BIBLE STUDY CLASS OUTLINE FOR THE MONTH OF

FEBRUARY WEEK 2

DIRECTIVES FOR THE TEACHERS

Welcome to the month of February. We look forward to receiving the Word of the month from
our dear man of God.
Our Bible Study this month, is on the topic: OUR PRIESTLY MINISTRY. This is an outline that has been
created to guide your Cell's Bible Study Classes for the month of February. In preparing for the Bible Study
Class, it’s vital that you (Cell Leaders and Bible Study Class Teachers) study this outline prior to the cell
meeting date to acquaint yourself with the topic and content.
During the meeting, all the Scriptures given in the outline are to be read out. It’s important that the class
participants look into their Bibles while the Scriptures are read for proper assimilation. You may also assign
some of the participants to read some of the Scriptures during the study. To be sure the participants have their
Bibles, kindly inform them before the meeting date to come along with their Bibles. As a strategic and proactive
Bible Study Class Teacher, ensure you make provision for first timers that will be in attendance, who may not
have their Bibles with them, or you may direct them to download the Rhapsody of Realities Study Bible app
from the Loveworld App Store at www.lwappstore.com.
In addition, don’t rush through the subject as you teach; remember that our intention is to have every member
of the class understand the subject matter and what the Bible teaches on it. At different points of the class,
request feedback from the participants to ensure they are following and understanding the subject being taught.
Please note that all Scripture references are in the King James Version (KJV), unless otherwise stated.
Finally, ensure you communicate the class activity or actions to be taken before the next class and monitor to
ensure every member of the cell is participating in these activities.
INTRODUCTION

A Priest is in the class of people given the responsibility and the office of offering gifts and sacrifices to God. In
the old testament, God picked the tribe of Levi from amongst the Children of Israel and consecrated them to
function in the office of Priests, but in the new testament, He had a better plan. This and more will be discussed
in this class.

THE PRIESTHOOD

In the old testament, we see that God singled out the Israelites out of all the nations of the world for Himself. In
Exodus 1:5-6, He told them:

Exodus19:5-6 - Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye
shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:And ye shall be
unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak
unto the children of Israel.

God’s plan was to make them a kingdom of Royal Priests, and this was premised on their obedience to His laws.
They however didn’t attain this status because they were disobedient time and time again.

The Aaronic Priesthood

While the Israelites were in the wilderness, God showed Moses the pattern of a tabernacle to build which was
to be a place for offering sacrifices. He also separated and consecrated Aaron and His sons (who were
descendants of Levi, son of Israel) to serve as priests.

Exodus 28:1 - And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among
the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab
and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.
From the the book of Exodus, through the books of Numbers and Leviticus, God gave instructions on how the
priests should function, the various sacrifices , ordinances and laws. The priesthood remained with the
descendants of Aaron till Jesus came, and a new Priesthood was instituted after the order of Melchizedek and
not after the lineage of Aaron.

The New Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek

Psalm 110: 4 -The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the
order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7:12-17- For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also
of the law. For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no
man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which
tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that after
the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,Who is made, not after the law of a
carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a
priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Melchizedek was a type of Christ in the old testament, a priest of God who came to Abraham as he returned
from a war with kings. ( Read Hebrews 7:1-3; Genesis 14:18-20).

The transfer of the Priesthood from the tribe of Levi to the tribe of Judah
One significant occurrence at the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist was the transfer of the priesthood from
the tribe of Levi ( from where John came) to the tribe of Judah (The Lord Jesus’ physical lineage).
Matthew 3:13-15 “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And
Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all
righteousness.”
The Lord Jesus let John baptize Him to fulfil all righteousness, because He was the sacrificial lamb to bear the
sins of men and the Priesthood was not to be stolen.

Jesus, our High Priest and sacrificial lamb

In the old testament, the High Priest went into the inner court of the temple once a year with the blood of
animals to offer as sacrifice for his sins and that of the people of Israel. He had to present this blood every year
because it was not possible for the blood of animals to take away sins.
Hebrews 10: 3-4 But the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. It only reminds
people of their sins from one year to the next.
When Jesus came, He was destined to be our High Priest, after the order of Melchizedek, and not only that,
also the sacrificial lamb slain to take away the sins of all men. After He rose from the dead, He went to Heaven
once and presented His own blood.

Hebrews 9:11-12 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and
more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by
the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place,
having obtained eternal redemption for us.

The old Priesthood versus the new Priesthood

When you read through the book of Hebrews, you can identify some differences between the old Priesthood
and the new Priesthood. These are highlighted below:
Old Priesthood New Priesthood Scripture references

In the order of Levi In the order of Melchizedek Hebrews 7:17

The High Priest dies and is Jesus, our high Priest died and Hebrews 7:23-24
succeeded by another rose again and has an endless life

The High Priest had to offer the Jesus, our High Priest was also Hebrews 10:34; Hebrews 9: 11-12
blood of an animal the sacrificial lamb; He offered
Himself

The High Priest offered sacrifices Jesus, our High Priest offered Hebrews 9:25-26
for sins once every year for himself Himself as a sacrifice once for the
and for the people of Israel whole world

The priests were not sinless Jesus, our High Priest was sinless Hebrews 7:26-28

The priests could not give eternal Jesus, our High Priest is the Hebrews 9:12
salvation author of eternal salvation

The priests were not sworn in by Jesus was made High Priest with Hebrews 7:20-21
an oath an oath

The Priesthood was changed The Priesthood is eternal Hebrews 7:17

The priests minister in a Our High Priest ministers in a Hebrews 8:2

tabernacle built by men tabernacle built by God

CONCLUSION

In this Class, we have learnt :

 Who a priest is

 The institution of a Priesthood with the lineage of Levi

 God’s plan to make of the Jews a kingdom of priests and kings and how they failed out of this plan

 The institution of a new priesthood with Christ; not after the lineage of Levi, but after the order of
Melchizedek, an eternal priesthood

 The differences between the old Priesthood and the new.

( The Bible study class teacher should ask the class participants the various points they learnt from the class)
We will continue on this teaching in the next class where we would be learning about our calling in the new
testament as kings and Priests, and our role as Priests.

Don’t miss the next class!

CODE RABAH CONTINUES!

It is our year of the prolific Church, a year in which the Church shall spread throughout the earth unhindered!
(The Bible study class teacher should communicate to the class the various code rabah strategies being
carried out in the group and ensure that everyone knows their role.)

On the soul tracker platform, everyone can set their personal soul-winning target for the year. ( The Bible study
class teacher should guide class participants through the various steps)

Steps:

*Login to www.christembassysoultracker.org

*Create your account if you are yet to

*Click on the gift-a-soul tab

*Select your preferred soul winning target

*On completion, you will receive a free message- Master soulwinner, credited to your account

* Follow the soul tracker superuser account on Kingschat -@stracker for more exciting updates.

CLASS ASSIGNMENT

Every member of the class should listen to the message series- Priesthood and Sacrifices, available on the
Pastor Chris Digital Library app.( Download app from www.lwappstore.com)