Lesson 5 - a story of Christianity and the concept of covenant

• Levensbeschouwing
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 1

Judaism

Christianity

Islam

Lesson 5

A story of Christianity 

The concept of covenant

Lesson goals & lesson structure

• Knowledge: the story of Christmas in the New Testament, the concept of a 'covenant', 
• Skills: read a text yourself

1. Explanation: Gospel of Luke
2. Video + quiz questions
3. Video + quiz questions
4. Assignment: read a text by yourself
5. Reflection: what do we know now?

Gospel of Luke, chapters 1 and 2

• As we've seen, the Bible consists of the Old and New Testament. In the New Testament, there are four religious biographies of Jesus (gospels).
• In one of the gospels (the Gospel of Luke), the story of the birth of Jesus is told. 
• The birthday of Jesus is something we celebrate every.. Christmas, indeed! So this is the Christmas story of the Bible.

00:54

In the New Testament, Zechariah and his wife are compared to..

1. Abraham and Jude
2. Cain and Jude
3. Abraham and Ruth
4. Abraham and Sarah

01:30

What's the name of the Roman prefect?

1. Heracles
2. Hercules
3. Herodes
4. Goliath

The birth of Jesus is a symbol for a huge change. What change exactly?

Covenant

• A covenant is a chosen relationship or partnership in which two parties make binding promises to each other and work together to reach a common goal.
• They’re often accompanied by oaths, signs, and ceremonies.
• Compare it to a marriage. In love, a husband and wife choose to enter into a formal relationship binding themselves to one another in lifelong faithfulness and devotion. They then work as partners to reach a common goal, like building a career or raising children together.

01:39

So there are four covenants in the Old Testament. Which is incorrect?

1. Noah
2. Abraham
3. David
4. Jesus

02:38

Is Abraham also an important figure in the Qu'ran, the holiest Islamic book?

03:03

Think back of Judaism. What do you think was meant as 'rules to live by' in the covenant with Israel (Moses)?

Assignment

• Read this webpage. 
• Answer the following questions while reading (write your answers down in a Word-document):

1. What's a covenant? Describe it in your own words.
2. What are the signs of the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants?
3. What's the new covenant?

What's a covenant? Describe it in your own words.

What are the signs of the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants?

What's the new covenant?

Reflection: what do we know now?

• The ritual/holiday of Christmas is based on the birth of Jesus, which is told in the Gospel of Luke.
• A covenant is a chosen relationship or partnership in which two parties make binding promises to each other and work together to reach a common goal.
• There are four covenants in the Old Testament and the promise of a new covenant. 
• Christians believe Jesus fits the bill of that new covenant.