At home all over the world – Rediscovering the biblical world
What do recipes from the Bible taste like? How did people live in the time of Jesus? Which quotes get a laugh? Experiences from Western Germany regarding the rich diversity of the Bible.
Eating as people did in biblical times—this is what fifty or so guests tried out on 13 June 2026 at a specially set up restaurant on the grounds of our church in Neuss (Germany). The young people met in the morning to chop, fry, and cook for the three-course meal.
They then served the dishes to their guests and shared some interesting facts about the food and drink of biblical times: “Fun fact: wine is mentioned particularly often in the Bible.” The “BIBLEicious” cook-out raised funds to cover travel and accommodation costs for the 2026 Youth Festival in Frankfurt am Main.
A journey into the world of the Bible
The seniors from the Minden district visited the Bible Village in Rietberg, Germany, on 28 May 2026, while families from the Hamm district visited on 20 June 2026. Here, visitors can experience what life was like in biblical times and learn interesting facts about the cultural and religious landscape of the Middle East. In addition, visitors gain an insight into how certain biblical events and parables were intended to be understood within the historical context of Jesus’ time. Alongside guided tours and information points, the Bible Village features lifelike replicas of various houses.
Inside a goat-hair tent, visitors are shown how a nomad wore and used his garment. During the day, it was tied up with a belt to allow the wearer to move about freely, and at night, without the belt, it served as a sort of sleeping bag, providing protection and warmth. The highlight of the garments: with just a few knots, the sleeves can be turned into carrier bags.
In the synagogue, visitors discover that in those days a divine service was only held if at least ten men were present. They also learn that the opening words of the Ten Commandments in the original Hebrew do not begin with “You shall …”, as this is often understood as “You must …”. Rather, the Commandments in Hebrew begin with something along the lines of “You would be well advised to …” or “I would advise you to …”.
Huge figures made from scrap metal, which can be found all over the Bible Village, are used to recreate scenes from the Bible to help visitors understand biblical events. Another interesting aspect of life at the time of Jesus is the place where business was done: it was common to talk about business in Roman-style public toilets. This is also where the expression “doing one’s business” comes from.
Bible verses with a touch of humour
The young people from the Ruhr-Central district in Germany met for a games evening on 29 May 2026. They played well-known games such as “Werewolf” but also tried out some new ones.
Among them was the game “Cards for Christianity”, which had everyone in stitches. This card game tests biblical knowledge in a new way. Players search for the relevant Bible verse for a wide variety of everyday situations.
For example, a card is drawn bearing the statement “What the youth leader at the confirmation camp should rather not shout out loud through the megaphone …” and read out loud. The other players then choose the most appropriate answer card from their hand. Possible answers include: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23: 34). or “There is still wine!” (based on John 2: 10).
Photos: NAK Westdeutschland