The Peace Offering.

SERMON OUTLINE:

(1). It was an animal offering.

(2). It was a unique offering.

(3). It was a structured Offering.

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

• A man was watching TV late at night,

• To his amazement he saw a mouse run across the floor right underneath the TV set.

• He ran immediately to get a mousetrap and then to the fridge to get some cheese.

• But there was no cheese.

• So, he did what he thought was the next best thing.

• He got a magazine that had colourful ads in it.

• Found an advert for cheese, cut out the picture of the cheese and put it in the mousetrap.

• He then went to bed.

• When he woke the next morning,

• He immediately checked the mousetrap,

• And to his amazement he found a magazine picture of a mouse in the trap!

• The lesson is clear,

• If you want to catch the real thing, you’ve got to put out the real thing!

• TRANSITION: In many of our studies in Leviticus,

• The chapters on first reading may not seem real or relevant for us today.

• But I hope we will see they still have a lot to teach us.

Note:

• The book of Leviticus starts with five offerings or sacrifices.

• This third offering that we are looking at today, is called by a variety of names,

• The heading in your Bible (which of course is not part of the text),

• May call it,

• ‘The Peace Offering,’ or ‘The Well-Being Offering’ or ‘The Fellowship Offering’.

“Peace offering” is probably the most common term used for it,

• The Hebrew term used for this offering is from the root word for “shalom”,

• And this word means “peace” or “whole.”

• And most people know generally what is meant by the word peace.

• e.g., Peace is the absence of conflict and hostility.

• e.g., Peace is harmony and agreement in personal relations

• e.g., Peace can be a state of unity or tranquillity, we can be, ‘at peace.’

Now having looked at the passage, I think I prefer the term, “Fellowship Offering”

• e.g., Fellowship speaks of companionship.

• e.g., Fellowship speaks of acceptance.

• e.g., Fellowship speaks of being part of a community or a family.

• Now of course peace and fellowship are like overlapping circles (Venn diagrams).

• When a person is at peace with God,

• They can then enjoy fellowship with God.

• They are a bit like Siamese twins, joined together.

Ill:

• A little girl once cried out in the night and woke up her mother.

• The mother told the little girl to crawl into bed with her.

• She asked the girl, “What’s the matter?”

• The girl responded. “It was dark over there,”

• The mother replied, “Yes, but it’s just as dark over here too.”

• The girl replied, “I know, but you’re here.”

• TRANSITION: God wants us to know him and enjoy him,

• Not to be rebels at war with him by our independent lifestyles,

• But rather enjoying fellowship, enjoying his presence and peace.

• That is why he took the intuitive to introduce this way of approaching him.

• Leviticus is a book that shows how sinful people can approach a holy God.

• How sinful people can find forgiveness, peace and fellowship.

Note:

• The book of Leviticus starts with five offerings or sacrifices.

• We have looked at two of them.

• Today we are looking at the third offering mentioned.

• Let me give you a very quick reminder and leave you with a key word for each offering.

#1: The Burnt Offering.

• The Key word: Cover.

• The purpose: to cover the offender’s unholiness & make him acceptable in God’s presence.

• e.g. perfume covering a persons body odour – hides the smell.

• Lesson:

• Lord, I want to spend some time with you, in your presence,

• And I pray that you will find me acceptable.

#2: The Grain Offering

• Key word: Remember.

• The purpose: to remember the covenant made between God and his people Israel.

• e.g. sealed with salt – valuable and remaining/faithful

• Lesson:

• Lord, I remember your promises to us and our promises to you.

• I take our covenant relationship seriously.

#3: The Peace Offering.

Ill:

• I wonder how many men here have at some time or other upset their or offended the wife.

• (Joke hands down ??? I wasn’t asking for a confession).

• If you have and most of us have failed in this way,

• Then wise was the man who visited a florist and the chocolate shop,

• In the hope that these gifts might help smooth things over.