What is Christianity?
Christianity is focussed on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe to be the Son of God.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the Middle East over 2,000 years ago.
[MUSIC]
JASDEEP: Hi.
MAX: Sorry I’m late, I just got back from church.
JASDEEP: That’s where you go to pray?
MAX: Yeah. I’m a Christian so I go to church to pray, sing songs, and read the Bible.
JASDEEP: What’s the Bible?
MAX: Christians follow the teachings of the Bible, including the New Testament, which is all about Jesus. Jesus lived over 2,000 years ago. He taught lessons and performed miracles, then he was put to death on a cross and buried in a tomb.
JASDEEP: That’s sad.
MAX: Yeah, but Christians believe that three days later, he was resurrected.
JASDEEP: What’s resurrected mean?
MAX: It means he rose from the dead and went to Heaven, to live with God, his father.
JASDEEP: Oh.
MAX: This was God’s plan. Jesus died so that people could be forgiven for their sins, or bad choices. We hope to join him in Heaven at the end of our own lives.
JASDEEP: So do you worship God and Jesus?
MAX: Yes, we worship God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit all as one. Three persons in one God, called the Holy Trinity.
JASDEEP: I don’t get it.
MAX: I know, even Christians find it tricky sometimes. Try imagining an egg. It has a shell, a white and a yolk, but it is still one egg.
JASDEEP: Oh, okay, I think I understand.
MAX: Great. Let’s fly this plane!
JASDEEP: Yeah.
[PLANE MOTOR WHIRS]
What do Christians believe?
Christians believe there is only one God, but that he is revealed in three different forms:
- God the Father
- God the Son
- The Holy Spirit
Christians model themselves on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus taught people to love God and love their neighbour.
Christians believe that God sent Jesus to live as a human being in order to save humanity from the consequences of its sins. Sins are the bad things humanity had chosen to do which had separated them from God.
Through the death and resurrection of Jesus this broken relationship with God is restored.
What is the Christian holy book?
The Christian holy book is the Bible. It is divided into the Old and New Testaments.
The New Testament explains how God sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to restore the broken relationship between people and God which had been caused by human wrong-doing.
Jesus was executed on a cross (Crucifixion) as a criminal by the Romans, and according to Christian teaching after three days he rose from the dead (the Resurrection).
Where do Christians worship?
Many Christians worship in churches. Some groups meet in homes and other buildings. 'Church' means the gathering of Christians as well as the building in which Christians worship. Their leaders are called priests or ministers.
Many churches hold a service called Communion, Eucharist or Mass, in which bread and wine are shared together, just as Jesus did with his followers before his death.
Can you rearrange this puzzle?
Christianity in pictures
Image caption, A Christian church
Christian churches are a familiar sight in the UK. The main part where worshippers sit is called a nave. Many churches, such as this one in Suffolk, have tall towers at the western end which house bells. Sometimes the towers will have steep spires added to them.
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Christianity quiz
Resources for teachers
To help your class understand Christianity, 13-year old Kirsty, 11-year old Nathan and 8-year olds Kiera and Santos share their stories and experiences in this series of short films.
BBC Bitesize for Teachers has thousands of free, curriculum-linked resources to help deliver lessons – all arranged by subject and age group.
Play BBC Bitesize educational games! game
Fun, interactive games for children aged 4-11, with maths, English, science, history and many more subjects.
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