Come Follow Me: Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 4; 16; 19 — Holiness in the Middle of the Mess

What if God’s plan for you includes building something holy before you feel holy? Come Follow Me this week, for April 27–May 3, takes us into Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 4; 16; 19, where the Lord leads a newly freed people into worship, covenant living, and a steady practice of repentance. This Come Follow Me lesson can feel detailed, but it centers on one sentence that can reshape your week.

Israel has left Egypt, but they have not finished becoming the Lord’s people. The wilderness becomes a classroom, and the tabernacle becomes a portable reminder that God wants to dwell with them.

What Is Come Follow Me Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 4; 16; 19 About?

This week’s message can be summed up in the Lord’s own words:

Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy. Leviticus 19:2

Come Follow Me Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 4; 16; 19 is about more than curtains, basins, and ancient rituals. It is about the Lord taking people who are inconsistent and training them, patiently, to live in His presence.

Under the surface, you can see a pattern that still fits discipleship today:

• Deliverance is a beginning, not the finish line.
• Holy places support holy lives, but holiness has to move into daily choices.
• Sacrifice points to Jesus Christ, who makes forgiveness and cleansing possible.

If you are using an Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 4; 16; 19 study guide, watch for how often the Lord connects outward worship with inward change. The tabernacle is not spiritual decoration. It is a training ground.

Key Themes in Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 4; 16; 19

These chapters offer clear themes you can bring to Sunday School, youth, or family scripture study. Each one connects the tabernacle and the law of Moses to the Savior’s work in real life.

1) Holiness is the Lord’s goal for ordinary people

The Lord does not wait for Israel to become polished before He gives them a holy pattern. He speaks to “all the congregation” and sets the expectation for an entire community.

Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy. Leviticus 19:2

Holiness in Leviticus 19 shows up in daily ethics, not just worship. The chapter includes commandments about honesty, compassion, and reverence, including “Ye shall not steal” and “thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Leviticus 19:11, 18). What if holiness looks like how you treat people at home when nobody is performing righteousness?

2) A willing heart builds the Lord’s house

When the Lord asks for offerings for the tabernacle, He pays attention to the spirit behind the gift. The invitation is not forced extraction. It is consecration.

Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it. Exodus 35:5

That phrase, “a willing heart” (Exodus 35:5), turns tabernacle building into discipleship. People bring what they have, and they bring themselves. Where does the Lord see willingness in your life right now, even if your capacity feels small?

3) The tabernacle teaches prayer, light, and cleansing

Exodus 37–40 describes sacred objects and then shows them placed and used. These details can feel distant until you connect them to worship patterns the Lord still uses to draw us to Him.

• Prayer and incense: The altar of incense is set “before the veil” and used as part of worship (Exodus 40:26–27). If prayer is how we approach God day after day, the tabernacle offers a picture of prayer as steady, reverent, and intentional.
• Light in the holy place: The lampstand is crafted with care (Exodus 37:17–24). The Lord’s people receive light, then carry light.
• Washing and clothing: Aaron and his sons are washed and clothed for sacred service (Exodus 40:12–14). The Lord teaches that cleanliness and covenant identity matter to Him.

These symbols do not replace the Savior. They point to Him. The Lord uses repeated worship to shape hearts that can stay with Him.

4) Sacrifice and the Day of Atonement point to forgiveness

Leviticus can feel unfamiliar, but its purpose is familiar: God provides a way to repent and return. Leviticus 1 introduces offerings, and Leviticus 4 addresses sin offerings, including unintentional sins.

Leviticus also includes the Day of Atonement, a yearly reminder that cleansing comes from the Lord’s appointed way.

• Atonement is God’s gift, not a human achievement.
• Sin has consequences, even when it is not intentional (Leviticus 4).
• The Lord prepares a path back, again and again (Leviticus 16).

For Christians, these chapters become even clearer when you remember that Jesus Christ fulfills what these sacrifices foreshadow. He offers the real cleansing that ancient symbols pointed toward.

Discussion Questions for Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 4; 16; 19

A good discussion does not require mastering every detail. Choose one or two questions and let family members answer in their own words.

1. Where do you see the Lord helping Israel become holy after they leave Egypt? (Consider Leviticus 19:2.)
2. Exodus 35:5 mentions a “willing heart.” What helps your heart become willing when God asks for sacrifice?
3. What “holy place” has strengthened you recently, and how did it change your week afterward?
4. Leviticus 19:18 commands love for our neighbor. What does that look like in your home, online, or at school?
5. Leviticus 4 includes sins of ignorance. How do you repent when you realize you hurt someone without meaning to?
6. Leviticus 16 centers on cleansing and renewal. What helps you experience the Savior’s cleansing power more often than once a year?

How to Teach Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 4; 16; 19

Kids and teens can connect to this week when you keep the focus on the purpose, not the parts list. Let the tabernacle become a picture of “God wants to be with us,” and let the offerings become a picture of “I can give Him my best.”

Try one of these simple approaches:

• Read Leviticus 19:2 together, then ask, “What does holy look like at our house today?”
• Use Exodus 35:5 and invite children to name one “offering” they can give this week, such as kindness or obedience.
• Summarize Leviticus 16 in one sentence: “The Lord provides a way to be clean again,” then connect it to repentance and the Savior.

Explore This Week's Full Study Guide

If you want help turning details into devotion, open the Gospel Study App and study Come Follow Me Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 4; 16; 19 with guided notes, verse links, and questions you can use in class or at home.

Come Follow Me Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 4; 16; 19 works best when you slow down and choose a few verses to live. The Gospel Study App helps you mark key phrases like “a willing heart” (Exodus 35:5) and “Ye shall be holy” (Leviticus 19:2), then build a plan for the week.

Practical Application

1. Choose one “willing heart” offering. Write down one specific offering you will give the Lord this week, such as a prayer habit, a reconciled relationship, or a Sabbath upgrade. Revisit Exodus 35:5 each day and ask, “Is my heart willing today?”

2. Pick one holiness commandment for your home. Read Leviticus 19 and choose one verse to practice as a family, such as Leviticus 19:11 (honesty) or Leviticus 19:18 (loving others). Keep it visible on the fridge or in a family chat.

3. Practice repentance as cleansing, not punishment. When you make a mistake, connect your prayer to the idea behind Leviticus 16: the Lord provides a way to be clean again. Then take one concrete step, such as apologizing, making restitution, or talking with a parent or leader.

Build your week around that promise of holiness. Come Follow Me 2026 keeps pointing to the same hope: the Lord delivers, then He sanctifies, and He stays with His people while they learn.