Culture can be defined as the distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of a society, including art, literature, lifestyles, values and traditions. Consumerism has greatly expanded over the past 50 years, growing from 2,000 product lines in the 1960s to over 22,000 today. The passage discusses whether consumerism should be viewed as a friend or foe, and asks Christians to consider what aspects they should challenge, work with, and how they could respond.

2. culture Culture is ‘the set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group, which encompasses - in addition to art and literature - lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs.’ UNESCO

3. Culture is ‘ the way we do things round here’ culture

4. consumerism

5. culture - friend or foe?

6. culture - friend or foe?

8. consumerism ‘ it’s up to you’...

10. consumerism and the church Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?“ John 4.27