By the Book | Christ-centered teaching with Dr. Stephen Reynolds

Discussion Series | Rooted | 6. "Why The Old Testament Matters"


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The Old Testament isn't a confusing collection of ancient laws and violent stories. It's the first half of one unified story — and it's impossible to fully understand Jesus without it. Today Pastor Steve walks us through covenants, sacrifices, and the logic of blood — and shows us how all of it points directly to Christ.

Key Topics

Covenants

  • A covenant is a binding promise God makes with His people
  • Every major covenant points forward to Jesus
  • Key covenants: Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New Covenant
  • Jesus is the fulfillment of every promise God ever made

Sacrifices

  • The sacrificial system was God's way of showing His people what sin actually costs
  • Leviticus isn't boring — it's a detailed picture of what it takes to approach a holy God
  • The system was never meant to be the final answer — it was always pointing forward

Why So Much Blood?

  • Leviticus 17:11 — the life of the flesh is in the blood
  • Blood represents life given in place of another life
  • Every sacrifice was a preview of one moment — the cross
  • John 1:29 — "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world"

How It All Points to Christ

  • Luke 24:27 — Jesus opened the Scriptures and showed how they were all about Him
  • Abraham and Isaac → the Father giving His Son
  • The Passover Lamb → Jesus whose blood causes judgment to pass over us
  • The High Priest → Jesus our permanent High Priest
  • The Suffering Servant → Isaiah 53, written 700 years before the cross

Key Scriptures

  • Leviticus 17:11
  • 2 Samuel 7:12–13
  • Jeremiah 31:31–34
  • Isaiah 53
  • John 1:29
  • Luke 24:27
  • Hebrews 10:1–4
  • Hebrews 4:14–16

Reflection Questions

  • What part of the Old Testament has always confused you most?
  • How does understanding the sacrificial system change the way you see the cross?
  • If the Old Testament is one long arrow pointing to Jesus — what does that change about how you read it?

Want to Go Deeper?

  • According to Plan — Graeme Goldsworthy
  • How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth — Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart

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By the Book | Christ-centered teaching with Dr. Stephen ReynoldsBy Joseph Tate