Christianity Explored Course

Christianity Explored is a course introducing who Jesus Christ is, and what is Christianity.

The Christian Union is running two courses. - one on campus, and one in Headingley. Tonight the campus one is in the chaplaincy but as of next week this is what is happening:

• Tuesday 7-9 in the lounge in the Student Union (hopefully meal provided).


• Thursday 7-9 at South Parade Church(in the Green House) (meal provided).

This is a great chance for people with any questions about God or Christianity to get them answered. It is a course for students run by students. Each week we have a short talk from someone then discuss topics over a meal. Over the course (which lasts this semester) we will have read one of the books in the Bible - Mark.

If you want more information, you can send an email to christianity.explored@luucu.com.

Easter

As we approach Easter, please take some time to think about the real message of Easter - Jesus' death and resurrection. Jesus' death was not just a tragic event - it was part of God's plan to rescue us from the penalty we deserve because of our rebellion against God.

700 years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah wrote about him:

"Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." -- Isaiah 53:4-6 (NIV)

You can read the full chapter here.


Jesus himself, before he died said:

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." -- John 15:13 (NIV)

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." -- John 10:11 (NIV)


After Jesus' death and resurrection, one of Jesus' disciples wrote about him:

"In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." -- 1 John 4:10 (English Standard Version)


Likewise, the apostle Paul wrote:

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." -- Romans 5:8 (NIV)

Bitesize - An Introduction to Christianity

Bitesize is a course which starts on Tuesday 13th February from 7-9pm in the Chaplaincy (Emmanuel Centre). The course runs over five Tuesday evenings, and includes food, and a chance to learn about Christianity.

If you are CU, we still need people to help out running the course (praying, cooking, welcoming).

Christian Union Tent - One Way

This week there have been events organised by the Christian Union in a tent near the Students Union building. You may have seen publicity for events, or been in the tent, answered a questionnaire about your beliefs, or heard talks about Jesus. I hope you want to find out more about what this week of events has been about.

The week has been titled "One Way". The name comes from a quote from Jesus: "I am the way, the truth, and the life". The quote comes from a record of Jesus' life written by John, one of Jesus' followers. You can read the whole account, and find out more about Jesus online:
http://www.life-online.org/index.php

Some of the events this week have had talks from Roger Carswell. Roger has a website where you can find out more about Jesus and Christian beliefs:
http://www.tell-me-more.org/.

What do Christians believe?

There is nothing more important in life that finding the answer to questions such as:
- why we are alive, what is the purpose of our lives?
- what happens when we die?
- is there a God - and if so, what is he like?
- is there judgement after death, and is there a heaven and hell?

Over the next week, the Christian Unions in Leeds University and Leeds Met are hosting several events with the aim of helping you think about these questions, and consider the claims of Jesus Christ.

Jesus claimed that he is the only one who can enable us to know God, and to face future judgement with confidence.

You can find a simple explanation of what Christians believe online at www.matthiasmedia.com.au/2wtl.