Leviticus Introduction- Small group questions

A central question to the book of Leviticus is “How do we worship?” They live in a world where the normal way of worship includes animal sacrifice. The animal was usually then eaten by the family sacrificing and the priests but it was done as a reminder of their own morality, a ritual to deal with their guilt and forgiveness, and a meal to remember that God provides their food. Food was the most central part of life and survival in ancient culture so it naturally became the a part of worship. The sacrificial system was part of the culture they understood. Sacrifices weren’t “God’s idea” but he met the Israelites where they were and worked within a system they understood. He used that system to begin to lead them “away from” the world they knew. They were to do things differently, eat differently, and live differently as they begin to be a people who were “set apart” or “holy.” God always stoops to meet people where they are in their culture in order to move them forward. This is what we need to remember to start looking at this ancient book.

1. In our modern world, those who eat meat are removed from the process that got the meat to our plate. Around farming communities however they are intimately familiar with raising an animal that will become food. If you could imagine yourself as an ancient Israelite taking food for sacrifice... what do you think it would be like? Take a moment to imagine it and then share.

2. We just finished the book of Romans where it says in chapter 12 to “offer your bodies as living sacrifices.” Obviously this is a metaphor drawing on an ancient image... but how does this speak to the way we are to worship now? What does this say about the state of our heart as we worship now?

3. The idea of coming to God in worship is the idea of coming to remember the sacred in the middle of everything. As God steps into our culture now, what are some ways we can worship? What forms of worship can/do you use to draw you closer to God?

Romans 14-15: Am I My Brother’s Keeper- Life Group Questions

Romans 14:15-18 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

Romans 15: 1-2, 5-7, 14 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself... May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another.

1. Righteousness in scripture is about right relationship with other people. That’s what the word refers to throughout scripture. How do you think Paul would respond to the notion that “Whatever I do is ok as long as I’m not hurting anyone else?”

2. When scripture says “you” it usually means it in a plural context. Scriptures goal is to speak more to communities than individuals. That is how all writers of scripture communicated. How do we honor what Romans 14:15 says if we disagree with people who are part of the “you?”

3. Why does Paul make it a point to say those who do this are pleasing to God AND receive human approval? Why is the human approval part important?

4. In Romans 15 Paul prays for strength when he says, “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God.” Paul knows this is hard? Do you have an experience where someone did this for you? Has anyone showed you the love of Christ even when they disagreed with you?

5. In verse 7 it says God is praised by our acceptance of one another. What do you think is happening when we are rejecting one another? Have you experienced this?

6. Paul is wrapping up by saying he is convinced that all the people he is speaking to are “full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another?” What do you think about that? How do you feel when you hear that?

Romans 14 Mutual Edification- Life Group Questions Read Romans 14

As faith in Christ begins to spread through the ancient world there are a lot of questions about how to live the faith. Like... What is different for Jewish believers who decide to follow the way of Christ? What does it mean for those who are from a totally different cultural value system to follow Christ? How do we do this thing together? Who is right about their approach to faith?

In many ways we continue to walk out these questions. Under the guiding of the Holy Spirit Paul writes us about these questions in Romans 14... But he doesn’t give right or wrong answers. He doesn’t clear up the mystery or say who is right but he makes space for all of the people coming to Christ. This is still something we are working on together.

1. Many argue about what aspects of the faith fall under this category of “disputable matters.” As Joel has pointed out before, “A disputable matter is anything people are disputing.” It is simple to understand but hard to do because of our values and beliefs. How do we hold true to our values and make space for others? What is one way you have practiced this or someone has made space for you?

2. Paul gives some examples of what people disagree about and in verse 7 he says, “For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.” When talking about living in community, why do you think he says this?

3. Paul calls us in this passage to make space for disputable matters, to be convinced in our own mind of what is right for us or our community, and to not show contempt for our brothers and sisters by judging them. These are three hard things to combine. How can we practice this three part approach?

4. In verse 19 Paul sums up the purpose of this passage when he says, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” The point of all of this is mutual edification. Do you see this as a major goal of the church? How could we make it more of a goal and practice?

5. What do you think Paul means when he says, “Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves?”

Romans 13- Life Group Questions

Paul starts this section talking about heeding governmental authorities which is ironic coming from a man constantly in trouble for defying the governmental authorities. But he did it is specific ways. Ways were he thought the laws of man were against the ways of love he talks about in Romans 13:8. His life helps us interpret this passage when we see how he lived that out. We often interpret people’s actions from our perspective instead of trying to use positive imagination to develop empathy for them. The best way to understand people who differ from us is to have curious conversations with them while using positive imagination to see how they could have gotten their innocently and honestly. This is often taught as a technique to couples who are struggling to get along; to curiously imagine from a positive perspective what the other person’s motivations might be. When we get inside people’s stories we become less judgmental and sometimes even earn the right to help them change.

1. First though, answer honestly about how you are doing in light of what is going on in the world.

2. Reread Romans 13:8. What do you think it means that “Whoever loves has fulfilled the law.” How did Paul fulfill the law while preaching his faith which was against the law? How can someone be fulfilling the law while they stand against oppressive laws like Paul did?

3. Using the skill of positive imagination try and give the perspective of someone you disagree with. Don’t use an extreme example but someone you might even know and care for. Try to imagine their motivations being good and pure. Try to imagine what they must be experiencing emotionally. Imagine what goes through their mind. Share the experience of trying to see through their eyes. Take a minute to imagine this before you share.

4. Reread Romans 13: 11-12. Paul is speaking hope from a dark place when he thinks about the whole of the story and not just his immediate reality. How can you do the same right now? What would that look like?