Ch2 - Christian Practices Flashcards
What is a nativity scene?
A nativity scene illustrates the story of Jesus’ birth using statues or actors and live animals
Give two ways in which people may decorate for Christmas
Christmas trees
Fairy lights
Leaves and berries from holly trees
Mistletoe bushes
Give an example of a special service held by the church or a Sunday school, for Christmas
Decorating the neighbourhood/shopping mall
Putting up a Christmas tree
Planning a nativity display
Concert
Arrange meals, shelter, charitable projects for people in need
Why is Christmas important to Christians?
Christmas introduces the idea of incarnation. It is when God came down to Earth in human form, as Jesus.
Christmas is important as it celebrates the birth of Jesus, who is very significant in Christianity.
Christians believe that Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus. This idea is known as the ‘Immaculate conception’ and it shows that Jesus in this way is fully God and fully human at the same time.
Christians believe that Jesus shows humans how to act and that because of this they should look to his teachings and sayings throughout their own lives.
Why do Christians see Jesus as the saviour?
Jesus is seen as the saviour because until he was crucified, God was angry with humans.
Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden and he was so angry that they were not allowed to be with him when they died.
After Jesus was sacrificed, God once again let people into heaven to be with him.
Give one reason why Jesus’ resurrection is important
Jesus’ resurrection is important because:
It proves that he is God, because humans cannot come back from the dead.
It proves that there is a life after death, and Christians believe that it tells them that they too will be resurrected.
Easter marks the end of Lent. What is Lent?
Lent is a 40-day period of fasting, repentance and spiritual discipline in preparation for Easter.
Churches are often decorated with spring flowers for easter. Why?
Churches are decorated with spring flowers as a symbol of new life
Give one reason why the celebration of Easter is important
Easter gives hope of redemption and an afterlife.
Easter allows you to focus on God and be thankful.
Easter brings people together. It is a reminder of what is important in life.
What is the incarnation?
The incarnation is where God came to Earth in human form, by becoming Jesus
How can the incarnation influence Christians today?
Christians believe that God took human form by becoming Jesus. This tells us God values humans and cares about them. This will influence their lives today by being nice and caring for everyone, like God did. Christians believe that God became human so we could see what he is really like.
Modern day Christians may worship Jesus and become more committed to their faith after learning about the incarnation, because it shows how God is all powerful and can become human.
What are the three parts of the Trinity?
God the Son, God the Father, God the Holy Spirit
A central Christian belief is monotheism. What is monotheism?
Monotheism is the belief that there is only one God
Who is God the Father and what is his role?
The father is considered the first person of the Trinity. He’s the one who people are referring to when they say ‘God’.
The father is fully in control and is the chief planner because he made the world.
He is the one who does the forgiving. God the father is also the one whom Christians normally direct their prayer to (e.g. The Lord’s Prayer).
So, he listens to prayers and answers them according to his will.
Who is God the Son and what is his role?
The second person of the Trinity is the Son, Jesus Christ who is both fully human and fully God.
He’s the part of God who came to Earth as a man to die for the sins of the world.
The Son always does the will of the Father and sits at his right hand in heaven.
Occasionally, people direct their prayers to Jesus.
Most Christians feel closer to the Son because they can identify with him. He was the one who came to Earth as a human and died in their place.
He knows what it’s like to be a human and to have to deal with everyday life so Christians try to copy his actions and follow his teachings.
Who is God the Holy Spirit and what is his role?
The third person of the Trinity is the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is said to do the unseen will of the Father and of the Son.
Of the Trinity members, the Holy Spirit is the one that’s hardest to relate to for many people, because it’s difficult to understand what is meant by ‘spirit’ as well as the idea that the Holy Spirit works in the past, present and future.
The Holy Spirit performs many critical roles in the lives of Christians. He has been involved throughout history and examples of this are in the Bible.
Also, he is actively involved in the life of every Christian now that Jesus has left Earth. Firstly, at Baptism and then filling people with ‘spiritual gifts’, helping in worship, making people feel better etc.
The Holy Spirit also plays a big role in a Christian’s prayer life.
Give one quote that supports the idea of the Trinity
1 Peter 3:18
‘For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.’
The Nicene Creed states:
‘we believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty… We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God… We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life’
Summarise what happened on Holy Monday
-For Jews, the temple was the holiest place in the world. But inside the temple were money lenders and business people selling things.
-So the only example of Jesus being angry in the Bible is when he drives them all out of the temple with a whip.
-He poured out their coins and overturned their tables. And told those who sold the pigeons ‘take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade’
-Easter Monday remembers this day and this story will often be read out in Church.
Summarise what happened on Holy Tuesday
-Jesus taught to his followers about faith. Jesus promised his followers that he would return at the end of the day.
-Jesus was questioned by the Jewish leaders and they tried to trick him so that he could be arrested.
Summarise what happened on Holy Wednesday
-On Holy Wednesday, the story of Judas arranging his betrayal of Jesus with the chief priest is remembered; he was a spy among the disciples of Jesus.
-For this reason, the day is sometimes called Spy Wednesday.
-Then one of the 12, Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and asks ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?’ So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.
-From then on, Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
Summarise what happened on Maundy Thursday
-Maundy Thursday remembers when Jesus and his disciples met to share a meal together - their last meal - as this was the night before Jesus was crucified.
-First, Jesus washed his disciples feet (a job usually done by a lowly servant). He did this to show that even though he was God’s son, he had come to serve others.
-Secondly, he shared bread and wine with his followers. He called the bread his body and wine his blood. He told them to keep doing this to remember him, as he said it’d be the last time they’d see him and he would soon die.
Summarise what happened on Good Friday
-On this day, Jesus was tried and sentenced to death. He was mocked and had to walk through Jerusalem carrying the cross he was going to be crucified on.
-On the way, he was beaten badly and a crown of thorns was placed on his head. He was eventually killed by crucifixion on a cross.
Summarise what happened on Palm Sunday
-Palm Sunday marks the day Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on a donkey, days before he was betrayed by his friend Judas Iscariot, one of the 12 Apostles.
-The day is called Palm Sunday as people threw palm leaves to the floor as a greeting when Jesus arrived. Jesus rode on a humble donkey as a sign of peace, instead of a horse.
-Large crowds welcomed him and recognised him as being the Messiah.
What is a pilgrimage?
A pilgrimage is where you spend time in the prescence of God and travel to a place of special meaning
Give one reason why people go on a pilgrimage
Reasons why people go on a pilgrimage:
To say sorry to God for something they have done (Penance)
They are ill and want God to heal them
To renew their faith
To improve their relationship with God
Give two benefits of pilgrimage
Benefits of pilgrimage:
Strengthens your connection with God
Visiting Lourdes can lead to a miracle
Gives a specific time to give all your time to worshipping God
Gives you a chance to meet and worship with many other Christians
Time away from screens and electronics
Give one negative of a pilgrimage
Negatives of pilgrimage:
People say many pilgrimage sites have become too commercialised
Some argue that you don’t need to go on a pilgrimage to strengthen your connection with God
Describe Lourdes and explain why it is a site of pilgrimage
-Lourdes is a place in France.
-According to Christian tradition, a girl called Bernadette had visions of the virgin Mary 18 times. She was commanded to dig a hole and the water that came out is reported to heal people.
-As a result, many people go to Lourdes hoping to be healed.
-People describe Lourdes as a ‘Catholic /Disneyland’ due to its business and comercialisation.
Describe Iona and explain why it is a site of pilgrimage
-Iona is an island off the west coast of Scotland.
-It is where saints are believed to have lived and prayers to have been answered.
-Iona is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and was once home to St Columba, who founded an abbey on the island and is known for his evangelical work around Scotland
-Around 130,000 pilgrims visit annually to reflect on the nature of God and pray
-There are places of historical and religious significance, such as: St Martin’s cross, and the nunnery
What is CAFOD and what do they do?
-CAFOD began in the 1960s and is the official aid agency of the Catholic Church, in England and Wales.
-The Catholic Church believes action needs to be taken to remedy the injustice of people suffering while others have so much.
-It was set up to bring hope and compassion to people of all faiths.
-CAFOD helps to increase access to clean water, education and healthcare and lobbies employers to adopt fair working practices and conditions.
-It acts with local organisations to provide food, water and shelter for people who have lost everything.
What is Christian Aid and what do they do?
-Christian Aid is the official relief and development agency for 41 church denominations, in Britain and Ireland.
-It began in 1945
-They aim to encourage sustainable development, stop poverty and provide emergency relief in Africa
-They have around 700 local partner organisations in 50 countries
What is Tearfund and what do they do?
-Tearfund began in 1968
-The church is central to the vision and mission of Tearfund.
-Tearfund works closely with local churches to enable the world’s poorest people to work themselves out of crushing poverty.
-In 2015, they worked with 90,522 churches worldwide and had seen tens of millions of people freed from poverty.
-They travel to places of great need, responding to disasters and helping vulnerable communities to transform out of poverty
What is persecution?
Persecution is cruel treatment of a group over a period of time
What is religious persecution?
Religious persecution is cruel treatment over a period of time due to a person’s beliefs
Christians believe that persecution makes their faith stronger and they should allow it to happen. Give a quote to support this
‘If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also’ (Matthew 5:38-39)
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.’ (Matthew 5:10)
Who was Baber George?
Baber George was from Pakistan and was imprisoned for gang war and while in prison he became a Christian.
What did Baber George do?
-He joined the Full Gospel Church, went to Bible school, and joined the organisation Operation Mobilisation to share the gospel with non-Christians.
-He set up new churches and helped to organise missions and conferences in city stadiums and social projects that assisted the poor and undereducated.
-He became a peace ambassador for the organisation Interfaith Harmony and spoke out against the persecution of Christians.
What happened to Baber George?
-His work upset some extreme Muslims who accused him of blaspheming against Islam and his home was attacked and demolished.
-The police refused to assist him and a fatwa (Islamic death sentence) was issued by Muslims against him and his wife and three children on 12th October 2011.
What is the Barnabus Fund?
The Barnabus Fund is an international interdenominational Christian aid agency based in Coventry, in the West Midlands of England that supports Christians who face discrimination or persecution as a consequence of their faith.
It was established in 1993.
How does the Barnabus Fund help Christians?
Giving:
The main ministry of Barnabus Fund is to send financial support to projects which help Christians where they suffer discrimination, oppression and persecution and a consequence of their faith. The projects aim to strengthen Christian individuals, churches and their communities by providing material and spiritual support in response to needs identified by local Christian leaders.
Encouraging prayer:
They seek to encourage and facilitate prayer by providing prayer information, prayer requests and resources in many different forms and formats.
Raising awareness:
The ministry makes known the plight of the persecuted Church, particularly in the Muslim world, by a wide variety of means, in order to educate Christians and others about the current situation and needs as well as the background and casual factors.
Contest injustice:
When requested by Christians in the contexts concerned, they engage in speaking on their behalf. This can be by public petitions and letter-writing campaigns or discreet contacts behind the scenes.
