Leviticus - not everyone's favourite part of the Bible

If you're following the Read Scripture plan, then today we're entering one of the more challenging sections of the Old Testament. Leviticus contains the detail of many of Israel's laws which will often seem alien and irrelevant to us. I would encourage you to watch the Bible Project's book video (which I've included below) and just to keep on reading. The video starts with the line - 'the book of Leviticus - we know you've been avoiding it because it's ... weird - so let's fix that'.

Those of you who are a part of CBC will remember that last term our teaching series was 'From Sinai to the Promised Land' looking at the story of Israel from Exodus 24 to the end of Deuteronomy. And along the way there were various resources. The home group notes for that series are still available in the archive section of our website.

But just to help you get your head round the offerings that are mentioned in today's reading, and again in a few chapters' time, here's a table that outlines the what, the how and the why of Israel's offerings.

1. All offerings were to be ‘without defect’ in the case of animals, and the ‘finest’ in terms of flour etc. Only the best is acceptable.
2. The person bringing the sacrifice was to slaughter it just outside the entrance to the Tent of Meeting - that is, in the Courtyard of the Tabernacle.
3. The altar was the Altar of Burnt Offerings mentioned in Exodus 27. Mention of the Alter above always refers to the Altar of Burnt Offerings. When the Altar of Incense is intended this is mentioned in full. There was a horn on each corner of the altar. This altar was in the courtyard of the Tabernacle. (Not to be confused with the Altar of Incense which was inside the Holy Place (not to be confused with the Holy of Holies.)) 
4. Slaughtering, skinning, cutting up were usually roles for the individual bringing the sacrifice.
5. Arranging meat on the altar, handling the blood and burning was the role of the priest.
6. This was the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies.
7. Regulations about the who, where, what and when of the Fellowship Meal are given in Leviticus 7

Offering	Read	Sacrifice	Ritual	Elements	Instructions	Purpose/additional notes
Burnt Offering	Lev. 1:1-17; 6:8-13; 8:18-21; 16:24	Bull or ram (a)	Present at entrance to Tent of Meeting (b)  Lay hands on head and slaughter (d) Ram - slaughtered at N side of altar. Skin & cut into pieces. Wash internal organs and legs	Blood	Priest: Splash against sides of altar (c)	Voluntary offering; atonement for sin.
				Skin	Kept by priest
				Head, fat, meat	Burn on the altar (e)
				Washed organs, legs	Burn on the altar
		Dove, pigeon (for the poor)	P: Bring to altar and wring off the head	Blood	Drain on side of altar
			Remove crop and feathers	Crop and feathers	Throw with the ashes, E of altar
			Tear open		Burn on the altar
Grain Offering	Lev. 2:1-16; 6:14-23	Finest flour, olive oil, incense. Without yeast or honey. Always add salt.	P: Take handful of flour, oil and all incense		Burn on the altar	Voluntary offering
				Rest	Belongs to the priests. Eat without yeast in the sanctuary area
Fellowship Offering	Lev. 3:1-17; 7:11-36	Male or female cow, sheep, goat	Lay hands on head and slaughter at entrance to Tent of Meeting.	Blood	P: Splash against sides of altar	Voluntary offering; thanksgiving; communal meal
				Internal organs with fat, kidneys, liver. (Lamb’s tail)	Burn on the altar
				Breast, right thigh	Priest’s share
				Rest of the meat	Eaten by the people (ceremonially clean) as fellowship meal (g)
Sin Offering Lev. 4:1-5:13; 6:24-30; 8:14-17; 16:3-22	Priest	Young bull	Lay hands on head and slaughter at entrance to Tent of Meeting.	Blood	Dip finger and sprinkle seven times in front of curtain of sanctuary (f)	Mandatory atonement for unintentional sin
					Put some on horns of Altar of Incense
					Pour rest at base of Altar of Burnt Offering
				Fat, kidney, liver	Burn on the altar
				Skin, flesh, head, legs, organs, intestines	Burn outside camp in ceremonially clean place
	Whole Community	Young bull	Elders lay hands on head and slaughter	Priest performs as above
	Leader	Male goat	Lay hands on head and slaughter	Blood	Priest - put on horns of altar, rest poured out as above
				Fat	Burn on altar
				Meat	Eaten by priests, in sanctuary area
	Individual	Female goat/lamb	Lay hands on head and slaughter	Priest performs as for leader
		2 doves/pigeons (for the poor)	First bird (sin offering): P: Wring its neck	Blood	Splash on side of altar
					Drained at base of altar
			Second bird: burnt offering
		Finest flour, no oil or incense (for the very poor)	As grain offering
Guilt Offering	Lev. 5:14-6:7; 7:1-10	Ram		Blood	Splashed against sid of altar	Mandatory atonement for unintentional sin requiring restitution. Make restitution + 1/5 and give to priest. Make atonement.
				Fat, kidney, liver	Burn on altar
				Meat	Eaten by priests, in sanctuary area

If you've not already watched the Leviticus video - here it is - (see below first)

Updated on 30 January: the following video is slightly longer and updated for the Read Scripture series.

Becoming more like Jesus

Seeking to be an authentic community of disciples, becoming more like Jesus - walking in step with God, alongside each other and seeing lives transformed

This week as we continue our series of Friday posts looking in more detail at our Vision we're going to think about what it means to be seeking to be more like Jesus. If you've missed the previous posts simply click on the relevant word above - or use the labels at the bottom of the page.

There was a time, I think it was the 90s, when WWJD wrist bands were all the rage - although I must admit I've seen a lot more of the plastic band type rather than this slightly more sophisticated bracelet. In case the whole phenomenon passed you by WWJD stands for 'What Would Jesus Do?' The thought being that in any situation you ask yourself the question, 'what would Jesus do?' and allow the answer to that question to guide your actions.

Of course this is a fairly easy question to answer if the situation you're faced with is that you're at a wedding and the wine runs out - but it can be more challenging when faced with the multitude of situations that we find ourselves in, and decisions that we have to make, that were totally unknown in first century Judea. What A Levels should I take? Which university should I go to? Should I marry X? Should I take this job? Where should I move?

The first step in knowing WWJD is answering the question WDJD - What Did Jesus Do? If we can't answer that question then we won't be able to answer our first question. And to find out what Jesus did we need to read, and re-read and re-read again the gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. I know that all Scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16) but if any part of the Bible is more important than the rest then surely it is the gospels - the story of Jesus' birth, life, death and resurrection. This is one reason why our preaching pattern at CBC is to spend one term every year in the gospels.

As we read the gospels we discover what Jesus did. We discover that he spent time alone in prayer, he mixed with the wrong kind of people, he served others, he obeyed God regardless of the personal cost, he provided for people's physical needs, and he called people to repentance and announced the arrival of the Kingdom.

In a few weeks' time we will start to reflect on our seven Core Values and we'll see how these values are shaped by what we know of Jesus. How that seeking to be more like Jesus means being loving, welcoming, missional, servant-hearted, biblical, Spirit-led and prayerful.

Do Lent Generously

You may still be struggling to get back into your normal routine after the Christmas break, and Easter seems a long way off, but in two weeks' time it will be Ash Wednesday (10 February) and the first day of Lent.

Depending on your church background you may have little experience of Lent. If you go to an Anglican church, for example, it may surprise you to know that in some other denominations no reference will be made to Lent at all. I grew up going to church twice on a Sunday, and although I remember Pancake Day, I doubt there was ever any reference to Lent.

So just in case you need some background here is a quick summary.

Lent is the time in the church calendar that runs from Ash Wednesday through to Easter. Traditionally Lent is the period of preparation in the run up to the events of Easter - the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. A time of reflection and repentance - which in certain church traditions is often accompanied by fasting.

Lent lasts for 40 days but if you've looked at a calendar you will have noticed that there are actually 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. That's because the six Sundays during this time do not count as days of fasting - Sundays are always a day of celebration as we remember the resurrection.

Many people, even those with little or no church contact, will give something up for Lent - often this will be chocolate, although in recent years we have been encouraged to be a little bit more imaginative, giving up things like Facebook or television. Within some cultures it is common to go without fish for Lent. Other cultures with have different traditions. This 'doing without' builds on the fasting element that is traditionally a part of Lent.


Another trend over recent years has been to see Lent as a time to do something positive instead of/as well as giving something up. As we look ahead to God's love and generosity displayed in the Easter story it motivates us to be loving and generous.




The 40Acts campaign has been running for a number of years now and encourages those who sign up to complete 40 acts of generosity over the 40 days of Lent. To make a difference in our communities by performing little acts of kindness that can make a real difference in people's lives. 

If you want to know more or you want to sign up click here to visit the 40Acts website.

The Real Easter Egg

I know you're just recovering from Christmas and for weeks you've been bemoaning the fact that the shops are already full of Easter eggs but...

...Easter will be here sooner than you expect. Tomorrow I will be writing about Lent - Pancake Day is only two weeks away today.

I know that Easter has nothing to do with eggs - particularly eggs of the chocolate variety - and I know that so many of our annual festivals are driven by big retailers wanting to make money (think Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Halloween as well as Easter and Christmas) but...

...if you're the sort of person who buys chocolate Easter eggs then have you considered The Real Easter Egg?

The Real Easter Egg is a FairTrade chocolate egg, which actually tells the Easter story through the printing on the box and the booklet enclosed. These eggs can be bought in certain supermarkets and independent shops, or online, or if you're quick you can place an order at CBC on Sunday.

To see their full range, get more information, read about their charity work, or place an online order visit their website.