Christianity Flashcards
Key Words: The trinity; Holy Spirit; Incarnation and Messiah
The Trinity- The three persons of God; God the father son and the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit- One of the three persons of the holy trinity. Jesus promised the apostles that he would send the holy spirit after his crucifixion and resurrection. Christians believe that the holy spirit is present as the power of God at work in the world.
Incarnation- ‘made flesh’- The Christian belief that God became man in the form of Jesus.
The Messiah- ‘the anointed one’- The messiah is believed to be sent by God to be humanity’s savious. Christians believe this person is jesus.
Christian beliefs and teachings about God
- He is the creator of all things
- The sustainer of the world
- Omnipotent: All powerful, almighty + unlimited nature of God
- Omnibenevolent: All loving+ infinitely good
- Omniscient: All knowing nature of God
- Omnipresent: Everywhere , bringing everything into being
Jesus as God incarnate (WWW)
Incarnation is the belief that Jesus was god born as human on earth; the word incarnation means to ‘take on flesh’
Christians Believe:
- Mary was a virgin and her child was conceived through the holy spirit
Why is it important to Christians?
- It’s described and explained in the Bible
- Jesus is seen as both God and Human
- Through knowing Jesus Christians believe they can be close to God and experience his love , forgiveness and a certain hope for life after death
Key elements of Jesus’ birth (Luke, Matthew + Both)
Key elements can be found in the book of Matthew and Luke
Matthew’s account shows:
- Jesus’ divine nature as son of God
- An angel appearing to Joseph to explain the birth of Jesus
- A respectable + honourable birth to married parents
- Jesus visited by important people drom a distant culture + given valuable gifts
Luke’s account shows:
- Jesus’ humanity being emphasised
- An angel appearing to Mary to explain the birth of Jesus
- A humble birth to an unmarried couple
- Jesus visited by ordinary working people who were sent by angels
Both accounts emphasise:
- Jesus as the messiah, the one sent by God
- Jesus as the incarnation of God
Key elements of Jesus’ death (crucifixion) (WWW)
A crucifixion is a roman form of execution designed to make criminals suffer. Criminals were nailed to a wooden cross and left to hang until they were dead
Christian teachings:
The death of Jesus was a divine plan to bring about salvation.
It was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.
The crucifixion was necessary to allow the resurrection to take place
Why is it important to christians
- The death of Jesus was an act of atonment for the sins of the people in the world. The death of Jesus therefore part of the process of redemption/salvation of humanity.
Key elements of the account of Jesus’ death (Mark 15:1-39)
• Sanhedrin sent Jesus to pilate who questioned him and found no fault in him
• Crowd asked Pilate to release a their and crucify Jesus
• Soldiers put a purple robe and crown of thorns on Jesus and mocked him and beat him
• Simon of Cyrene carried the cross for Jesus who was too weak from the beatings
• Wine was offered but he refused it
• Two criminals were also crucified either side of Jesus
•Centurion in charge of the crucifixion said “surely this man was the son of god “
The resurrection of Jesus (www)
The resurrection is the beliefe that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after being crucified. It’s a central belief of Christianity
What are the Key elements:
- Early Sunday Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and found the stone rolled away. She ran to peter and told him Jesus’ body had been taken
- Mary waited by the tomb crying. She saw Jesus without recognising him and asked where the body had been taken
- Jesus called her by name and she instantly recognised him. Jesus told her not to touch him as he had not yet ascended to his father
- Mary went to the disciples and told them she had seen Jesus
- They were overjoyed, Jesus came among them saying ‘Peace be with you’ and ‘Recieve the Holy Spirit’
Why is it important:
- Described in the bible and Jesus taught his disciples about it
- Central belief which makes sense of the suffering of Jesus on the cross and is the key to their teachings on salvation atonement and life after death
The ascension of Jesus
- Jesus was speaking with his disciples and then was taken up ‘before their eyes’
- They stood looking to heaven two men dressed in white appeared alongside them
- Men told them Jesus would return in the same way they had seen him go
- Generally seen as the explanation for the ending of Jesus’ physical presence on earth
Treasures on earth and in Heaven
- Jesus taught doing good deeds was like making ‘deposits’ into a spiritual treasury or bank account
- Spiritual treasure is secure, safe from being stolen, losing value, or being destroyed
- The Parable of the rich man and Lazarus explained that wealth and good fortune itself have no benefits to the afterlife; its how wealth is used that matters
- A person’s main focus in life will become their outcomes in the afterlife
- The meaning of all this is that ethical decisions should be motivated by agape love.
Christian beliefs and teachings about the trinity
The holy trinity is the three persons of God the father son and holy spirit
The trinity is a cornerstone belief of Christianity ;God is three yet one
it is a statement against any form of polytheism
Jesus as Messiah, Saviour and Son of God
Messiah is the one believed to be sent by God to be humanities saviour. Christians believe this person to be Jesus
Son of God : One of the ways the bible describes him
Incarnation involves it
Saviour : The bible says angel Gabriel told joseph to name the baby Jesus because he would ‘save his people from their sins’
Role of the local church
Services of Worship
Refreshments
Bible study groups
Sunday school
Prayer meetings
Baptisms
Funerals
Meals for the homeless
Coffee mornings
Youth club
Weddings
Crèche
Food bank
Meeting rooms
Uniformed groups
Concerts and special events
Charity sales
Refugee or asylum help sessions
Social and community functions of the church (2 main)
Food banks :
Places where food and other essential items are collected for those in desperate need.
Food is donated by church members and local people
‘I was hungry and you gave me something to eat … I needed clothes and you clothed me’
Salvation Army:
Worldwide christian registered charity.
Aims to help individuals develop and grow in their relationship with God
Demonstrates christian principles through practical support.
It
- Helps the needy
- Provides homeless with food and accommodation
- Fights against sexual exploitation and human trafficking
Diverse features of churches and chapels
Stained glass window
Crucifix
Sacristy
Statue of a saint
Bible
Le turn
Organ
Pulpit
Pews
Altar
Diversity in Christians : Catholic and Anglican
Catholic
• Led by the Pope whose authority descends from Jesus
• Worship is often formal and ritualised
• Only unmarried male priests lead congregations
Anglican
• Churches connected to the Church of England not recognise the pope
• Led by arch bishop of canterbury
• Some freedom of belief, interpretation and practice
• Women can become priests and they can marry
