Christian Practices

Cards (142)

  • Christian Church
    Not just the building where Christians worship, it is also God's community on earth and relates to the people they serve
  • Role of the Church

    • Can be recognised through different concepts including body, community and assembly
  • Church as body of Christ
    The Church is a living entity, just as a body is. Christ is the head and founder of the Church
  • Church as a Community
    Highlights the collective responsibility of all Christians to help others
  • Church as Assembly
    The word Church comes from the Greek word 'ekklesia' which is defined as an assembly, or a gathering of Christian people
  • The root meaning of the word church is not the building but the people. The early church did not even have a building they would just meet in homes or outside
  • 1 Corinthians 12:12-14: 'Just as a body, though one has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ'
  • Acts 2:44-47: 'And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need'
  • Ways the church puts Christian faith into action by helping others

    • Offering help and support to those in need
    • Providing rites of passage for people such as, weddings, funerals and baptism
    • Running youth groups to help young people in the community
    • Running regular services and allowing the church to be used for quiet reflection
    • Raising money for local charities
    • Church members becoming street pastors
    • Using the church as a food bank to help those who are struggling
  • Food banks
    Provide food for individuals who cannot afford to buy food
  • Some churches provide food banks. There are also organisations who are inspired by Christianity
  • Jesus: 'Love your neighbour'
  • Christians are inspired by the words of the Bible when Jesus says that by helping anyone in need, you are showing your love for God
  • The parable of the Sheep and Goats makes it clear that those in need should be helped
  • In the bible Jesus fed 5000 hungry people, Christians are following his actions
  • The Trussell Trust
    A Christian organisation who help to provide food for people in need
  • Liturgical, Non-Liturgical & Informal Forms of Worship
    • Christians have different forms of worship
    • This can change based upon the type of Christian or denomination
    • Worship can include a sermon, prayers, the reading of the Bible and the Eucharist
    • Different denominations place greater importance on different aspects of worship
    • Key Christian beliefs like Trinity, Jesus Christ and Salvation are shown through worship
    • Worship is an opportunity for Christians to create a personal relationship between themselves and God or to bring a community together
  • The Trust supports a network of over 1,200 food bank centres to provide emergency food and compassionate, practical support to people in crisis
  • Liturgical Worship
    • Relates to services that are ordered and have a set pattern
    • A priest or minister will lead the congregation in formal prayers that have set responses
    • There is no improvisation at all
    • Believers across the world are familiar with the order of service
    • Liturgical Worship also includes the formal ritual based around the Sacraments, for example Baptism and Holy Communion
  • 1 Peter 5: 2-3: 'Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them, being examples to the flock'
  • Street pastors are trained volunteers from local churches who care about their community
  • Liturgical Worship Texts

    • Common Worship book based on the Book of Common Prayer (Anglican)
    • Roman Missal Based upon the liturgy of St John Chrysostom (Catholic)
    • Based upon the liturgy of St John Chrysostom (Orthodox)
  • Street Pastors
    They patrol in teams of men and women, usually on a Friday and Saturday night, to care for, listen to and help people who are out on the streets
  • Liturgical Worship Day of worship
    • Sunday (Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox)
  • Street Pastors describe themselves as 'the Church in action on the street'
  • Liturgical Worship Eucharist
    • Usually involves the Eucharist (Anglican)
    • Always involves the Eucharist (called Mass). Mass includes the liturgy of the Word and the liturgy of the Eucharist (Catholic)
    • Always involves the Eucharist (commonly termed the 'Mystic Supper' or 'Divine Liturgy) (Orthodox)
  • Street Pastors base their actions upon the example and teachings of Jesus in the bible
  • 1 John 3: 17-18: 'If anyone has material possessions and ignores his brother in need, how can he love God?'
  • James 2:17: 'Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead'
  • Liturgical Worship The Service
    • Involves a Confession of Sin and Request for God's mercy
    • Readings (including one Gospel) and a sermon called The Liturgy of the Word
    • The Niceen or Apostle's Creed are recited
    • Shaking hands (shared the peace)
    • Bread and wine representing body and blood of Christ
    • Lord's Prayer (Anglican)
    • A sermon
    • Bible readings
    • Niceen Creed
    • Bread and Wine
    • The Litany where the priest says prayers and the worshippers respond (Orthodox)
  • Romans 13: 'Love your neighbour as yourself. Love does no harm to a neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law'
  • Christianity teaches that those who do help others will be rewarded in heaven
    • Worshipping in public helps some Christians feel part of a larger community
    • For many Christians they will feel closer to Jesus as they believe he is with them in the church
    • Worshipping together and following the traditions also helps Christians to feel connected to other Christians now and throughout history
  • Evangelism
    Spreading the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness
  • Matthew 18: 20: ''For where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them''
  • Christians hope by telling others about Jesus' message, many will be converted to the Christian Faith
  • Non-Liturgical Worship

    • Some Christians take part in non-liturgical worship in which there does not need to be a set order or ritual
    • Some churches place an emphasis on the word of God in the Bible
    • The structure of the service might remain the same each week but the minister may change the order, the hymns or prayers
  • Mark 16:15: 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation'
  • The church not only provides a place to worship. It also has a mission to spread the good news to non-believers that Jesus is the Son of God and came into the world to be its saviour
  • Non-Liturgical Worship Examples

    • The Society of Friends (Quakers) is usually unstructured. Worshippers sit in silence together but can pray and speak out loud
    • Methodist services do not have a set structure but there is guidance in the Methodist Worship Book
    • Evangelical Churches, for example Pentecostals are involved in charismatic worship and may involve dancing, clapping, calling out, and speaking in tongues