Session 8: Part 4(Pgs187-250)
Challenge Review/Icebreaker:
Share about opportunities have you had this week to talk to other people about spiritual things. What did you learn from the opportunity(ies) (successful/unsuccessful)
Videos:
Discussion/Prayer
Read Exodus 19:3-6, 10-12, 16-22, 20:1-17
1. What does the passage in Exodus tell us about what God thinks about purity?
a. What did God promise the people of Israel? What were the commitments/promises the people of Israel made to God?
“ This Law spelled out God’s expectations for His people in their civil, religious, and moral lives. The Law began with the Ten Commandments, but from these ten simple laws followed more than one hundred specific laws related to all aspects of the life of the people of God. These laws were not intended to be comprehensive; they were meant to provide judiciary precedents through which Israel’s judges could make wise decisions about any issue that might arise...The Law gives insight into the character of God and His intention for His people. “(191-192)
b. How does this image of marriage between the God and His people affect the way you view the 10 Commandments?
“But there is nothing in the Law that tells the Israelites that they will receive ultimate salvation if they perfectly keep every aspect of the Law. In fact, the Law itself assumes that the Israelites will fail in keeping it—that’s why the sacrificial system was included...In reality, the Law was never intended to give the Israelites a moral ladder they could climb and thereby earn God’s favor by showing what good people they were. Instead, the Law was about maintaining a relationship with God. The Law solved the problem of how a holy God can bind Himself to a sinful people...It gave the people of Israel a tangible code of conduct that would allow them to faithfully live out their identity as the people of God. It taught them to relate to God and one another appropriately.(193-194)”
c. How will knowing that the commands of God reveal aspects of His character change the way you read the Law?(Genesis-Deuteronomy)
d. Understanding that God is a person that desires a relationship with you, do you think it was necessary for God to give His People the Law(an agreement/commitment to how they would relate to each other)? Why?
Read Deuteronomy 28:1-6, 15-19
e. How is the covenant God made with Abraham different than the one He makes with Moses and Israel?
“In Exodus 19:5–6, God told Israel that they were to be a “kingdom of priests” and a “holy nation.” These two titles are extremely important for understanding Israel’s calling. A priest has two responsibilities: to represent a holy God to sinful people, and to represent a sinful people to a holy God...They were to minister on God’s behalf, to show the holy character of God to the world around them and be a light to the nations.” (196-197)
f. How is the the covenant of Moses(consequences for blessings/curses) related to God’s purpose for His people(being a blessing to the nations)?
2. Explain what you understand about the OT sacrificial system and why/how Jesus was a sacrifice.
Read Genesis 22: 1-2, 6-8, 9-14
- What does the story of Abraham and Isaac help us understand about Jesus?
Read Ephesians 2: 13-18, Leviticus 16:5-10,15-16, 20-22
- What is the purpose of the sacrifice? What does atonement mean? How does Jesus atone for our sins?
“atonement is all about reconciling, making amends for what has gone wrong, and reestablishing peace where there was conflict. Atonement allowed people who were distanced from God because of their sin to once again enjoy being “at one” with God”(203)
- How does our faith factor into Jesus being the atonement for sin? How does understanding atonement as a relational word refine your understanding of your relationship with God?
“Every time a sacrifice was offered (which was often), an animal would die, its blood would flow, and the blood would be splattered on the altar. Imagine standing there watching this. It would have been messy, bloody, and smelly. Every time you witnessed this, you would be reminded of the seriousness of sin and its awful consequences. You would see a graphic representation of what your sin requires, and you would be thankful that that lamb, goat, or bull died in your place. “(204)
Read 1 Samuel 15:22, Hosea 6:6, Malachi 1:10-11
- What do these passages tell you about what God is primarily concerned about in regard to sacrifices? How does knowing that God’s primary concern is our relationship with Him and our heart attitude affect the way you worship God(interact w/Him) daily?
3. Think back to Genesis 1-3, why was God’s presence so important to Adam and Eve? Why is God’s presence important for us?
Read Exodus 25:8-9, 21-22; Exodus 33:1-4, 12-18, 1 Kings 9:3, 6-9, John 1:1-14
- How does Israel's response to the removal of God’s presence affect the way you think about God’s presence in your life? What would having God’s presence in your life look like?
- How does the Mosaic Covenant help you understand the connection between God’s presence and our obedience?
- Explain the significance of Jesus becoming flesh.(tabernacling with us)
- Explain what you’ve learned about the connection between sacrifice, God’s presence, and Jesus.
Read 1 Samuel 8:4-7, 19-20, 2 Samuel 7:10-16, Ezekiel 37:24-28
4. What is the relational significance of Israel asking for a king to govern them?(relationship between Israel and God) How do the words, “that we also may be like all the nations” relate to your times of disobedience and distrust of God?
- How does God’s covenant with David(Davidic covenant) help remind you of God’s promises to Abraham and Moses? What is the connection between the covenants and Jesus?
Read 2 Kings 17:5-20, 25:1-7, Ezekiel 36:19-32, Jeremiah 31:31-34
5. How does the exile of the people of Israel serve as a fulfillment of the Mosaic Covenant? What have you learned about God in learning about the covenants?
- What does the passage in Ezekiel say about why God chooses to redeem His people? How does the reason for God’s decision to save His people affect your relationship with God? What does this passage tell you about your need for God?
- How does this passage affect how you pray and ready yourself to make decisions?
“ In the old covenant, the law was written on stone. In the new covenant, the law would be written on human hearts. Under this new covenant, God’s people would no longer get caught up in external religion; they would experience spiritual change—they would be made spiritually alive. Obedience would no longer be a condition for entering the covenant; obedience would be a promise that God’s people would experience through the new covenant. “ (246-247)
- How has studying the covenants changed the way you view your responsibility in your relationship to God? What is your responsibility? What is God’s job/responsibility in His relationship with you?
- Has studying the covenants increased your gratitude for Jesus? Why or why not.
Individual Challenge:
Read Luke 22:17-20 and memorize Romans 5:8 every day. Reflect on the new covenant found in Jesus by taking a moment to remember every time you eat or drink.
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