Practices in Christianity

• Worship


  Any act that shows devotion to or love for God
• Ways Christians worship


  • Private prayer
  • Reading the Holy Bible
  • Attending the Eucharist
  • Singing religious songs
• Worshipping together as a community is very important for many Christians, because Jesus said "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."
• Sabbath


  The seventh day of the week and a day of rest for Jews (Shabbat is Friday sunset to Saturday sunset). Sunday is the day of rest for Christians.
• Liturgical worship


  A church service which follows a set structure or ritual
• Liturgical worship


  • Follows set prayers and readings that can be found in printed books
  • Christians often join together in church as a congregation to participate
• Non-liturgical worship


  A church service which does not follow a set text or ritual. This type of worship is often called 'spontaneous' or 'charismatic' in nature.
• Non-liturgical worship


  • The different parts of the service can be changed for special events
  • Prayers can be in the service leader's own words and may be totally unscripted, rather than being read from a book
• Informal worship


  Focuses on the adoration of God and can take place outside a church
• Informal worship


  • Often attracts hundreds of people and may be held in large auditoriums
  • The music used is popular and modern in style, and often involves instruments
• Sacrament


  Religious ceremonies or acts, such as baptism, that Christians believe bring them closer to God and help them to receive God's grace
• Sacraments are often described as visible signs of God's grace, which is otherwise invisible
• Charismatic worship


  A kind of informal worship practised by Christians who believe that the Holy Spirit is with them when they pray
• Protestants


  Christians who broke away from the Roman Catholic Church during the Reformation, they believe in the teachings of the Bible but reject the authority of the Pope
• Charismatic worship


  • Although charismatic services have some formal features, they are very free-flowing services
  • Worshippers often clap and shout during services, worshipping God with their whole bodies, not just their minds
• Protestants believe only baptism and the Eucharist are sacraments, as they only believe in the sacraments performed by Jesus in the gospels
• Quaker worship


  Members of the Society of Friends denomination of Christianity worship together in meeting houses instead of churches
• Denominations


  Groups within a religion, Christian denominations include Roman Catholic and Anglican
• Quaker worship


  • Meetings last an hour and have no set hymns, prayers or sermons
  • Everyone sits in a circle to worship as equals - there is no leader
  • Quakers spend most of their meetings in silence, using the time to connect with God
  • If someone wants to stand up and speak, either in response to a thought or on wider topics, they are free to do so, which is called 'giving ministry'
• Roman Catholic Church


  Recognises seven sacraments, performed at special or challenging times in a person's life when there is a need for God's grace
• Some Christians, such as Quakers, do not perform any sacraments at all, as they think of all actions as sacred and believe rituals are not needed to communicate with God or receive his grace
• Communion (or Eucharist)


  A bond uniting Christians with each other and with Jesus, celebrated by most Christians through a service of remembrance of the Last Supper, where bread and wine (or a non-alcoholic substitute) are blessed and shared
• Jesus: 'Take and eat; this is my body. Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'
• St Paul reminds Christians that Jesus told them to share out bread and wine in memory of him and his sacrifice for humanity
• Eucharist


  A service celebrating the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, using elements of bread and wine
• Transubstantiation


  Catholic belief that the bread and wine is changed into Christ's body and blood at the Eucharist
• Consubstantiation


  Anglican belief that the bread and wine contain Jesus' spiritual presence, but do not literally transform into his body and blood
• Baptism


  Rite of initiation involving immersion in, or sprinkling or pouring of water; a sacrament marking the start of Christian life
• Rites of passage


  Significant points in life, often followed by a changed way of living
• Prayer


  Communication with God. A means of developing a personal relationship with God.
• Prayer


  • Many Christians believe that it is through prayer that God's grace and guidance are given
  • Christians think of prayer as two-way communication that gives comfort, as God is listening and may send messages back
• ACTS and I


  A mnemonic to remember five key themes in Christian prayer: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication, Intercession
• The Holy Spirit is active when Christians pray
• Chanting


  The practice of rhythmic shouting, singing or repeating words out loud
• Meditational prayer


  A type of prayer where a worshipper thinks deeply about God, on their own and in silence
• Lord's Prayer


  The most widely known prayer in Christianity, containing all four themes of ACTS
• The Lord's Prayer is said across most Christian denominations and forms part of most liturgical worship services worldwide
• Some Christians try to ensure they say the Lord's Prayer every day
• Importance of prayer


  Prayer enables Christians to communicate with God to develop a meaningful relationship with him
• Pilgrimage


  A journey that has religious or spiritual significance, usually to an important religious place