More Christianity

• Christian celebrations


  • Easter
  • Christmas
  • Advent
  • Holy Week
• Easter


  Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus
• Christmas


  Celebrates the incarnation (birth) of Jesus
• Advent


  Preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus
• Holy Week


  Commemorates the last days of Jesus' life
• Eucharist


  Commemorates the Last Supper, part of Sunday Mass where Christians receive absolution (forgiveness of sins)
• Eucharist


  • Catholics believe the bread and wine literally become the body and blood of Jesus, Protestants see it as symbolic
  • Reminds Christians that Jesus defeated death, providing atonement and salvation
  • Unites the Christian community
• Purposes of prayer for Christians


  • Petition (asking for something)
  • Adoration (worshipping God)
  • Thanksgiving
  • Supplication/intercession (asking for help)
• The Lord's Prayer is the only prayer taught by Jesus
• Evangelical work


  Going to other countries to spread the Christian faith
• Arguments against evangelical/missionary work


  • Neo-colonialism, spreading only western values
  • Disrespecting other religions, causing offence
  • Taking advantage of poor or disaster-affected countries to convert people
• The Great Commission is when Jesus told his disciples to go out and spread his word
• Features of non-liturgical worship


  • No set pattern, can be anywhere, anytime
  • No special clothing
  • From the heart, make it up as you go along
• Reasons for preferring liturgical worship


  • Community (all do the same thing)
  • Know what to say, sense of formality
  • Showing respect to God, know doing it right
  • Pattern/habit
• Reasons why baptism is important for Christians


  • Cleanses original sin, necessary for salvation
  • Become a member of the Church, needed for other sacraments
  • Eucharist and baptism the only two sacraments in the Bible done by Jesus
• Arguments for pilgrimage


  • Helps in the search for God, feel closer to God
  • Adds discipline to spiritual life
  • Jesus himself went on pilgrimage, places of pilgrimage have special connections with Christianity
• Arguments against pilgrimage


  • Cost, money better spent elsewhere
  • Should focus on family and responsibilities at home
  • Evangelism/missionary work is more important
  • God is omnipresent so don't need to go anywhere
• The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats teaches that money should be used to help the less fortunate
• Christmas


  Celebrates the incarnation (birth) of Jesus, unites Christians and focuses on family and community
• Ways the local church supports the community

  • Place to worship
  • Marriage counselling
  • Youth clubs
  • Discussion groups
  • Sunday School
  • Messy Church
  • Food banks
• Ways the worldwide Church supports the community


  • Reconciliation (bringing opposing sides together)
  • Charity work
  • Addressing persecution of Christians worldwide