There’s probably no book in the Bible that is more difficult to read and understand than Leviticus. With its endless rules about blood sacrifices, skin diseases, and strange rituals, Leviticus seems so primitive, outdated, and irrelevant to our lives today. Barbaric is an apt description. It’s why most people start reading the Bible and then say, “You lost me at Leviticus.”
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Discussion Questions for You Lost Me at Leviticus Pt6 | October 4, 2020
Main Passages: Leviticus 11-15
Discussion Questions
- What was the strangest part of these chapters for you? Why?
- How does the word “taboo” change the meaning of “unclean” in these chapters?
- The message gave four suggestions for why certain animals were taboo/unclean for Israel:
- Health reasons
- Relationship to life and death (predators and prey)
- Alignment with creation categories in Genesis
- Distinctiveness from other people
Which of these suggestions was most helpful for you and why?
- Other than beliefs, how should Christians be different from others?
- What is an example of a group of religious people who behave differently in what they eat or dress? What are the positive and negative implications of this difference?
- What common, everyday actions could we take more seriously as “micro-rituals” that help us remember who God is and who we are?
- How did the message challenge you personally this week?
Moving Forward
- Spend time this week reading Matthew 8:1-4 and Mark 7:1-23. How does Jesus engage the teaching from Leviticus 11-15?
- Consider eating kosher foods (according to Leviticus 11) this week as an experiment. Reflect on what you learn.
- Listen to the supplemental New Denver Church Message podcast to go deeper this week.