St. Bronislava Catholic Church Youth Ministry

Book of Leviticus

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The Book of Leviticus

Worship. That's what the book of Leviticus is all about. God wants you to worship him. But how do you go about it? Well, you get together with other believers and sing God's praises. You talk about what God is like and about the things he's done for you. You pray and tell God how wonderful he is. It's really quite simple.

But Leviticus will take you back to a time when worship wasn't so simple. This book is filled with rules that Israel's priest and people had to follow. It describes the required yearly religious holidays, and it lists practices that set the Hebrews apart from all the other people of the world.

Did you know?

	Leviticus quotes God's words to Moses 38 times.
	About half the book is addressed to priests and half to all the people.
	The word holy occurs 87 times. It means to be set apart to God, showing loyalty by keeping his commands.
	The command to "love your neighbor as yourself" is found in Leviticus 19:18.

Look it up!

	What wouldn't you find on the menu at an Old Testament banquet (Leviticus 11)?
	Can you ever be forgiven if you sin on purpose (Leviticus 16:30)?
	What would be more likely to make you do right: God's rewards for obedience or his punishments for doing wrong (Leviticus 26)?

Grab your Bible and Can YOU Relate?!

Can you Relate? LEVITICUS 10:1-11

Do you ever wonder about some of the grisly stories in the Bible? This is one. Aaron's sons violated God's command about offerings and were destroyed by fire. Why such a terrible penalty? Because these men were priests, responsible to teach God's decrees to others. How unthinkable that these men should show contempt for God by ignoring his commands. The greater the privileges given to you, the more responsibility you have. Christians have the wonderful privilege of knowing God personally, of drawing on God for strength, of coming to God in prayer. Let Nadab and Abihu remind you of your responsibilities because of those great privileges.

Can you Relate? LEVITICUS 12:8

Do you ever feel kind of funny about putting a quarter in the church offering? Do you think maybe you should wait to give until you have a job and can give more? If you've thought that way, Leviticus 12:8 shares a good insight. In Old Testament times a mother brought a special offering to God right after the birth of a child. The best offering was a lamb, but if the family was poor, she could bring "two doves or two young pigeons," a very inexpensive offering. What counted was not how much the mother gave but the fact that she did give. How much you give is not most important. Giving even a little is a way of saying thank you to God.

Can you Relate? LEVITICUS 24:10-16

Some people are upset by this story of a young man who was stoned because he "blasphemed the Name with a curse" (Leviticus 24:11). What they don't realize is that the word curse doesn't mean "swear." This man used God's name as a magic word in a curse aimed to harm the man he had fought with. Swearing certainly isn't acceptable behavior for a Christian, but cursing goes much further. That's why God required the death penalty for it.

Can you Relate? LEVITICUS 26:42-44

Usually when you do the right thing, good things happen. But what if you make some bad choices? I mean, really bad choices. Like stealing or getting in trouble with the people. Or drinking and driving and wrecking the family car. Or going too far sexually and discovering that you're pregnant. Are you ruined for life? This Bible chapter warns that there are tragic consequences for disobeying God. But it also promises that God will not totally reject you, even for serious sins. But if you do something wrong, remember God's promise. God will welcome you home and bless you again.