Slices
Prepare
How does it feel to be lied to, or cheated, or have something of yours stolen? How does it feel when someone you love has that happen to them?
Bible passage
The guilt offering
14 The Lord said to Moses: 15 ‘When anyone is unfaithful to the Lord by sinning unintentionally in regard to any of the Lord’s holy things, they are to bring to the Lord as a penalty a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value in silver, according to the sanctuary shekel. It is a guilt offering. 16 They must make restitution for what they have failed to do in regard to the holy things, pay an additional penalty of a fifth of its value and give it all to the priest. The priest will make atonement for them with the ram as a guilt offering, and they will be forgiven.
17 ‘If anyone sins and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though they do not know it, they are guilty and will be held responsible. 18 They are to bring to the priest as a guilt offering a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the wrong they have committed unintentionally, and they will be forgiven. 19 It is a guilt offering; they have been guilty of wrongdoing against the Lord.’
6 The Lord said to Moses: 2 ‘If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the Lord by deceiving a neighbour about something entrusted to them or left in their care or about something stolen, or if they cheat their neighbour, 3 or if they find lost property and lie about it, or if they swear falsely about any such sin that people may commit – 4 when they sin in any of these ways and realise their guilt, they must return what they have stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to them, or the lost property they found, 5 or whatever it was they swore falsely about. They must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner on the day they present their guilt offering. 6 And as a penalty they must bring to the priest, that is, to the Lord, their guilt offering, a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. 7 In this way the priest will make atonement for them before the Lord, and they will be forgiven for any of the things they did that made them guilty.’
Explore
The contrast between the final verses of chapter 5 and those in verse 6 seems marked. Chapter 5 is still dealing with unintentional (for whatever reason) sin, the guilt incurred and the sacrifice that must be made. But it seems almost impossible (to me) that the sins described in 6:1–3 – deception, stealing, cheating, lying – could be committed by someone without them knowing it! Surely you know if you’re doing any of those things? Nevertheless, verse 4 indicates it could still be the case that they don’t realise until later.
What’s clear is that these sins, committed against other people, are also still offences before and to God, and must be atoned for. In addition, restitution to the victim must be made at the same time as they come before God; not just giving back what was taken, but adding to it (v 5).
The description of those ways in which someone might sin reminds me so much of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1–10)! His change of heart, seen in the generous repayment to all those he had cheated, shows he had been found by the one who is still seeking and saving the lost.
Respond
In our all-age confession we sometimes say to God, ‘We have hurt one another, and we have hurt you.’ Bring to God any hurt you have caused, and any hurt you feel, and receive his forgiveness.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Judges 1,2; Romans 16
Pray for Scripture Union
So many young people rarely enter church, yet their hearts are open and searching. Thank God for this opportunity and ask that he empowers Scripture Union and local churches to guide young hearts toward Jesus.
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.
