Christian Practices

• Worship


  A form of prayer to God and an acknowledgement of God's greatness, can also include prayers asking for God's help
• Christian worship has its origins in the worship shown to God by the Jewish people of the Old Testament
• 1 Chronicles 16:23-24 NIV: 'Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvellous deeds among all peoples.'
• Acts 2:42 NIV: 'They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.'
• Types of worship


  • Liturgical worship
  • Charismatic worship
  • Bible services
  • Family worship
• Public worship


  Brings people together and allows them to worship God as a united community, often led by a minister and follows a set form
• Private worship


  More personal and express a Christian's more intimate relationship with God, perhaps said within the family or an individual response to times of crisis
• Preferences for types of worship

  • Catholic Church and some other Christian Churches often use ritual and sacramental signs
  • Some Protestant Churches place reflecting on and responding to the teaching of the Bible at the centre
  • Quakers prefer to worship God in stillness and silence
• Liturgical worship


  Uses rituals such as processions and sacramental signs, such as the bread and wine to symbolise the presence of Christ in the celebration, often led by a priest or minister following a set form
• Charismatic worship


  Spontaneous and without a set form, often does not rely on the role of a priest or minister, the prayer and praise are believed to be inspired by the Holy Spirit
• Bible services


  Often led by a minister who has had special training in Bible study, includes readings from the Bible and instruction given by the minister, hymns based on the Bible are often sung
• Family worship


  Usually takes place at home, using both set and informal prayers, can be led by a parent or any of the children in the family, typically thanking God and asking for blessings
• Prayer


  A way of communicating with God, Christians pray to God because they believe in a personal God who is interested in them and is continuously guiding and supporting them
• Reasons for Christian prayer

  • To feel God's presence
  • To ask for God's help
  • To express worship and gratitude to God
• Meditation


  A form of prayer conducted in silence, the person praying focuses on God in their minds and tries to be more aware of God's presence
• Prayers


  • Asking for God's help
  • Expressing praise
  • Expressing gratitude
• Local community


  Very important feature of Christian life, where Christians gather to pray in the local church and offer practical support to people in need in the local area
• Types of local gatherings of Christians

  • Vary in size
  • Christianity teaches that all members of the Church make up the body of Christ and that Christians should be united and use their particular talents to support each other
• Preaching the Christian faith

  Christians believe the lives of others will be improved if they have faith in Jesus, and therefore try to preach the Christian faith in their local community
• Ways of preaching the Christian faith

  • Inviting non-believers to attend 'Alpha' courses
  • Going onto the streets to witness to their faith at Christmas, Easter and other important celebrations
  • Singing Christmas carols on the street corner
  • Walking with a cross on Good Friday
• Love one's neighbour


  Jesus taught that Christians should love one's neighbour as oneself, and this love has to be shown in practical ways
• Practical ways to love one's neighbour

  • Setting up food banks to help the poorer members of the local community
  • The Upper Room providing food, clothing, and long-term support to rebuild lives in deprived areas
  • Christian 'street pastors' working to strengthen the sense of mutual support in the local community and make the streets safer
• Mission


  The act of going out to preach, from the Latin word for being sent
• Evangelism


  The task of preaching the Gospel, from the Greek word for good news, because they are spreading the good news of Jesus' teaching and salvation
• Christians believe that Jesus is God and that through faith in him people can find the truth about the meaning of their existence
• Many Christians believe that in order to be saved by Jesus, a person has to believe in Jesus
• Christian evangelisation has become more controversial in modern times, as some say it does not respect the beliefs of people from different parts of the world
• Modern Britain is a multi-faith society and many people celebrate the diversity, and believe attempts at evangelisation could lead to conflict
• Christians believe that Jesus told them to take the Christian message all over the world
• Christianity is now a worldwide religion, with followers in every continent, giving them great influence which they try to use to help others
• Christian work across the globe can include promoting reconciliation between people who are in conflict because Christians believe that Jesus wanted to bring peace
• In some parts of the world, Christians have faced persecution on account of their faith, just like many of the apostles
• Christians' worldwide mission also involves caring for those who are in need, such as the hungry and poor, reflecting the way in which Jesus showed care for the most vulnerable
• Christians believe it is important to promote peace because the kingdom of God is understood as a kingdom of peace
• Christians pray for peace and reconciliation in their religious services, and work to try to unite all Christians so that a United Church can be a better witness around the world
• ARCIC


  The Anglican and Roman Catholic International Commission set up in 1969 to try to promote Christian unity and reconciliation between groups that have been in conflict
• Acts 13:47-48 NIV: '"For this is what the Lord has commanded us: 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.' When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honoured the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed."'
• Christians have faced persecution from the earliest days of the Church, such as in the persecution of the Roman Emperor Nero in the 1st Century, and this persecution has continued to the present time
• Christianity has always honoured those who have the courage to continue to proclaim their beliefs even in the face of persecution, and many Christian martyrs are honoured as saints
• Persecuted Christians usually try not to resort to violence in the face of persecution, believing the willingness to suffer to be a better witness to the Gospel