Holiness Among God’s People
The rules in this passage are quite strange to us. But God’s motive in giving them to his people was so that his people who are sinful and unclean, could enjoy the benefit of fellowship with the God who is described as “Holy, holy, holy”. While the ceremonial rules regarding ritual purity in Israel have come to an end through the ministry of Jesus, the instructions about who can be in the assembly of the Lord and how we should live knowing that God is present are no less instructive for us than for them.
Sermon Outline:
I. Because God is holy, we must preserve the sanctity of the holy assembly.
II. Because God is holy, we must keep ourselves from every evil thing.
Sermon Discussion Questions:
1. How do you feel about certain people and groups being excluded
from the assembly of the LORD? Do you think it is fair?
2. Read Acts 8:26-39. How does this passage relate to Deuteronomy 23:1-8
and what does it teach us about the reach of the gospel?
3. Read Ephesians 2:11-22. How does this passage relate to Deuteronomy 23:1-8
and what are the implications for us?
4. If you believed in the core of your being that God not only dwelt in your midst, but within
you as a temple, how would your life be different? What needs to be cleaned out so that
“he may not see anything indecent” in you? After discussing, spend some time in prayer
asking God to show you those things and to cleanse you of them.