The Leviticus Effect: What happens to Christians when they read and study Leviticus

This past Spring, I taught a seminar at Sheridan Hills Baptist Church called "The Leviticus Effect." I argued that the 'Leviticus Effect' should happen to Christians when they read the book of Leviticus. So, what is "the Leviticus Effect?" The Leviticus Effect is the transformative spiritual phenomenon that occurs when Christians read the book of Leviticus as God intended. It consists of two corollaries: (1) A deepened awareness of God’s holiness leads to a heightened recognition of one’s own unholiness (cf. Isaiah 6:1–8), and (2) this recognition of personal unholiness intensifies the desire to be like God in holiness (Hebrews 10:19–22). 

For Christians, Christ's atoning sacrifice opens a new and living way to experience God's holiness in their lives. I define holiness as an active and confident drawing near to God with a purified heart, body, and conscience based on Hebrews 10:19–22. Some Christians believe that holiness is an end in itself. But it is not an end in and of itself, it is a means to become more like God, who is the end (the eternal goal) of the Christian. 

Over 9 weeks, I taught the following seminar outline (links to the notes are provided for each week): 

1) Personal Holiness and Our God-Given Senses

    A) What is the Leviticus Effect?

    B) What we Touch

    C) What we Taste/Smell

    D) What we See

    E) What we Hear

2) Personal Holiness and Our God-Given Relationships

    A) Our Relationship to God

    B) Our Relationship to Others

    C) Our Relationship to the Sojourners and Strangers

    D) Our Relationship to the Self