RE:Quest

Search results for: “easter”

  • Jesus’ Resurrection

    The resurrection is central to Christianity. In the New Testament, we read Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth:

    ‘Now, since our message is that Christ has been raised from death, how can some of you say that the dead will not be raised to life? If that is true, it means that Christ was not raised; and if Christ has not been raised from death, then we have nothing to preach and you have nothing to believe. More than that, we are shown to be lying about God, because we said that he raised Christ from death—but if it is true that the dead are not raised to life, then he did not raise Christ. 

     

    For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is a delusion and you are still lost in your sins. It would also mean that the believers in Christ who have died are lost. If our hope in Christ is good for this life only and no more, then we deserve more pity than anyone else in all the world.’   1 Corinthians 15:12-19.

    In this film, the Christian belief in Jesus’ resurrection is explored, alongside the impact that such a belief has on Christians.

    Watch a film exploring the evidence for the resurrection here.

  • The Key Events of Holy Week

    What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘Easter’? Bunnies? Hot cross buns? Gooey creme eggs?A Bunny And Chick Beside Colored Eggs Easter is one of the most special times in the year for Christians, and very little of it has to do with chocolate! ‘Easter’ is a season in the church calendar which happens each spring. Christians use the term ‘Easter’ to refer to the festival remembering the events surrounding the end of Jesus’ life, and its new beginning. Christians believe that, at the age of 33, Jesus died on a cross outside Jerusalem at the hands of the Romans. He was buried immediately, but then three days later his disciples discovered that his tomb was empty and claimed to have seen him, alive. Christians believe that Jesus’ death and resurrection were part of a grand plan, engineered by God himself, to bring peace between God and the people of earth. Holy Week is the name given to the final week of Jesus’ life. It’s sometimes referred to as ‘the Passion.’ Read more about the events of this incredible week below, and watch our films here.   The Last Supperperson holding gold chalice
    ‘When the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table with the apostles.He said to them, “I have wanted so much to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer! For I tell you, I will never eat it until it is given its full meaning in the Kingdom of God.” Luke 22:14-16
    It was the time of the Jewish Passover – the festival which remembers Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt – that Jesus had his last meal with disciples. After a week of visiting friends around Jerusalem, Jesus wanted to share a special meal with them. At the meal, he broke the bread and called it his body. He said the wine they drank was his blood. Christians believe this was Jesus’ way of telling his friends about his death. You can read the full story in Luke 22:14-23.   Jesus’ Arrest
    ‘Then Jesus said to the chief priests and the officers of the Temple guard and the elders who had come there to get him, “Did you have to come with swords and clubs, as though I were an outlaw? I was with you in the Temple every day, and you did not try to arrest me. But this is your hour to act, when the power of darkness rules.”     Luke 22:52-53
    After the meal, Jesus went to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. He took a few of his closest disciples with him. While he was there, another of his disciples, Judas, brought Jesus’ enemies to him and they arrested him. You can read the full story in Luke 22:47-53.    Jesus’ Trial
    ‘The whole group rose up and took Jesus before Pilate, where they began to accuse him: “We caught this man misleading our people, telling them not to pay taxes to the Emperor and claiming that he himself is the Messiah, a king.” Luke 23:1-2
    During the night Jesus was tried by the religious leaders for blasphemy (claiming to be God) and the Roman authorities (for stirring up the people). He was put on trial before Pilate, then Herod. By Friday morning, he had been sentenced to death. You can read the full story in Luke 23:1-25.   Good Friday: Jesus’ Crucifixion
    ‘When they came to the place called “The Skull,” they crucified Jesus there, and the two criminals, one on his right and the other on his left. Jesus said, “Forgive them, Father! They don’t know what they are doing.” Luke 23: 33-34 
    Good Friday is the day when Jesus died on the cross. In Roman times the worst criminals were ‘crucified’ – nailed to a cross and left to die. The Bible says Jesus was innocent and that his death was a sacrifice for people’s sins. Throughout the gospels, Jesus says that he will have to die but that his death will save many. Christians believe that because Jesus died, all of us can be friends of God. You can read the full story in Luke 23:26-55. Find out more about the crucifixion here.   Easter Sunday: The Resurrection
    ‘Very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, carrying the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the entrance to the tomb, so they went in; but they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. They stood there puzzled about this when suddenly two men in bright shining clothes stood by them. Full of fear, the women bowed down to the ground, as the men said to them, “Why are you looking among the dead for one who is alive? He is not here; he has been raised.’ Luke 24:1-6
    Good Friday is only half of the Easter story. The other is Jesus’ resurrection 3 days later. On Easter Sunday, the disciples visited Jesus’ tomb but found the stone covering the cave had been moved and Jesus’ body was gone. They reported seeing Jesus alive in the garden that morning, and then again at their house later that day. Christians believe that God raised Jesus to life again – a sign that Jesus was truly the Son of God and more powerful than death.   You can read the full story in Luke 24:1-12. Find out more about the resurrection here.       The Ascension
    ‘Then he led them out of the city as far as Bethany, where he raised his hands and blessed them. As he was blessing them, he departed from them and was taken up into heaven.’ Luke 24:50-51
    body of water near mountains during daytime photographyIn the days after his resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples. On the fortieth day, he appeared among them and spoke to them of prophecies about the Messiah, from the Old Testament. He assured them that he was the Messiah, reminding them of all they had witnessed. He walked with them for a while before blessing them and being taken up into heaven. This was the last time they would see Jesus in bodily form. You can read the full story in Luke 24:36-53, You can find out more about the Ascension here. To find out why these events are important to Christians today, click here.

  • Atonement

    Atonement is one of the most important concepts in Christianity. It provides the answer to the question: Why did Jesus die? A helpful way of thinking of the atonement is found in the word itself. Christians believe that humans were once separated from the God who made and loved them, because of their sin. But Jesus’ death has made a way for them to be ‘at one’ with God. This is what Christians celebrate every year at Easter – on Good Friday especially – and more regularly every time they take communion (or the Eucharist). But why were people separated from God? Free Close-Up Photo of Bible Stock PhotoLike many books, there is a big story that runs through the Bible. Some people call this the ‘salvation story’. The Bible begins with Genesis and the story of Adam and Eve. The famous story of the Garden of Eden, and how Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit, lays out the key themes of God’s creation, sin and the Fall:
    • God made a beautiful world.
    • He made people to rule over it.
    • He created people to be friends and set out a design for life.
    • But humankind chose another path. This rejection of God is called sin.
    Sin makes a barrier between a perfect God and imperfect people. Christians believe that Jesus’ death ultimately knocks down this barrier and makes a way for everything that was lost at the Fall to be regained and restored. Find out more about the concept of sin and the Fall here.   But how does Jesus’ death restore a relationship with God? Free An Open Bible with Flowers and a Notepad Stock PhotoThis is a very big question, and one which the New Testament in the Bible (in particular writers such as Paul) tries to answer. Different theologians throughout church history have put forward different ideas about the full meaning of ‘the cross’. Christians believe that when Jesus died, he took on all human sins and died in their place. People are in God’s debt, because of the sins they have committed. There is a cost to pay for their sin. But Jesus’ death paid off this debt, meaning that sin was completely cancelled. This, then, is atonement: Jesus took the punishment for all humans, once and for all. Those who accept Jesus into their heart can enjoy a close relationship with God; no longer would their sin separate them from him.      You can find out more about this by visiting this resource on salvation. This film provides another way of understanding the meaning of Jesus’ death on the cross. You can read an easier version of this resource by clicking here. To access learning activities and exam questions please click here.

  • Pentecost

    Did you know that the Church has a birthday? A little while after the first Easter, about 50 days, in fact, there was a special festival called Pentecost. During this festival, something special happened to Jesus’ friends and many others. They were all in one place, when:

    “Suddenly there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire, which spread out and touched each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.” (Acts 2: 2-4)

    This was the Holy Spirit. Jesus had promised that God would send a ‘Helper’ to all people. He said:

    “The Helper will come—the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God and who comes from the Father. I will send him to you from the Father, and he will speak about me. And you, too, will speak about me, because you have been with me from the very beginning.” (John 15:26-27)

    This helper was the Holy Spirit, who made a dramatic appearance at Pentecost! People started telling everybody they met about Jesus, and the Christian Church was born.

    You can read about the story here, in Acts chapter 2.

    Christians still celebrate Pentecost in churches today. After all, who forgets to celebrate their birthday?!

  • The Apostles’ Creed

    Have you ever been part of setting up a new club at school? If you have you will know that when a new club starts, there are some things that need to be decided such as:

    • When it will meet
    • What will happen there
    • Who can come along
    • Rules that members have to follow.

    You might even decide to write down some of these things so that people understand what your club is about.

     

    WHAT IS THE APOSTLES CREED?

    Free Man Raising His Left Hand Stock Photo

    After Jesus was raised from the dead and then went to heaven, his followers began a ‘new club’ that we now call the Church. The Church began with just a few people in Jerusalem but that soon changed.

    Quickly the number of people who were part of the Church grew and there were members in many countries all around the world. Members were given the name Christians because they believed in Jesus Christ and followed his teaching. Some of them met together in special buildings, others in houses, and some even met outside by rivers.

    You can read about some of these first Christians in the book of Acts from the Bible.

    Some of the early Christian leaders decided it was important to set out guidelines for these new Christians to follow. A lot of these guidelines were in the form of letters to the Church, many of which can be found in the New Testament.

    As well as the letters some leaders also met together and wrote ‘The Apostles’ Creed.’

    A creed is a statement that sets out the beliefs and guidelines of the Church. Having a creed in place meant that other people couldn’t come along and cause trouble by teaching things that were wrong and went against what Jesus himself had said.

    And amazingly, thousands of years later, the Apostles’ Creed is still used by Christians today to show what they believe.

    Continue reading to find out about one of the most famous creeds written by the early Church.

     

    THE APOSTLES’ CREED

    I believe in God the Father Almighty, who created heaven and earth.

    Christians believe in the Trinity – that is God in three parts – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They also believe that God created heaven and earth.

    Click here to watch a series of films to explain more about the Trinity.

    And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary; He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into Hell and on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

    Christians believe that Jesus is God incarnate. That means he is God in human form. The incarnation is celebrated by Christians at Christmas time.

    Another important festival for Christians is Easter. This is when they remember Jesus being arrested, dying on the cross, and being put in the tomb but rising again from the dead (the resurrection).

    After the resurrection, Christians believe that Jesus ascended to heaven but that one day he will come back again. When Jesus returns, it will not be as a baby but as a king who will judge all people that have ever lived.

    I believe in the Holy Spirit.

    Christians believe the Holy Spirit is the third part of the Trinity. When Jesus was on earth, he promised his disciples that once he had returned to heaven that God the Father would send a helper, the Holy Spirit, who would give them the power to do the things that he had done whilst he had been on earth.

    Christians celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit in this special way at Pentecost.                                                                                                                  

    I believe in the Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.

    The Bible does not talk about many churches but one Christian Church. The Church is not a building, as we often think about it, but instead refers to the Christian people wherever they are in the world. The Communion of Saints simply means all Christians together believing the same thing and following the same way of life.

    Forgiveness of sins is an important belief for Christians because they believe that all people fail to live how God wants them to. This means they argue, they fight, they use words they shouldn’t, and hurt themselves and others – this is sin.

    Christians believe however that God is all-loving and forgiving and if a person says they are sorry he will forgive their sins. Finally, Christians believe that there is more to life than they can touch and see. They believe that when they die that isn’t the end but there is a promise of everlasting life.

    Think…

    What things would you put into a creed if you wrote one about your own beliefs?

  • The Great Commission

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    The last thing that Jesus’ said to his disciples before he ascended into heaven, was to go out into the world and tell everyone the Good News of the salvation offered through his death and resurrection.

    Then Jesus came to them and said, “I have given All authority in heaven and on earth to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

    This is known as The Great Commission.

    Because of this, Christians share the Good News, evangelising to non-Christians, wanting them to understand the salvation offered by Jesus Christ’s death on the cross.

    By sharing the Good News they are being obedient to Jesus’ command, and also sharing the love of God.

    You can find a short film on evangelism here.

    Find out about the Anglican Five Marks of Mission here.

     

  • Bible Quest: Holy Week

    Easter is a very important Christian festival. It is the time that Christians remember Jesus’ crucifixion when he died on the cross, and his resurrection, when he came back to life.

    These two videos show us the Bible’s account of some of the key events that happened during Holy Week and Easter.

    Use the following worksheets to help with your learning:

    Sheet 1 – Learning About Jesus Through the Easter Story

    Sheet 2 – Learning About Jesus Through the Easter Story

  • Bible Quest: The Ascension

     

    After Jesus had been crucified and was raised again, he then appeared to his disciples. This film tells the biblical story of those days just after the first Easter…

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