Slices
Prepare
Think of one or two Christians you know who have been a good example of faith. What about their lives made them attractive as people, and their faith attractive?
Bible passage
Various laws
19 The Lord said to Moses, 2 ‘Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: “Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.
3 ‘“Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God.
4 ‘“Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the Lord your God.
5 ‘“When you sacrifice a fellowship offering to the Lord, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf. 6 It shall be eaten on the day you sacrifice it or on the next day; anything left over until the third day must be burned. 7 If any of it is eaten on the third day, it is impure and will not be accepted. 8 Whoever eats it will be held responsible because they have desecrated what is holy to the Lord; they must be cut off from their people.
9 ‘“When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.
11 ‘“Do not steal.
‘“Do not lie.
‘“Do not deceive one another.
12 ‘“Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.
13 ‘“Do not defraud or rob your neighbour.
‘“Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.
14 ‘“Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling-block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord.
15 ‘“Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favouritism to the great, but judge your neighbour fairly.
16 ‘“Do not go about spreading slander among your people.
‘“Do not do anything that endangers your neighbour’s life. I am the Lord.
17 ‘“Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbour frankly so that you will not share in their guilt.
18 ‘“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord.
Leviticus 19:30-37
30 ‘“Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord.
31 ‘“Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.
32 ‘“Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.
33 ‘“When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not ill-treat them. 34 The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.
35 ‘“Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity. 36 Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt.
37 ‘“Keep all my decrees and all my laws and follow them. I am the Lord.”’
Explore
The commandments given in this chapter are a mixture of things. Some are the direct commands found in Exodus 20:1–17. Others give depth to some of those commandments; for example, deception (vs 11,35), fraud (v 13) and slander (v 16) are all ways in which someone can lie to or about someone.
Some commands focus on justice and equity. Retaining wages (v 13) and being impartial (vs 9,10,15,33,34) are examples that show consideration for someone, whoever they are. Whether they’re a hired worker, someone living in poverty or a foreigner, they are to be treated equally and loved. The Israelites are not to forget their history in Egypt and should learn from that negative experience (v 34). In addition, some of the details given of what they should do (eg vs 9,10,14,32) show a concern for the small but important ways in which people can be helped and respected.
The headline above these commands is ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy’ (v 2). God’s holiness is the context for how his people should live, and if they do, their behaviour will demonstrate much of who God is and what he is like.
Respond
Which of the commands in the reading jump out at you, in terms of your own life? Why? Bring that before God in prayer, asking how you can act on it.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Judges 9,10; Mark 3
Pray for Scripture Union
Please pray for more volunteers from all ages and backgrounds to help on SU holidays and missions. There truly is a role for everyone, and the fact that so many volunteers come back year after year suggests they really do enjoy it! (Today's prayers relate to this article.)
Equipping the church to reach the next generation
Across England and Wales, increasing numbers of children and young people are asking big questions about life, faith and meaning. Many are more open than we might assume – curious, thoughtful, and ready for conversations about Jesus, even when church isn’t part of their everyday world. For churches who have a heart for the next generation, this presents a real and hopeful opportunity.
Many leaders carry a deep desire to help the next generation encounter Jesus, but with full diaries and many responsibilities, knowing how to respond – or where to begin – can feel uncertain. That’s why we’ve created the It’s Time to Act guide.
It’s a simple, encouraging resource designed to help churches take thoughtful, realistic steps towards revealing Jesus to the next generation. Rather than offering big programmes or quick fixes, the guide focuses on what’s possible now – small, achievable actions that can grow over time. Inside, you’ll find practical ideas shaped by real church life that work alongside busy schedules and varied contexts. So, whether your church is just beginning to explore this opportunity, or already taking steps, the guide aims to meet you where you are and help you discern what comes next.
Our hope is that It’s Time to Act feels less like another initiative, and more like an invitation – to notice where God is already at work, and to take a next step, one step at a time.
If you’d like to explore the guide and see whether it could support your church, you can order a copy here.
