The Guilt of Innocent Blood

Human life is of such value that an unnatural death leaves a stain on the community that must be dealt with through another death. The shedding of innocent blood pollutes the community and blood is on everyone’s hands. If that is true, what does that mean for a nation that has shed the blood of 63 million innocent babies? What does that mean for a nation giving regular witness to mass shootings, gang violence, and one of the higher murder rates among developed nations? And what does an ancient ritual involving the breaking of a heifer’s neck have to do with anything in our contemporary world? Join us to find out!

Sermon Outline:
I. The Problem
II. The Solution
III. The Significance

Sermon Discussion Questions:
1. What is the role of the elders of the nearest city in this ritual? What is the role of the priests? As the civil, judicial, and religious leaders of the community, why is their participation in the ritual significant?
2. How does the ritual of the broken-necked heifer teach us about the value of human life?
3. What does this passage teach us about our corporate responsibility for human life? Even if we do not commit the sins personally, to what degree would you say we are responsible for sins like abortion or violence in our communities?
4. What message of hope do we have for those with a guilty conscience? How might you explain the meaning of Christ’s shed blood to a person who feels they can never be forgiven for what they have done?