Part 4 – The Holy of Holies
Discussion Guide
As we finish the series on the Tabernacle, we are entering the most holy place. But more than that, we are learning that we are now that special place, the residence of God’s Spirit. How we are preparing our hearts for Him and how we are living our lives for Jesus—these are the questions we will discuss this week.
What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start
1. We have a holy, all-powerful God. What Bible account most impresses this upon you? Recap it briefly for any that may not know it.
2. Read 1 Corinthians 3:14-15. What two things are judged and dealt with separately? Now read James 2:14-18 and John 10:28-30 to look at both sides of this issue. How does this personally affect you and your daily walk with Jesus?
3. Read 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 and Matthew 27:50-51. What does this mean to you? What is the importance of the Matthew passage? How does knowing God resides in you make you feel? What does this knowledge make you want to do? Why do your decisions affect God at all?
4. Read 1 Corinthians 6:12, 17, 19-20. Where is the tension in these verses? What do we have freedom for and from? Why did we have to be bought with a price? Because “you are not your own,” what does God expect from you? Read Matthew 5:13-16. How is “God’s best” an issue?
5. Read 1 John 3:7-9. What does “practices righteousness” mean? What does “make a practice of sinning” mean? Who judges this?
6. Action Step: Rather than “tweaking” your actions to be “a better Christian,” would you be willing to pray and ask God what He would have you do and be? Would you be willing to start a new journal (or get out a blank sheet of paper) and entitle it, “Who are You creating me to be?” Ask Jesus, “What do you want me to change?” As we prepare to celebrate Easter, let this be a sacrifice you bring to a Holy Savior.
7. Pray: Father, I recognize Your holiness, power, and majesty. I am in awe of You. Help me to have a reverence for You and the Spirit residing within me. Thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son, which made a personal relationship with You possible. Thank You for salvation and an eternal life with You after this earthly existence is gone. Help me to live this day, this week, as a holy temple, practicing righteousness and aware of Your Spirit within me. Lord, I give You permission to change my life: my views, my agenda, my past, my finances, my identity, my dreams. I want to be whoever You want me to be. In Jesus’ Name and by His power I pray. Amen.
Deeper
8. Read Hebrews 8:6-12, Hebrews 4:14-16 and John 19:28-30. Why did Jesus have to die on a cross? What did the old covenant consist of? How is the new covenant different from the old covenant? Did God get rid of the need for High Priests with the new covenant? Did He get rid of the need for a temple? Did He get rid of the rules? What questions do you have about how salvation works? How does the new covenant change the way we should live verses the old covenant?