Groups Discussion Guide
Read Scripture. Go Deeper. Ask Questions. Take Action.
It's In The Blood
Scripture
Leviticus 17:11 GNT
11 The life of every living thing is in the blood, and that is why the Lord has commanded that all blood be poured out on the altar to take away the people's sins. Blood, which is life, takes away sins.
Hebrews
Hebrews 10:23-24 MSG
23 That is why the Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals. It also accounts for why, when the real thing takes place, these animal sacrifices aren’t needed anymore, having served their purpose. For Christ didn’t enter the earthly version of the Holy Place; he entered the Place Itself, and offered himself to God as the sacrifice for our sins.
Matthew 26:28 NLT
28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.
Main Idea
- Blood has always carried a significance in the story between God and His creation. Our blood is not only a key to us continuing to live but Jesus' blood is the key to us living and dwelling with Him.
- Sin has always needed a blood payment to cover it.
- Too often we tend to rely on our own goodness rather than Jesus' goodness.
- Jesus' blood covers your sin and provides you forgiveness and access to His presence forever.
Are you coming to God based on His goodness or your goodness?
Discussion Questions
- Do you approach God in prayer based on your effort or His sacrifice. To help you answer, take a moment and reflect on the times when you pray and sometimes don’t see an answer quickly. Do you justify why you should get an answer because of your faithfulness?
- If God’s love and actions toward you are not based on your goodness but His, then how should this reality change how you interact with others?
- Have you been taught about the significance of the shedding of blood previously? Was this weeks message different than you have heard before? How is it different?
- How do you center yourself on Jesus' sacrifice when you pray? What tools do you use that may help others?
Summary
From the beginning of time, blood has carried a heavy significance in our story with God. Originally God spent time in the garden of Eden with His creation. Once Adam and Eve sinned, they tried covering their shame and sin with their own effort. In Genesis 3, God demonstrates the importance of blood in our relationship with Him. Two animals were killed and their blood was shed to make payment for their sin. Sin has and always will require a payment to cover it. In Exodus 25:8, 9 (NLT), God instructed His people to create a Tabernacle for Him to meet with them.
Once a tabernacle was built, blood of bulls/goats was used to purify the altar and all the other tools in the tabernacle. Then upon entry into the temple, the sins of God’s people needed to be atoned for with the shedding of blood. The people would lay hands on the animal to transfer their sins to it and then kill the animal before pouring blood out as payment for their sin. This reality of blood payment for sin was continued through to Jesus (Matthew 26:28), who was our perfect, spotless, sinless Lamb to give us the ultimate access to God forevermore.
Now that we have received the work of Jesus and proclaimed Him our Savior, His blood is forever applied to us. His blood is our covering and why we can overcome what faces us. In Revelation, it says the saints overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.
His blood, first and foremost, allows us to dwell with Him but it also gives us our spiritual blessings in life. The power, the blessing, the life, the access to God is all in His blood.
We can’t trust in our goodness or other people’s goodness. We can only trust in His goodness and His blood.
Humanity, apart from God, tries to cover themselves or justify themselves with their goodness. Christians know their goodness is meaningless but God’s goodness and the sacrifice of His blood is everything.
In Him we go from:
- Lost to Found
- Broken to Whole
- Sick to Healed
- Orphaned/Alone to Adopted
- Unrighteous to Righteous
His sacrifice is bigger and better than anything you need.
Take Action
- As you begin to pray today, thank God for giving you the privilege of coming into His presence by Jesus' blood.
- When confronted with a negative thought about someone, think about the goodness of Jesus' blood and how He died for them too.
Announcements
- First Wednesday on 3/5/2025 with Pastor Wade Joye at 7pm
- Velocity YoCo every Tuesday at 6:30-8:00pm
- Velocity Youth every Wednesday from 6:30-8:00pm
