Podcast Summary: "The Gospel Starts with Leviticus"
Podcast: The Wake-Up Call
Host: Andrew Forrest, filling in for J.D. Walt (Seedbed)
Date: February 16, 2026
Episode Theme: A fresh look at Leviticus as the foundation for understanding the Gospel, and its continued relevance for Christian life today.
Main Theme Overview
Andrew Forrest reframes the often misunderstood and overlooked book of Leviticus as essential for understanding how the Gospel of Jesus Christ begins. Through a reflection on the sacrificial system outlined in Leviticus 1:1–5, he argues that the book teaches us about the costs of sin, the need for atonement, and the goodness of being restored to God’s presence—all laying the groundwork for understanding Christ’s ultimate sacrifice.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Leviticus: Not Just an Ancient Oddity
- Popular Perception vs. Spiritual Relevance
- Leviticus is often cited as a punchline or source of confusion about the Bible’s relevance due to its archaic rules (05:15).
- Forrest turns this perception around, suggesting that “the entire point of the book is to teach people what it takes to have eternal life” (06:10).
2. Context: Why Leviticus Follows Exodus
- Transition from Exodus to Leviticus
- Exodus ends with Moses unable to enter the Tabernacle, illustrating how “sinful humanity cannot participate in God’s eternal life, cannot even enter into God's holy presence” (06:55).
- This sets up the need for Leviticus, which answers, “What can be done?” (07:05).
3. The Sacrificial System Explained
- Scriptural Focus: Leviticus 1:1–5
- Forrest reads the passage about sacrifice: the laying on of hands, the unblemished animal, and the substitutionary atonement (04:05–05:00).
- Key Insight: “Human sin brings death. God in His mercy permits an innocent animal to be sacrificed in place of the sinful human.” (07:20)
4. The Symbolism of Sacrifice
- From Animal Sacrifice to Christ’s Atonement
- “In Leviticus, the life of a blameless animal...is offered to cover over for human sin.” (07:45)
- Sacrifices “are just a symbol of the larger reality: sin causes death, but sacrifice covers over sin.” (08:15)
- Gospel Connection: “The Father eventually sends the Son to be a willing sacrifice to make atonement for humanity once and for all. So, the gospel starts with Leviticus.” (08:40)
5. Modern Relevance of Leviticus
- Why Leviticus Still Matters
- “You might not be interested in the regulations for this or that sacrifice, but you should be very interested in the larger lesson… that the only way to live in the presence and life of God is if a blameless sacrifice covers over human sin.” (09:00)
- Leviticus teaches hope: “For every place somebody might find himself, there’s a way that one can...come back into the presence of God.” (11:10)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “The gospel starts with Leviticus.” – Andrew Forrest (08:40)
- “Human sin brings death. God in His mercy permits an innocent animal to be sacrificed in place of the sinful human.” – Andrew Forrest (07:20)
- “Leviticus...is actually a really hopeful book because for every place somebody might find himself, there's a way that one can well be covered over and come back into the presence of God. And apart from God, there is no life.” (11:10)
- “Sin causes death, but sacrifice covers over sin.” (08:15)
- On the hymn: “Mid toil and tribulation and tumult of her war she waits the consummation of peace forevermore...the great church victorious shall be the church at rest.” (12:18)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:00–02:25: Host introduction, personal context, upcoming Seedbed events
- 02:30–04:00: Lighting of the candle, opening prayer of dedication
- 04:01–05:00: Reading of Leviticus 1:1–5 (“Hear now the word of the Lord…”)
- 05:01–06:10: Leviticus as a “punchline,” common perceptions, why it matters
- 06:15–07:35: Context from Exodus, the need for atonement, explanation of sacrifice
- 07:36–09:05: The spiritual symbolism of sacrifice, connection to Christ’s atonement
- 09:05–09:40: Leviticus’ core lesson for today’s believers
- 09:40–12:18: Closing hymn (“The Church’s One Foundation”), reflection on its lyrics
Journal Prompts (For Deeper Engagement)
- What would be the lesson to the community of seeing a bull slaughtered in place of a sinful human?
- Why can’t God just erase sin without a sacrifice?
- What does it mean that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world?
(11:00)
Closing Reflection & Tone
Andrew Forrest encourages listeners to embrace the “good strangeness” of Leviticus. Rather than shying away from its rituals, he suggests that its lessons are the backbone of the Christian understanding of salvation and grace. “Leviticus, it’s going to be strange, it’s going to stretch you, but it’s actually really, really good. And it explains, in fact, the cross and the resurrection of Jesus.” (11:18)
He closes with an energetic hymn, marveling at its power and its message that Christ is truly the foundation of the church—another bridge from ancient ritual to present faith.
Summary prepared for listeners seeking the deep connections between Old Testament ritual and the heart of the Gospel, with practical prompts to meditate further.