Discussion Series | Rooted | 6. "Why The Old Testament Matters"

The Old Testament isn't a confusing collection of ancient laws and violent stories. It's the first half of one unified story — and it's impossible to fully understand Jesus without it. Today Pastor Steve walks us through covenants, sacrifices, and the logic of blood — and shows us how all of it points directly to Christ.

Key Topics

Covenants

• A covenant is a binding promise God makes with His people
• Every major covenant points forward to Jesus
• Key covenants: Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New Covenant
• Jesus is the fulfillment of every promise God ever made

Sacrifices

• The sacrificial system was God's way of showing His people what sin actually costs
• Leviticus isn't boring — it's a detailed picture of what it takes to approach a holy God
• The system was never meant to be the final answer — it was always pointing forward

Why So Much Blood?

• Leviticus 17:11 — the life of the flesh is in the blood
• Blood represents life given in place of another life
• Every sacrifice was a preview of one moment — the cross
• John 1:29 — "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world"

How It All Points to Christ

• Luke 24:27 — Jesus opened the Scriptures and showed how they were all about Him
• Abraham and Isaac → the Father giving His Son
• The Passover Lamb → Jesus whose blood causes judgment to pass over us
• The High Priest → Jesus our permanent High Priest
• The Suffering Servant → Isaiah 53, written 700 years before the cross

Key Scriptures

• Leviticus 17:11
• 2 Samuel 7:12–13
• Jeremiah 31:31–34
• Isaiah 53
• John 1:29
• Luke 24:27
• Hebrews 10:1–4
• Hebrews 4:14–16

Reflection Questions

• What part of the Old Testament has always confused you most?
• How does understanding the sacrificial system change the way you see the cross?
• If the Old Testament is one long arrow pointing to Jesus — what does that change about how you read it?

Want to Go Deeper?

• According to Plan — Graeme Goldsworthy
• How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth — Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart

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