Part 4 – The Holy of Holies
Leader 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
Leader: This section is designed to get discussions started, examine God’s truth, and apply it to our week. Life Group leaders should not assume everyone in their group is a Christ follower. Because they are taking part in a Life Group, they must have some openness to knowing more, exploring. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work and let Him lead you as well.
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.
Leader’s Note: The main point here is that God is holy and powerful. He is not a soft, cuddly Santa. He should be treated with awe, wonder, and reverence. The parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:19-31), Daniel in the lion’s den (Daniel 6:10-24), and Isaiah in the throne room (Isaiah 6:1-8) are a few of my favorites. The message this weekend used the story of Uzzah being struck dead when he touched the Ark of the Covenant (1 Chronicles 13:8-10).
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?
Leader’s Note: Our good works are judged separately from our salvation. In fact, heartless sacrifices of good works do not please God. What pleases Him is seeking His guidance and direction. The John passage assures us that if we are saved, we are saved eternally. The James passage explains that it’s hard to be sure someone is saved if there are no changes in their actions. However, we can be saved and still misuse the opportunities, platform, resources, time, and talents we have been given to serve and promote the kingdom of God. Our relationship with Jesus is what saves us; our actions, based on our love for Him, are what bring glory to Him. Our actions do not save us.
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?
Leader’s Note: The same God who is holy, powerful, and a little frightening now lives with us. The veil was torn, top to bottom, and there was no longer a separation between God and man. That terrifying place – the Holy of Holies – now is in our hearts and spirits! This should cause us to take notice and inspire us to obedience. We are now the temple for the living God. Compared to having company at our house and a cleaning extravaganza, we should be ruthlessly scrubbing out sin in our lives in honor of Him. It does matter to God: we reflect Him. You may be the only Christ-follower your neighbor will meet or know.
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?
Leader’s Note: There is a tension between freedom and being joined with God’s Spirit. We are allowed do anything we want, but that would harm our relationship with Him and sully the temple of God. We have freedom from the law, but also freedom from sin if we live by the Spirit. Jesus bought us this freedom with His death. God expects us to live a life of purity (salt) and good works (light) that draw others to Him. We do these things to please Jesus and because of our close relationship with Him.
5. Read 1 John 3:7-9. What does “practices righteousness” mean? What does “make a practice of sinning” mean? Who judges this?
Leader’s Note: None of us are perfect. Be we can be striving for and practicing right living. We can and should be seeking God. Or we can intentionally be “practicing” and continuing in our sin. God knows. We are not to judge others, but to examine ourselves and allow God to convict us, leading us to repentance and change.
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
Leader: This section is designed for further use in your Life Group or for personal study. These can also be used as discussion points and ways to stay connected with your group throughout the week. Encourage your group to take time daily to walk through these questions.
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?
Leader’s Note: Great resource here. Many have heard Jesus died for our sins and now we are forgiven. However, what happened on the cross was much more complex than that. God FULFILLED the old covenant and dawned the beginning of a new covenant with Jesus’ death and resurrection.
We often think of it as a change...like God looked at the Law and said, “This isn’t working; I need to change it.” Yet since the beginning of time, God knew we would not be able to uphold the old covenant on our own. He knew He would have to send His Son to fulfill the old covenant (“It is finished”).
God didn’t get rid of the High Priest; Jesus became the ultimate High Priest (He speaks to the Father on our behalf).
The temple is simply where God’s power and very presence lived...He is now with us. Our bodies are a temple. As for the Law, the basis of the Mosaic Law was that the consequence of sin is death. Don’t do certain things or a sacrifice will be needed (often an animal) for your sins to be passed over by God. The Law was not erased but fulfilled with Christ’s death. Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice and atonement for all sins. No animal is needed or would ever equal what Jesus has done.