Slices
Prepare
In common with many people, the older I get, the more forgetful I am becoming. Sometimes this doesn’t matter – going upstairs twice instead of once is more exercise! But sometimes it does. What have you forgotten recently that mattered?
Bible passage
5 ‘“If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible.
2 ‘“If anyone becomes aware that they are guilty – if they unwittingly touch anything ceremonially unclean (whether the carcass of an unclean animal, wild or domestic, or of any unclean creature that moves along the ground) and they are unaware that they have become unclean, but then they come to realise their guilt; 3 or if they touch human uncleanness (anything that would make them unclean) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realise their guilt; 4 or if anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything, whether good or evil (in any matter one might carelessly swear about) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realise their guilt – 5 when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned. 6 As a penalty for the sin they have committed, they must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for them for their sin.
7 ‘“Anyone who cannot afford a lamb is to bring two doves or two young pigeons to the Lord as a penalty for their sin – one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. 8 They are to bring them to the priest, who shall first offer the one for the sin offering. He is to wring its head from its neck, not dividing it completely, 9 and is to splash some of the blood of the sin offering against the side of the altar; the rest of the blood must be drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering. 10 The priest shall then offer the other as a burnt offering in the prescribed way and make atonement for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.
11 ‘“If, however, they cannot afford two doves or two young pigeons, they are to bring as an offering for their sin a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour for a sin offering. They must not put olive oil or incense on it, because it is a sin offering. 12 They are to bring it to the priest, who shall take a handful of it as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar on top of the food offerings presented to the Lord. It is a sin offering. 13 In this way the priest will make atonement for them for any of these sins they have committed, and they will be forgiven. The rest of the offering will belong to the priest, as in the case of the grain offering.”’
Explore
This passage is a continuation of the previous chapter; taken together, they’re dealing with sin that we didn’t mean to commit. Yesterday’s was unintentional sin; today’s is sin resulting from thoughtlessness or forgetfulness.
The sins described have relational consequences. In the first and last (vs 1,5), relationships with other people may well be damaged. God’s Law is uncompromisingly clear: anyone not testifying to what they know will be held responsible, and anyone carelessly promising they’ll do something must confess their sin. The middle two sins are things that make people unclean before God – being in contact with an unclean animal or person. As soon as it is realised, it has to be rectified.
Whether someone forgets or just doesn’t think, they are still guilty and in need of forgiveness.
Note that the sliding scale of what can be offered as a sacrifice (vs 6–11) is not about the severity or otherwise of someone’s sin; it’s about what can be afforded by the guilty person. Like the workers in the vineyard who received the same payment for varying amounts of work (Matthew 20), God’s forgiveness is offered to all who repent.
Respond
Bring to God any damaged relationship in your life: between you and God, or you and others.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Joshua 23,24; Romans 15
Pray for Scripture Union
Our Mission Resources team exists to put tools in people’s hands to help them connect people to Jesus and grow as disciples. Pray that recently appointed Content Creators Joanne Gilchrist and Anna Leadbetter will settle in quickly and will bring vision and creativity to their roles.
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.
