PowerPoint PresentationFestivals
This issue of Mission Catalyst is on the theme of festivals.
This PowerPoint presentation is put together with small group use in mind. The leader can use these accompanying notes to help lead through the slides and any discussions.
For the full publication go to: www.bmsworldmission.org/catalyst
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Remembering historical events
A time for families, neighbourhoods and nations to come together
“Festivals remind successive generations of where they came from and the great stories that define them”
Credit: Amy Barker
Remembering historical events
A time for families, neighbourhoods and nations to come together
“Festivals remind successive generations of where they came from and the great stories that define them”
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Music festival
Q: Would you join in with these festivals?
Q: What are your reasons for participating in some festivals but not others?
Credit: Ryan Uhrich
Festivals: a faith challenge
Festivals can be fun, but not all are to our individual taste. We might find that some festivals celebrate something that doesn’t fit with our beliefs or morals. How should we respond to these festivals?
Ask the group, ‘If the opportunity arose, would you join in with these different festivals?’. Use the examples of festivals listed earlier by the group.
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Festivals can provide a bridge into another community.
Q: Are there communities in your local area which you are currently disconnected from?
“Community matters to a triune God”
Credit: Madhavi Kuram
God is interested in relationships and community, and he commands us to love our neighbour. Festivals can provide a bridge into another community.
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Attendance vs participation
Respect other people’s faith, but decline joining in anything contrary to your beliefs.
Replacement vs fulfilment theology
Aim to eradicate ‘evil’ practices and replace with Christian values
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Highlight what is good and true in other faith festivals
“A religion is a complete way of life... we could not fully join in our neighbour’s festival even if we wished to”
Here are some theological insights which will affect how we respond to other-faith festivals.
Attendance vs participation
We should respect our non-Christian friend’s faith, but there is a difference between attending and participating in their religious festival. We may feel able to accompany a friend at a festival, but we might want to make clear to them that our faith prohibits us from sharing with them in a particular act of worship or even celebration.
Can you think of any examples when you would feel able to attend, but not to participate in a festival?
Replacement vs fulfilment theology
Replacement theology argues that other religions are, at best, merely human speculations and at worst demonic deceptions and we should have nothing whatsoever to do with them. We should aim to eradicate ‘evil’ practices and replace them with Christian values. Yahweh’s warning of pollution from surrounding religions in the Old Testament is often cited in support.
Fulfilment theology draws attention to the pious people that are not in the line of Abraham (Job, Melchizidek, the seamen on Jonah’s ship, the Magi and Cornelius). It highlights what is good and true in other faith festivals.
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Jesus and festivals
Jesus was familiar with festivals, feasts, parties and banquets. He used the festive rituals to demonstrate his message.
Water pouring ceremony at the Feast of Tabernacles – “Whoever believes in me, streams of living water will flow from within him” (John 7: 37-38)
Sharing the Passover bread – “This is my body” (Matt 26: 26)
Credit: Aaron Lai
Jesus and festivals
From his family upbringing of attending the feasts (Luke 2: 41), Jesus’ adult life and ministry was intricately bound with parties and festivals.
Set the group the challenge of finding as many references as they can of Jesus being at a festival or feast.
The following two examples are when Jesus used a festival to reveal something about himself.
Water pouring ceremony at the Feast of Tabernacles – “Whoever believes in me, streams of living water will flow from within him” (John 7: 37-38)
Sharing the Passover bread – “This is my body” (Matt 26: 26)
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Q: What local cultural events are happening where you live?
Q: Can you see any symbolism in these festivals that relate to Jesus’ message? How can you show this to others?
UK festivals
Q: What local cultural events are happening where you live?
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