Listen to “CHM107:Biblical Feasts and Hanukkah with Dianna Wiebe of Grapevine Studies” on Spreaker.
This week’s podcast interview is with Dianna Wiebe! As promised in last week’s episode, I wanted to do a recap on a guest I’ve had on this show previously. Dianna offers us a fresh and unique look at why biblical feasts are relevant to our understanding of biblical history. We even got to talk about Hanukkah!
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Dianna has been a guest on the Christian Homeschool Moms Podcast before in 2014. (You can listen to episode 067 here).
The holidays always bring us back to what really matters: family, faith, and traditions. But what happens when we look deeper—beyond Christmas and Easter—into the biblical feasts that God himself established for His people? That’s the conversation I had with Diana Webber, author, teacher, and founder of Grapevine Studies, who joined me again on the Christian Homeschool Moms podcast. Our conversation was so rich with insights that I wanted to capture it here in blog form, unpacking the importance of the feasts, the story of Hanukkah, and how visual Bible learning can transform your homeschool.
Grapevine Studies: Stick-Figuring Through the Bible
I’ve used Grapevine Studies in my own homeschool for years, and let me tell you—it’s a game changer. The method is simple yet powerful: students use stick figures, timelines, symbols, and colors to visually engage with Scripture. It’s not just about reading the Bible; it’s about interacting with it. Diana explained that this approach works across all learning styles—visual, auditory, and kinesthetic—making it especially effective for families with multiple children at different ages.
The ultimate goal of Grapevine isn’t just to help kids learn the Bible but to transform them into teachers of the Bible. In other words, the process equips children to internalize God’s Word so deeply that they can confidently share it with others. As Diana put it, “We want to transform students from being learners of the Word of God to eventually becoming teachers of the Word of God.”
Why Christians Have Forgotten the Feasts
As I read through the Old Testament, I noticed how often God’s people were called to celebrate feasts—appointed times to remember His faithfulness. Yet today, most Christians hardly think about these feasts outside of maybe a passing mention during a sermon. So I asked Diana: Why have these feasts become nearly obsolete in Christian practice?
Her answer was fascinating. She pointed to two main reasons: history and language.
- History – In the early centuries of the church, Christianity began as a sect within Judaism. But political pressures, especially under Rome, led to a separation. By the time of the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, Christianity had formally distanced itself from its Jewish roots. None of the bishops present at the council had Jewish backgrounds. As a result, many of the biblical feasts came to be labeled as “Jewish feasts,” and Christians assumed they no longer applied to them.
- Language – The word feast in Hebrew actually means “appointment.” These weren’t just meals or parties—they were God’s appointed times to meet with His people. The feasts were designed to help each generation remember God’s mighty acts and faithfulness, passing down stories of His deliverance. In essence, they were spiritual teaching tools for families.
When you put those two factors together, it’s easy to see why so many Christians overlook the feasts today. But in doing so, we’ve lost some of the richness of God’s appointed times.
The Relevance of Feasts Today
Diana explained that the biblical feasts still serve the same purpose for Christians today: to help us remember and to help us grow.
Take Purim, for example, which commemorates the events in the book of Esther. Reflecting on Purim leads to self-examination: Would I have the faith to stand before the king like Esther, even if it cost me everything? If not, how can I grow in faith so that I’m ready to stand firm?
Or consider Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, and Pentecost—all directly connected to the life, death, resurrection, and outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. These feasts aren’t irrelevant; they point us straight to Christ and remind us of God’s redemptive plan.
Ultimately, these feasts provide opportunities for prayer, reflection, and gathering as a family. They remind us not only of what God has done in the past but also of what He continues to do in our lives today.
The Story of Hanukkah: God’s Faithfulness in Dark Times
Since we’re in December, our conversation naturally shifted toward Hanukkah—the Feast of Dedication. Many Christians are unfamiliar with its history, so Diana shared the story:
After the Old Testament closes, there’s a 400-year gap before the New Testament begins. During this time, Alexander the Great conquered much of the known world, spreading Greek culture and influence. Eventually, Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated the temple by sacrificing a pig on the altar and setting up idols. Faithful Jewish families resisted, and through the courage of the Maccabees, Jerusalem was recaptured, and the temple was rededicated.
This is where the miracle of Hanukkah comes in: when the temple menorah was relit, there was only one jar of consecrated oil—enough for one day. But God miraculously stretched it to last eight days, giving the priests time to prepare more. That’s why Hanukkah is an eight-day festival of light and rededication.
In John 10, we see Jesus Himself observing Hanukkah, the Feast of Dedication. It’s not just a Jewish holiday—it’s part of the story of God’s people, pointing us back to His faithfulness in times of persecution and forward to the courage we’ll need to remain faithful in our own trials.
How Grapevine Teaches Hanukkah and Other Feasts
So how does Grapevine make these historical and spiritual truths come alive for kids? Diana walked me through a sample lesson:
- Timeline – Students first learn the order of events (like Alexander the Great’s conquest, Antiochus’ desecration of the temple, the Maccabean revolt, and the rededication).
- Visual Notes – Teachers draw simple stick figures and symbols on the board, while students copy them into their books. This “read and draw” method keeps kids engaged while reinforcing memory.
- Questions – At the end of each lesson, students answer basic factual questions: who, what, when, where, why, and how. This ensures comprehension before moving on.
- Parental Guidance – Grapevine provides the history and facts, but leaves doctrinal interpretation to parents and teachers, allowing families to integrate their own faith perspective.
- Memory Verse – Each lesson ends with Scripture memory and a drawing of the student’s favorite part of the story.
This method turns history into a hands-on experience and helps kids see how God’s hand moves throughout Scripture and beyond.
Why This Matters for Christian Families
The big takeaway from my conversation with Diana is this: the feasts, far from being irrelevant, are deeply meaningful for Christians today. They:
- Anchor us in God’s story.
- Provide teaching moments for our children.
- Encourage self-examination and growth.
- Connect us to Jesus’ life and ministry.
- Strengthen family bonds through intentional times of remembrance.
In our homeschool, Grapevine Studies has become more than a curriculum—it’s a rhythm of discipleship. My kids don’t just hear Bible stories; they see them, draw them, and remember them. And when it comes to learning about God’s appointed times, those lessons become even more powerful.
What about you? Have you ever celebrated or studied the biblical feasts with your family? How has it impacted your understanding of Scripture? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your experiences!
In that episode, she shared why she began Grapevine Studies and how it came to fruition, the purpose of stick-figuring through the bible, how to use Grapevine to teach the bible in large families and special needs kids, as well as Grapevine’s stance on discipleship.
On today’s show, however, we’re going to be digging deeper into holiday-themed programs she offers through Grapevine Studies.
This show is relevant to my personal family life since we have been intrigued with biblical holidays and feasts for many years now. From playing the dreidel game and taking a closer look at Hanukkah, creating a fun Purim feast, to celebrating simple Passover seders in our home, we have been deeply considering what these biblical holidays should mean for the new covenant believer.
More about Biblical Feasts and Grapevine Studies
- What Grapevine studies is and how it is a different approach to bible study with kids. We discuss what makes it so different from other bible study programs.
- Why the observation of many biblical feasts has become nearly obsolete amongst the Christian community today
- The importance of biblical feasts and the benefits of learning about them and teaching them to our children
- What Hanukkah is about and how Grapevine Studies presents it in lessons
- Encouragement and word of advice for moms who are discouraged about teaching your kids the bible
Final Thoughts
As Christians, we don’t need to view the feasts as legalistic requirements. Instead, they are invitations—God’s appointments—to slow down, remember His works, and teach the next generation. Whether it’s Hanukkah, Passover, or the Feast of Tabernacles, these times remind us that God is faithful, yesterday, today, and forever.
If you’re curious about teaching your children the feasts or simply want to enrich your Bible study routine, I encourage you to check out Grapevine Studies. Diana even shared a special discount for our listeners, so be sure to take advantage of that. Trust me—stick figuring through the Bible may just become one of your family’s favorite traditions.
Special Discount Offering (**expired 2017)
TAKE 20% OFF YOUR GRAPEVINE PURCHASE BY PLACING THE CODE CHMP17 ON YOUR ORDER AT CHECKOUT. THIS OFFER IS GOOD THROUGH DECEMBER 2017!
How to reach Grapevine Studies (& learn more about biblical feasts)
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Just discovered your website and this topic was a pleasant surprise. The Biblical festivals are completely relevant to New Covenant Christians – they reveal and remind us of God’s complete plan for humanity and help keep perspective year by year on what life is all about. I am so grateful to be refreshed and encouraged by God’s Biblical festivals each year. 🙂