If each of us individually puts out the leaven of malice and consume the Unleavened Bread of sincerity, we would fulfill our community responsibility.

Keeping the leaven out is very important in its own right. However, our primary focus should not be on the leavened bread but on the unleavened bread.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread signifies far more than the avoidance of leavening. Our focus needs to be on God's management of the process of deliverance.

Our individual sins (committed in our thoughts, words, and behaviors) are never isolated, but sadly influence every other member of the congregation.

Are we merely performing a ritual or are we making sure the real point of deleavening and keeping these days does not get lost in the physical activity?

Why must we put leaven out, yet we do not have to circumcise our baby boys? Is deleavening 'Old Covenant'?

Everyone has a great deal of stuff, which we stockpile and safeguard jealously. How readily could we leave it all behind, as the Israelites had to?

The Feast of Unleavened Bread memorializes God's deliverance from the environment of sin rather than our coming out of sin. Christ embodies sincerity and truth.

Here are the foundational principles to keep in mind in observing the Feasts of God throughout the year.

Even though removing leaven from our homes has importance, the far greater spiritual emphasis is on the eating of unleavened bread, internalizing Christ.

While most understand the sacrificial theme of Passover, they fail to grasp actively overcoming sin, largely because of the concept of 'free' grace.

Like physical leaven, if spiritual leaven is not checked quickly, it will expand exponentially, destroying the container housing it.

We should be willing to give up anything for the Kingdom, controlling our speech, thoughts, behaviors, and lives. We cannot grow in grace without works.

Our carnal natures must be displaced by God's Holy Spirit, motivating us to refrain from causing offense, but freely forgiving others as God has forgiven us.

Everybody has the carnal habit of accumulating stuff, cluttering up both our physical surroundings, as well as the inner chambers of our minds.

The Days of Unleavened Bread define our responsibility in God's plan to purge out habits, attitudes, and teachings that do not conform to God's way.

At the time of Christ, because of historical deviation, some kept Passover at home at the start of the 14th and others kept it at the Temple at the end of the 14th.

After we accept Christ's sacrifice, we desperately need to come out of sin, walking in light rather than darkness, having continuous fellowship with God.

Even though keeping the law does not justify us, it does point out to us what sin is. The law is a guide keeping us within moral and ethical boundaries.

We must make choices over our entire lifetime. God does the heavy lifting in terms of giving the choices and the solutions for us, but He will not choose for us.

We must cleanse not only our physical spaces, but our minds, schedules, and hearts—removing distractions, negative thoughts, and emotional burdens.