In this Bible class session on February 22, 2026, Shaun Calix leads a discussion at Oak Hollow Church of Christ on how the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament (such as offerings, circumcision, Day of Atonement, feasts, and dietary purity rules) demonstrated love for God through obedience and reverence while indirectly fostering communal love for neighbor through shared rituals and consideration for others. The class then examines selected civil laws (e.g., gleaning provisions for the poor, tithing, inclusion of sojourners in festivals, Sabbath rest principles, fair treatment of foreigners, and just judgment), showing how obedience to these laws reflected love for God by honoring His plan for society and expressed love for neighbor through justice, generosity, inclusion, and fairness. Participants break into small groups multiple times to discuss these laws, connecting them to the greatest commandments (love God and love neighbor) and noting that while the ceremonial and many civil laws are no longer binding under the New Covenant, their underlying principles of obedience, community care, and justice continue to apply today.

The class begins with an interactive small-group activity focused on ceremonial laws from Leviticus and related passages. Participants are divided into four groups to study specific categories—burnt/grain offerings and circumcision, the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16), the appointed feasts (Leviticus 23), and dietary purity laws (Leviticus 11)—and discuss how obeying these laws showed love for God (primarily through reverence, obedience, and covenant faithfulness) and love for neighbor (through communal participation, preventing stumbling, and fostering shared access to God). Group reports highlight themes of giving God one's best, the complexity and respect required in approaching God (especially on the Day of Atonement), annual reminders of God's acts through feasts that built community joy, and dietary rules that promoted holiness and consideration for others' consciences, with modern applications such as avoiding actions that cause weaker believers to stumble.

The session then shifts to civil laws not directly covered by the Ten Commandments, using another round of six small groups to examine passages on leaving gleanings for the poor and sojourners, tithing and care for the vulnerable, inclusion of circumcised foreigners in Passover and festivals, Sabbath-year rest and debt release, kind treatment of foreigners, and impartial justice for natives and sojourners alike. Discussions emphasize that fulfilling these laws demonstrated love for God by respecting His covenantal design for societal care and demonstrated love for neighbor through practical acts of generosity, rest for workers and servants, inclusion with accountability, fairness in judgment, and refusal to take advantage of the weak. Several speakers connect these ideas to New Testament principles (e.g., not causing others to stumble, doing justly and loving kindness per Micah 6:8, and treating others as oneself).

Throughout the lesson, Shaun Calix facilitates reflection on how these Old Testament laws—while not binding on Christians today—teach enduring principles of loving God through obedience and loving neighbor through justice, inclusion, generosity, and communal responsibility. The class repeatedly ties the discussion back to Jesus' summary of the law in the greatest commandments, noting that ceremonial laws often served symbolic or separative purposes that were fulfilled in Christ, whereas civil laws frequently embodied direct concern for human welfare and equity that continues to inform Christian ethics. The session closes with appreciation for the group's participation and a prayer for growing love for God and others.

- **Introduction and Setup**
- Greeting, grouping participants into four initial groups
- Overview: covering ceremonial law this session, civil law to follow

- **Ceremonial Law Small-Group Discussion (Four Groups)**
- Group 1: Offerings (burnt, grain, etc.) and circumcision
- Group 2: Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16)
- Group 3: Appointed Feasts (Leviticus 23)
- Group 4: Dietary/Purity Laws (Leviticus 11)
- Guiding questions: How did fulfilling these demonstrate love for God? How did they (directly or indirectly) demonstrate love for neighbor?

- **Ceremonial Law Group Reports and Teacher Comments**
- Report 1: Obedience as primary expression of love for God; limited direct neighbor connection; principle of giving God our best
- Report 2: Respect for God shown in elaborate ritual; communal responsibility (scapegoat); influence on others' faith and behavior
- Report 3: Feasts as annual memorials/reminders of God's acts; community celebration and generational teaching; parallels to modern observances like communion
- Report 4: Obedience to dietary rules shows love for God; preventing stumbling and maintaining communal holiness shows love for neighbor (e.g., modern example of not keeping pork in shared housing)

- **Transition to Civil Law**
- Re-grouping into six new groups
- Focus on civil laws beyond the Ten Commandments

- **Civil Law Small-Group Discussion (Six Groups)**
- Group 1: Gleaning laws for the poor, sojourners, and needy
- Group 2: Tithing and care for orphans, widows, sojourners; boundaries and helping foreigners
- Group 3: Inclusion of sojourners in Passover and Feast of Booths (with covenant requirements like circumcision)
- Group 4: Sabbath-year land rest, debt release, and rest for servants/employees
- Group 5: Kind treatment of foreigners/strangers
- Group 6: Fair and equal justice for sojourners and natives

- **Civil Law Group Reports and Teacher Comments**
- Report 1: Respecting God's plan for caring for the vulnerable; loving neighbor by not taking everything for oneself
- Report 2: Tithing as obedience and humility; helping the needy while recognizing national boundaries
- Report 3: Inclusion of foreigners with adherence to God's rules; welcoming outsiders while maintaining Christian standards
- Report 4: Sabbath principles extend to rest for others and debt forgiveness; sharing benefits of work/blessings
- Report 5: Consistent kindness toward foreigners as reflecting the preciousness of others
- Report 6: Fairness, equal justice, and impartiality; reflecting God's heart (Micah 6:8); modern responsibility to promote just laws and leaders

- **Closing**
- Brief teacher synthesis: obedience to God inseparable from love; principles of justice and care endure
- Prayer for increased love for God and neighbor