Christian Practices

• 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