish Applesauce Any cooked meat (preferably with bones) Matzo/matzah bread or crackers 68
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•
• •
Juice (preferably grape; enough for four cups per participant) A candle (optional) A dinner meal
Seder Script
Condensed for those who are not ethnically Jewish
1.
Light the candle or flicker your lights to mark the commencement of the Seder.
Answer: We recline or sit comfortably as free people. 13. Read Proverbs 24:17 aloud.
2. Provide everyone with a plate. Set the matzah bread on the table (three pieces wrapped in a cloth).
Say: Pharaoh refused to let Israel go, so God sent ten plagues to change his mind. We remove a drop for each plague to not celebrate Egypt’s pain.
3. Read Luke 22:17–18 aloud, pray, then drink the first cup of juice.
Dip your finger in and place a drop for each plague on your plate before drinking the second cup.
4. Dip your parsley or celery into salt water and eat. Say: We celebrate the Passover to remember how God brought the Israelites out of Egypt. 5.
14. Hold up the meat and say: This bone reminds us of the Passover lamb killed in Exodus 11–12. Jesus is our Passover lamb who died to take the punishment for our sin.
Ask: Why are we eating unleavened bread on this night?
Read Psalm 113 and 114 together.
Answer: The Israelites didn’t have time for the dough to rise when they left Egypt. Leaven also represents sin, and its removal represents our new creation in Jesus.
15. Eat dinner. 16. Take the broken piece of matzah and say: When Jesus celebrated the last Passover before his death, he took this hidden bread and broke it, giving thanks. He then gave some to his disciples and said, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).
6. Remove the middle piece of matzah, break it into two pieces, and wrap one half in a napkin. Say: This bread of affliction reminds us that Jesus suffered for our sins.
Give everyone a piece and eat.
7. Read Isaiah 53:5 and Zechariah 12:10 out loud. 8.
17. Say: Then Jesus took the third cup, the cup of redemption, and blessed it, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20).
Ask: Why are we eating bitter herbs on this night? Answer: To remember the Israelites’ harsh slavery in Egypt.
Drink the third cup.
9. Dip some romaine or matzah in horseradish and eat it.
18. Say: After Jesus and his disciples ate the hidden matzah and drank the third cup, they sang a hymn (Matthew 26:30).
10. Ask: Why do we dip our vegetables twice on this night, once in salt water and again in something sweet?
Read Psalm 118 together.
Answer: To remember the tears of the Israelites in Egypt, and to remind us that their—and our—hope is found in God.
19. Say: The last cup is the cup of praise. Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
11. Dip more romaine or matzah in applesauce and eat it.
Drink the fourth cup.
12. Ask: Why have we brought our pillows to this meal?
20. To end the Seder, everyone should say: Next year in [New] Jerusalem!
Galan, B. (2008). Christ in the Passover: Celebrate a Christian Seder [Pamphlet]. Peabody, MA: Rose Publishing, LLC.
*Used with permission from Justin Kron (Chosen People Ministries) and Crossroads Community Church / Pastor Scott Nichols of Carol Stream, IL.
69 Clean | Book One: Week Six
Day Seven: Rest Read Leviticus 16:29--34 Did you know that the Sabbath doesn’t have to be on Sunday? Pick a day of the week that makes the most sense for you. Traditional Jewish law observes Sabbath from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. To be successful with your Sabbath, prepare for it the day before. This may look like grocery shopping, pre-making your dinner (however, if you enjoy cooking, then you can leave it for the Sabbath), cleaning your house, or doing anything that would be considered work. Next, plan for the day. Think of something you can do to make the day stand apart—a special dessert, a trip for donuts, a picnic at the park, a friend you want to have coffee with, a favorite book to read, et cetera. Finally, when it comes to the actual day of Sabbath, turn off your phone and computer (or at least, limit your time). Reflect on the past six weeks. What new practices have been most beneficial to you? Which practices would you like to learn more about?
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What is your best next step? Thank you for joining us as we unearth how the book of Leviticus points towards the gospel of Jesus. We’re excited to continue with you on this journey! Take a moment to reflect on what you’ve learned over the past six weeks. Ask what your best next step towards Jesus might be. Here are a few ideas: • Pick up or download Clean: Book Two. Visit cccomaha.org/clean. • Share what you’ve learned with family or friends. • Find other ways to serve or contribute. Text “MADEFORTHIS” to 94000 to serve with CCC. • Get connected with CCC by scanning the QR code below or by visiting cccomaha.org/connect.
71 Clean | Book One
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