Week 7 – Wonder and Worship
Leviticus 9:1-7 & 22-24
In Leviticus 9, Aaron offers the sacrifices God commanded, and His glory appears to the people. They shout for joy and fall on their faces.
But their worship began before that moment. It included responding to God’s instructions and approaching Him in the way He provided.
This points us to Jesus, our perfect High Priest and final sacrifice. Through Him, we draw near to God and respond to His love with lives of worship.
1. Worship Expresses Our Love for God
Worship is more than singing or attending church. Studying Scripture, serving others, and obeying God become expressions of worship when they flow from our love for Him.
We love Him because He first loved us.
Questions:
How does this understanding expand your view of worship?
What is the difference between religious activity and worship flowing from love?
How can an ordinary part of your day become worship?
2. Worship Means Obeying God’s Word
In verses 5–6, the people bring what God commanded. God’s Word guides their worship. Our worship must also be shaped by Scripture. We obey because God has loved and accepted us through Christ.
Questions:
Why must Scripture shape the way we worship?
When do feelings or preferences compete with God’s Word in your life?
What instruction from Scripture do you need to obey this week?
3. Worship Involves Our Entire Lives
Aaron presents the offerings as the Lord commanded. Both what he does and how he does it matter. Our relationships, money, work, and desires belong under God’s authority. We obey Him with our entire lives, following His Word and His way.
Questions:
Why do our methods and motives matter to God?
Which area of your life is hardest to surrender to Him?
How could you use something God has entrusted to you as an expression of worship?
4. Private Worship Overflows into Gathered Worship
Sunday worship grows out of our daily walk with God. Prayer, repentance, gratitude, and obedience shape what we bring to the gathering. We come together to receive from God and express the love we have been practicing throughout the week.
Questions:
How does your weekday walk with God affect your Sunday worship?
What might change if our church gathered with lives already overflowing with worship?
What daily practice could help you cultivate worship this week?
Week 6 – The Great High Priest
Leviticus 8 describes the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests. They were called by God, cleansed, clothed, consecrated, and prepared for sacrificial service.
These priests represented God to His people and the people before God. But they were imperfect men who needed cleansing and sacrifices themselves.
Leviticus gives us the context to understand Jesus Christ. Hebrews reveals that Jesus is the Great High Priest who fulfills what the priesthood pointed toward. Unlike Aaron, Jesus is perfectly holy, the eternal King, and the One who offered Himself once for all. He continually intercedes for those who draw near to God through Him.
Hebrews 4:14–16 (ESV)
Hebrews 4:14–16 reveals the incredible implications of Jesus being our Great High Priest. Because Jesus is the Son of God who has passed through the heavens, we have a High Priest who understands our weakness, has overcome temptation without sin, and invites us to draw near to God with confidence.
Jesus is not merely someone who helps us navigate life. He is the One who brings us into the presence of a holy God. His priesthood changes how we approach God, how we face temptation, and how we respond to our weakness.
1. We Have a Great High Priest
Hebrews 4:14
“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.”
Jesus is not merely another priest like Aaron. He is the Son of God, the fulfillment of the priesthood, and the One who has entered God's presence on our behalf.
Implication #1: We do not have to wonder whether we have access to God or whether our hope is secure. Our confidence rests in who Jesus is and what He has accomplished.
Questions:
What makes Jesus greater than the priests who came before Him?
What does it mean to “hold fast” our confession?
How should knowing Jesus is our Great High Priest change the way we live?
2. We Have a High Priest Who Understands Our Weakness
Hebrews 4:15
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
Jesus entered our humanity. He experienced temptation and suffering, yet remained without sin. He does not look upon our weakness with indifference; He understands it perfectly.
Implication #2: We do not have to hide our weakness from Jesus. We can bring our struggles to Him, knowing He understands our condition while remaining perfectly holy.
Questions:
Why is it important that Jesus experienced temptation and suffering?
What is the difference between someone who understands our weakness and someone who has the power to rescue us from it?
Where are you tempted to hide your struggles from God rather than bring them to Him?
3. We Can Draw Near to God with Confidence
Hebrews 4:16
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Because Jesus is our Great High Priest, God's throne is not a place we must approach in terror or avoid in shame. Through Christ, we are invited to draw near and receive mercy and grace.
Implication #3: We do not have to earn our way into God's presence. Because of Jesus, we can approach Him honestly, confidently, and continually—especially when we need help.
Questions:
Why does the writer call it the “throne of grace”?
What keeps people from drawing near to God when they have sinned or are struggling?
What is the difference between confidence in Jesus and confidence in ourselves?
What would change in your daily life if you regularly approached God for mercy and grace?
Closing Reflection
Jesus is our Great High Priest. He has accomplished what no earthly priest could accomplish: He brings us to God. He understands our weakness, remains without sin, and invites us to draw near to receive mercy and grace.
Final Questions:
Which implication of Jesus' priesthood do you most need to remember right now?
Are you living as someone who has access to God through Jesus, or are you living as though you must approach Him on your own merit?
How can we encourage one another to hold fast to our confession and draw near to God with confidence?
Week 5 - The Lord will Provide
Galatians 6:8-18
Leviticus 1 showed us that our lives belong to God.
Leviticus 2 showed us that our labor belongs to God.
Leviticus 3 showed us the joy of fellowship with God.
Leviticus 4 showed us that God makes a way for sinful people to live in His presence.
Leviticus 6 teaches us that God calls us, provides for us, and uses His provision to make Himself known.
God calls us to His work, provides what we need, and intends for His provision to make Him known through our lives.
1. God Calls Us to Faithful Obedience
In Leviticus 6:8–13, God repeatedly commands the priests to keep the altar fire burning. Their calling required faithful, daily obedience. God calls us to serve Him in our everyday lives—in our homes, relationships, workplaces, and communities (Romans 12:1).
Questions:
Where is God calling you to faithful obedience right now?
How can you serve God in your ordinary, everyday life?
2. God Provides for Those He Calls
In Leviticus 6:14–18, God provides food for the priests who serve Him. Before their work began, God had already made provision for their needs. God doesn't promise us everything we want, but we can trust Him to provide what we need to faithfully follow His calling.
Questions:
Do you tend to depend on God or yourself for provision?
What has God provided for you that you sometimes take for granted?
3. God's Provision Makes Him Known
God's provision is holy and should never become ordinary in our eyes. He gives us strength, wisdom, grace, and opportunities to serve—not simply for our benefit, but so others can see His goodness.
First Peter 2:9 reminds us that we are called to proclaim the excellencies of the One who brought us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Questions:
How has God provided for you or changed your life?
Who might be encouraged by hearing what God has done for you?
How can you use God's provision to serve someone else this week?
Gospel Connection
Jesus is our great High Priest who brings us into relationship with God. Through Him, we receive grace and are called to live as His people (Hebrews 4:14–16).
We don't serve God to earn His love. We respond to the grace we've received. As God provides for us, we can use what He gives us to serve others and make Him known.
Read 1 Peter 2:9 and close in prayer, thanking God for His provision and asking Him to help you faithfully steward what He has given you.
Week 4 - God Makes a Way
Leviticus 4
Leviticus 1 showed us that our lives belong to God. Leviticus 2 showed us that our labor belongs to God. Leviticus 3 showed us the joy of fellowship with God. Leviticus 4 shows us that God makes a way for sinful people to live in His presence through the sin offering.
Because God is holy and we are sinful, our sin must be dealt with. Because God is gracious, He makes a way through Christ Jesus..
1. God is Holy
Leviticus 4 begins with instructions for sins committed unintentionally against God’s commands. Even sins we do not initially recognize matter to Him. His holiness establishes the standard for our lives.
God is set apart in His goodness, purity, and justice. He calls His people to reflect His character (1 Peter 1:15–16).
God is holy. Therefore sin matters.
Questions:
How does God’s holiness shape the way we understand sin?
What does God’s provision for unintentional sin teach us about our need for forgiveness?
Where are you tempted to measure your actions by what others accept rather than what God says?
2. Humanity Is Sinful
Leviticus 4 addresses the priest, the whole community, a leader, and the common person. Everyone needs atonement—God’s provision for dealing with sin and restoring fellowship with Him. Romans 3:23 reminds us that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. We can recognize sin in others while minimizing it in ourselves. Our sin also affects the people around us. Hiding it can deepen isolation and damage relationships.
Humanity is sinful. Therefore we need atonement.
Questions:
What does the inclusion of every group teach us about our shared need for God’s grace?
What are some ways we excuse, minimize, or hide our own sin?
How might our sin affect our families, friendships, church, or people we lead?
3. God Makes a Way
God provided a sacrifice and promised forgiveness (Leviticus 4:20, 26, 31, 35). The worshiper laid a hand on the animal’s head, identifying with the sacrifice. This points us toward our need to trust God’s provision.
Christ Jesus fulfills what these sacrifices anticipated. He was without sin, yet bore our sin so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).
He did not need a sin offering. He became the sin offering.
Questions:
How does the sin offering deepen your understanding of Christ’s sacrifice?
What does it mean to depend on Jesus rather than trying to make yourself worthy of forgiveness?
How can confidence in God’s forgiveness help you confess sin honestly and turn from it?
Gospel Connection
Jesus gave Himself so that sinful people could be reconciled to a holy God. We receive salvation through faith in Him and respond with repentance, gratitude, and obedience.
We do not need to hide our sin or make ourselves worthy before coming to Christ. His grace invites us to confess honestly, receive forgiveness, and walk in the light. The Lord’s Supper reminds believers of His body and blood given for us.
Read 1 John 1:9 and close with a moment of silent confession, followed by prayer for one another. Thank God for His forgiveness and ask Him to show you one step of repentance and obedience this week. Share with a trusted believer as appropriate.
What sin am I minimizing or hiding, and how is Jesus inviting me to trust His grace and turn toward Him?
Week 3 - Peace with Our Lord
Leviticus 3
Leviticus 1 showed us that our lives belong to God. Leviticus 2 showed us that our labor belongs to God. Leviticus 3 shows us the joy of fellowship with God through the peace offering.
True and lasting peace is found in fellowship with God through Jesus Christ.
1. The Progression of Peace
Sin disrupted humanity's fellowship with God. Our deepest need is reconciliation with our Creator. More resources, accomplishments, or better circumstances cannot make us right with Him.
Peace with God can sustain us even when life remains difficult.
Questions:
Why does our deepest need for peace begin with our relationship with God?
Where are you tempted to look for peace apart from Him?
What area of your life do you need to entrust to God?
2. The Proclamation of Peace
The peace offering involved sacrifice and a shared meal (Leviticus 3; 7:11–21, 31–34). It pictured God's people enjoying fellowship in His presence. They also ate and rejoiced together before the Lord (Deuteronomy 12:6–7).
Fellowship with God shapes our fellowship with one another. His grace teaches us humility, forgiveness, generosity, and love.
Questions:
What does the shared meal teach us about fellowship with God?
How should peace with God change the way we treat others?
Where might you need to apologize, forgive, listen, or serve?
3. The Promise of Peace
Isaiah 9:6–7 promises the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 53:5 reveals the cost: the servant would suffer to bring His people peace.
Jesus fulfills that promise. He makes peace through His cross (Colossians 1:20), and Paul declares, Christ Himself is our peace (Ephesians 2:14).
Questions:
What do Isaiah 9:6–7 and 53:5 reveal about the promise and cost of peace?
What does it mean that Jesus Himself is our peace?
How can His peace sustain us when our circumstances do not improve?
Gospel Connection
Jesus gave Himself so that we could be brought near to God. We receive reconciliation through faith in Him and respond with repentance, gratitude, and obedience.
Peace with God does not remove every struggle. It gives us a secure relationship with Him in the midst of our struggles.
Read Philippians 4:6–7 and close by praying for peace in your homes and relationships. Bring your burdens to God and ask Him to show you one step of obedience.
Where am I seeking peace, and how is Jesus inviting me to draw near to Him?
Week 2 - Laboring with our Lord
Leviticus 2
Leviticus 1 showed us that God wants our whole lives. Leviticus 2 moves from our life to what we do with our life. The grain offering represents the fruit of human labor and reminds Israel that they do not labor alone. Their ability to work, produce, and accomplish depends completely upon God.
God has given us the ability and opportunity to labor, and the fruit of our labor ultimately belongs to Him.
1. Why Do We Labor With Our Lord?
The grain offering reminded Israel that everything they produced depended upon God's provision. Grain required soil, seed, water, sun, growth, and harvest. Israel could work the field, but they could not make the grain grow.
They were completely dependent upon God—and that was not a weakness. It was how God created them to live.
God has chosen to work with us and through us. Our labor is therefore not ultimately about building our own name or controlling our own lives. It is an opportunity to participate in what God is doing.
Questions:
What does the grain offering teach us about our dependence upon God?
Why is dependence upon God not a weakness?
Where are you most tempted to believe that you can accomplish things on your own?
What does it mean for you to see your work as something God has invited you into?
How does knowing that the fruit of your labor ultimately belongs to God change the way you work?
2. When Do We Labor With Our Lord?
Leviticus 2 moves from the field to the kitchen. Grain is harvested in the field, but it can also be prepared in the oven, on the griddle, or in the pan. God is showing His people that their labor is not confined to one place.
From the soil to the sanctuary, we labor with our Lord.
God cares about our careers, but He also cares about our homes, families, friendships, parenting, education, and all the ordinary spaces of life.
There is no part of our lives where God is absent.
Questions:
What areas of your life do you tend to think of as “God's work”? What areas do you tend to separate from Him?
How might your home, workplace, school, parenting, or relationships become places where you labor with the Lord?
What does it look like to do ordinary things “with the Lord, unto the Lord”?
Can you think of a time when God interrupted your plans and showed you, “This is the Lord's work”?
What would change if you genuinely believed that all of your labor belongs to God?
3. How Do We Labor With Our Lord?
Leviticus 2 gives specific instructions for how the offering was to be prepared. The details remind us that God determines how we labor with Him. We don't get to define faithfulness according to whatever seems right or impressive to us.
Our labor should be set apart, sincere, honest, and devoted to God. We don't labor with Him through lies, jealousy, bitterness, deceit, or selfish ambition. God is not looking merely at the appearance of our work; He wants our hearts.
And the grain offering ultimately comes with gratitude. God's people give Him their first and their best because they recognize Him as their supreme portion.
Questions:
Why is it important that God determines how we labor with Him?
What are some ways our work can look good outwardly while our hearts are not truly devoted to God?
Where are you tempted to pursue appearance rather than sincerity?
What would it look like to labor honestly and justly “unto the Lord”?
What does gratitude look like in the way you approach your work?
What is one area where you need to give God your first and your best?
Gospel Connection
Leviticus 2 reminds us that our labor belongs to God because our lives belong to God.
We don't labor to earn God's love or prove our worth. In Christ, God has already given Himself for us. Now our work becomes an opportunity to respond to His grace.
Jesus Himself modeled this kind of dependence. He did not live to establish His own name or accomplish His own will, but to do the will of His Father.
God takes our ordinary, momentary labor and can use it for purposes that extend far beyond our lifetime.
We are only temporary stewards of what God has entrusted to us. Our careers, friendships, marriages, children, opportunities, resources, and ministries will eventually pass from our hands—but God can take our simple obedience and use it to bring life for generations.
The question isn't simply, “What am I doing?”
The question is: “Am I doing it with the Lord and unto the Lord?”
Week 1 — The Way Back To God
Leviticus 1
Leviticus begins with God moving toward His people. Humanity has brought sin, chaos, and separation into God's creation, yet God does not give up. He provides a way for His people to be with Him.
The burnt offering teaches us that God is holy, sin is serious, and yet God graciously provides a way for His people to return their lives to Him.
God makes a way for His people to be with Him, and our response is to give our whole lives back to Him in worship.
1. See the God Who Pursues
Leviticus begins with God calling Moses and speaking from the tent of meeting. God is the one who initiates. Humanity has repeatedly moved away from God, yet God continues moving toward humanity.
God is not finished with His creation. He is committed to bringing His people into new life and restoring His dwelling with them.
Questions:
What do you learn about God's character from the way Leviticus begins?
Why is it significant that God initiates the conversation with His people?
Where do you see humanity moving away from God in Genesis and Exodus?
How does it encourage you to know that God does not stop pursuing His people?
2. Receive the Way God Provides
God gives Israel a way to approach Him through sacrifice. The worshiper identifies with the animal, and the offering is accepted “to make atonement for him.” The blood represents the life given on the altar.
God provides different animals for the offering, making a way for people of different circumstances to approach Him. The point is not ultimately the bull, sheep, goat, or bird. God is providing a way for His people to be with Him.
Ultimately, these sacrifices point us toward Christ, who gives His own life for His people and brings us into the presence of God.
Questions:
What does the sacrifice teach us about the seriousness of sin?
Why is it important that God provides the way for atonement?
What does the variety of offerings teach us about God's provision?
How does Leviticus 1 point you toward what Christ would ultimately do?
3. Give Your Whole Life in Worship
The burnt offering was given completely to God. It was costly, it was without blemish, and it was offered according to God's instructions. The result was a “pleasing aroma” to the Lord.
The goal is not merely to give God an animal or our possessions. God is after our lives. He wants His people to know Him, belong to Him, and live with Him.
Because Christ has given Himself for us, our response is to give our whole lives back to God.
Questions:
What does it practically mean to worship God with your entire life?
What areas of your life are easiest to surrender to God? Which are hardest?
How can your time, possessions, relationships, work, and resources become worship?
What would it look like this week for your life to be a “pleasing aroma” to the Lord?
Gospel Connection
Leviticus points us toward Jesus.
The sacrifices provided a temporary way for God's people to approach Him, but Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice. He gives His own life, bears sin in His body, rises from the dead, enters the presence of God, and appears before God on behalf of His people.
The gospel is not simply that Jesus saves us from punishment. Jesus restores us to God.
He has given His life for us so that our lives might belong to Him and we might be with Him.