Christian Practices Mini Mock

What is worship?

an expression of adoration and praise for God

What are examples of worship?

• attending mass

• dancing

• praying

• singing

• lighting a candle

• reading from the Bible

• listening to sermons

• confession

• speaking in tongues (glossolalia)

What parts of worship cannot be done individually?

• attending mass

• listening to a sermon

What are examples of Christians being encouraged to worship in the Bible?

• the book of Psalms (prayer and praises)

• David dancing and singing to God

• Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane (Christlike)

• The Lords Prayer practice (Jesus taught it, it is Christlike)

• The prayers in the Last Supper

• The disciples at Pentecost

Why is it important for actions to be Christlike?

it emulates Christ helping Christians to achieve salvation

Quotes from the Bible that encourage worship?

• Psalm 95:6: Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!

• Isaiah 25:1: O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

• Hebrews 13:15: Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

• Colossians 3:16: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God

What is the most important quote about worship?

 James 2:14-26: What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?  Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Why is worship important?

• Aquinas primary precept (worship) (only important for Catholics)

• a way to communicate with God despite epistemic distance

• we can go to heaven (atonement) and we should show thanks

• strengthens relationship with God

• shows faith

What is liturgical worship?

Worship that follows a set pattern/structure and is the same almost every time e.g. Mass. “where two or three gather in my name, I am with them” (Matthew 18:20)

What are the features of liturgical worship?

• Set prayers e.g. Hail Mary, Nicene Creed, Lord’s Prayer

• Gather in church

• Priest/minister leading the congregation: everyone responds to them

• Set readings from the Bible

• Traditional music (hymns)

• Formal participation: saying Amen together

• Emphasis on the sacraments, especially the Eucharist (confession as well in RCC)

What are the strengths of liturgical worship?

• Encourages routines and connection with God.

• Sense of community as people worship in the same way

• Helps you understand God’s nature through passages e.g. Lord’s prayer

• Follows Jesus’ instruction

• More traditional approach

• Easy for people to access since it has a more coherent structure that is easy to follow first time and easy to learn

What are the weaknesses of liturgical worship?

• “Do not be like the hypocrites standing on the street corner”. (Jesus’ words)

• Reduces individuality

• Can be boring

• Can be hard to draw people in due to this lack of stimulation

• Relationship with God feels less intimate

What does liturgical worship look like in Catholicism?

• Sunday service is called Mass which has a clear structure, led by a priest.

• Always has a celebration of Eucharist

• Scripture plays a central role and relevant to the time of year.

• Not much preaching

• Traditional choirs sing in Latin

• Prayer in different form

• Rosary: beads touched as they recite prayer

• Use of symbols e.g. cross and focus on Mary

• Regular attendance of Mass

What does liturgical worship look like in the CofE?

• Not always have the Eucharist

• Praise God through preaching,

• Bible reading, prayer, music and Eucharist.

• Use the Book of Common Prayer

• Focus on the alter/Communion Table

• Women can be priests leading worship

• Preaching

• Hymns not always in Latin.

What is informal worship?

worship that doesn’t have a set structure and is more spontaneous. (Evangelical & Society of Friends)

What are features of informal worship?

• Use of modern language

• Singing/chanting

• Dancing

• Raising hands

• Limited structure of services

• Clapping

What are strengths of informal worship?

• Emphasis on the Holy Spirit and spontaneous action.

• Similar to worship in the first decades of the Church - has traditional precedent

• Means worship can happen anywhere

• More freedom/expression and accessible when in modern day language.

• “Faith without action is dead”

• Less boring, can draw new people in

What are the weaknesses of evangelical worship?

• Jesus specifically gave the Lord’s Prayer- he encouraged liturgical worship

• Less accessible

• Less community feel

What does informal worship look like in the Evangelical Church?

• Modern music

• Congregational singing

• Personal reflection and prayer

• Emphasis on the Holy Spirit

• Glossolalia (speaking in tongues)

• Laying on of hands (to heal- spiritual and physical)

• The person leading the congregation can change up

What does informal worship look like in the Society of Friends?

• Emphasis on silence and listening for spiritual guidance

• Attempts to connect with God and the Spirit

• No formal ministers

• Individuals are moved to speak/share insights

• No set prayers/hymns

What is individual worship?

worshipping God in your own time and alone. “Go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father” e.g. saying grace

What are features of individual worship?

• Spontaneous speaking

• Can be silent or aloud

• Often at home

• Can be liturgical or informal

• Can utilise the Bible or specific prayers

What are the strengths of individual worship?

• Helps build a more personal relationship with God

• Supported by the Bible

• Can be done anywhere and at any time

• Reflects modern society which focuses on individual freedom

• Protestants believe that each Christian is in their own way a priest and so all Christians have direct access to God.

What are the weaknesses of individual worship?

• The Bible encourages people to go come together when they pray

• ‘Corporate worship’ is together and what makes up a Church. A community is important to Christianity

What is prayer?

a form of communication with God, done privately or publicly, silent or spoken. It’s a way of building a personal relationship with God & part of Jesus’ lifestyle

What is the Lords Prayer

• the only prayer given directly by Jesus “then this is how you should pray”

• to Catholics it is the “perfect prayer”

Lords Prayer:

Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

Why Christians Pray?

• To ask for help, strength and guidance: Jesus rayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before he was crucified.

• To feel close to God and build a relationship with God.

• To show faith in God: “Faith without action is dead”

• To bring comfort in times of need.

Why is Prayer importatn in regards to Jesus Christ?

Prayer is important because Jesus himself prayed e.g. Garden of Gethsemane.

How do Roman Catholics pray?

• Formal, set prayers (liturgical)

• E.g. Mass prayers, Lord’s prayer (‘perfect prayer)

• Done in churches, Mass and privately

• Done kneeling, hands together, sign of the cross made

• Led by a male priest who runs Mass

• Focus on communion with God

What are C Catholics?

How do Church of England pray?

• Liturgical, formal but allowance for some flexibility

• Lord’s prayer and Book of Common Prayer

• Done during Church services

• Done kneeling, standing or sitting

• Priest leads it but the laity are involved

• Focus on worship of God.

How do Quakers pray?

• Silent, contemplative: Expecting something- waiting

• Occasional speaking

• Go to meeting houses and silent worship gatherings

• No set posture

• Silent reflection on scripture

• No formal clergy- the Spirit leads prayer

• Focus on an inward experience of God.

Hw do Evangelicals Pray?

• Spontaneous and informal, very expressive

• Personal prayers, sometimes done in tongues or praise songs

• Hands raised, kneeling or standing

• Led by the pastor but individual prayer is encouraged

• Focus on a relationship with Jesus and evangelism

What is set prayer?

written prayer that follows a clear pattern. Often memorised and recited e.g. Lord’s prayer

What is informal prayer?

personal expressions/prayers in one’s own words. Often used to express feelings and needs to God.

What is extemporaneous prayer?

‘Own words’, spontaneous prayer. There is no formula. Christians who use this are moved by the Holy Spirit to say these words (but they do still use the Lord’s prayer)

What are the benefits of extemperaneous prayer?

• sponteneity makes one more spiritually honest

• can be done anywhere

• can be more meaningful as it from the person - les methodical

What is the Last Supper?

• the Last mean Jesus had with his disciples before he was crucified

• introduction of the Eucharist

How is the Last Supper linked to Passover?

• Took place on Passover

• The Last Supper is an event used by Jesus to give a Jewish meal a new meaning.

• The Last Supper is linked to Passover because Jesus, the sacrificial lamb, is likened to the lamb Jews would sacrifice. Jesus gives this Jewish meal a new meaning as he creates the new covenant.

8 Marker: Explain why the Last Supper is so impotant to Christians?

1. Gave us a way to remember and honour Jesus sacrifice. (Memorialism)

2. Established the Eucharist as a way to connect with/receive Jesus today (Transubstantiation) and be in the presence of God (omnipotent)

3. Shows the omnibenevolent nature of God- he knew he was going to die but still did. He also gave a way to remember him.

4. Confirmed Jesus omniscience as knew Judas was going to betray him “The one who dips his bread into the bowl with me”

5. Helps them be Christ-like

What is a very important quote to do with the Last Supper?

“do this in remembrance of me”

What is the Eucharist/Holy Communion?

• meaning thanksgiving

• A sacrament in which the death and resurrection of Jesus are celebrated, using bread and wine.

Why do Christians practice the Eucharist?

• Christlike

• Sacrament (Catholics, Protestants)

• Lets remember Jesus’ sacrifice

Describe the Eucharist?

• The priest blesses the bread and wine (it is consecrated)

• Participants are given bread and wine to eat (in some denominations it is juice and a wafer)

• There are prayers and readings to remind the congregation about the Last Supper.

• Participants give thanks

• Participants are sent out to live and proclaim the Good News.

What is transubstantiation?

• Catholics believe the bread and wine changes to the body and blood of Jesus

• The Eucharist is a re-enactment of Jesus’ last supper. The priest is ‘persona Christi’ and blesses the bread, this becomes the body, same with the wine. Jesus is physically present, we physically receive him in our lives and connect with him so he can help us live out the Christian message. As it is literally, Jesus, they will genuflect (kneel) before the alter.

What is consubstantiation?

• Done by Anglicans

• Jesus is present, but not physically

• Church of England believe the body and blood co-exist with the bread and wine. The believe this as Jesus said “where two or three gather in my name I am with them” Jesus is spiritually present, not literally.

What is memorialism?

• Done by groups like the baptists

• The Eucharist honours the sacrifice of Jesus and remembers him.

• Baptists believe Jesus is not present during the ritual It is just an act of remembrance of what Jesus did at the Last Supper They bring Jesus’ sacrifice to their mind during this meal and how he fixed the relationship and atoned for us.

What do Quakers do in the Eucharist?

Quakers don’t celebrate the Eucharist or any of the sacraments in the Christian faith. They don't regard some activities as more sacred than others They don’t believe that any particular ritual is needed to get in touch with God as omnipresent

What is a sacrament?

an outward sign of an invisible and inward blessing by God e.g. baptism and the Eucharist

What are the sacraments?

• Baptism: when a person joins Christianity. Some believe it washes away sin. It can be done on infants or adults.

• Confirmation: the person makes a commitment to the church themselves.

• Eucharist: service where bread and wine is shared to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus

• Reconciliation: Also called penance or confession. Confession of sins to a priest, repenting (asking for forgiveness) of sins, you are absolved (freed) from them and do an act to show you are sorry.

• Matrimony: spiritual union of a couple before God.

• Holy Orders: joining the priesthood, being ‘ordained’

• Anointing of the Sick: done when a Catholic is very ill or dying. Oil applied to the sick person

What denominations of Christianity do what sacrements?

• Catholics follow all 7 sacraments

• C of E only follow these 2; they are the only that Jesus did (Baptism, Eucharist)

• Evangelicals do them but don’t think it is a sacrament (they often call them ordinances as suggests that some “works” other than mere belief in Christ is necessary for salvation)

• Quakers have none! Sacraments are internal, you don’t need external services.

What is baptism?

• the sacrament where people become members of the Church. Water is used as a symbol of washing away of sins

• there are many different kinds of baptism, but the main types are “infant baptism” vs “believers baptism”

What did Jesus say about baptism?

• “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit

This implies that the kingdom of God is locked off unless you are baptised at some point in your life. Jesus was also baptised, so baptism is Christlike.

What is infant baptism?

When a child takes part in the sacrament that welcomes them into the Christian faith

Why are parents deciding to have their child baptised important?

This shows their commitment to Christianity, fulfilling the Greatest Commission and wanting to raise their child in the faith.

Why is a priest/vicar saying prayers for the baby important?

This shows that they are welcoming baby into Christian faith

Why are parents and Godparents making promises to raise the child in the Christian faith important?

This shows commitment to Christianity, ensuring the child learns about the religion

Why is water being poured on the babies head in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit important?

This shows they are welcoming the child and symbolically washing away sin

Why is the Baby wearing white important?

This shows purity as they start their life as a Christian

Pros of Infant Baptism?

• Being baptised mimics the actions of Jesus and was encouraged by Jesus (critique this point as Jesus was baptised as an ADULT, not an infant. He chose!”

• It allows someone to be a Christian from an early age and learn more

• Many believe Original guilt is removed making salvation possible, especially if someone dies before being able to commit to Christianity themselves.

• Welcomes the person to the faith from an early age

• Shows the faith of parents and godparents “faith without action is dead”

• Fulfils the Greatest Commission “go make disciples”

What are the weaknesses of infant baptism?

• Child does not give consent- they have not made an informed choice

• Lack of biblical support for infants being baptised

• No knowledge of the faith

• Potential misinterpretation of the passages in the Bible around baptism

What is a believers baptism?

when a person chooses to take part in the sacrament and become a member of the church

Why is a person deciding for themselves to be baptised important?

This shows personal dedication to fulfil the Greatest Commission “Faith without action is dead”

Why is a priest/vicar saying prayers for people important?

This shows that they are welcoming person into Christian faith

Why is the body being submerged in water important?

This shows a full washing away of sins, a full death of their old, sinful life and a renewal as the sins are washed away. It also shows they want to mimic Christ’s baptism.

Why is the fact that there is no obligation for God parents important?

This shows that the person has made their own decision to join Christianity and does not need God-parents to guide them in their faith

Pros of believers baptism?

• Believers baptism is exactly how Jesus did it- Christ-like.

• Shows personal faith and commitment.

• Fulfils the Greatest Commission

• It is a chance to proclaim personal faith.

• They have given consent

Cons of believers baptism?

• Does not allow the child to be raised in the faith

• Family unit is vital to Christianity- children are excluded if you only do believers baptism

• Not a sign of the covenant

What are the different views on when to get baptised?

• Catholics and some Protestant denominations e.g. Anglicans: infant baptism to wash away the Original Sin and have them in the faith early. It is essential for salvation.

• Baptists/Evangelicals: believers baptism as you should be aware of your faith.

15 Marker: “Only Believers’ Baptism should be practiced” Agree.

• Follow example of Jesus and be baptised as an adult - John the Baptist

• Give consent to show you believe – “I believe in one God”

• Understand faith most important and convert – St Paul

15 Marker: “Only Believers’ Baptism should be practiced” Disagree.

• Welcomes and marks the child as Christian - “go make disciples of all nations” – not ageist

• Allows them to grow up in and develop faith from young age -Jesus brought to temple

• Removes sin original sin and allows them enter heaven - “no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit”

• Follow family tradition – Jesus was baptised

What is a festival?

a day or period of celebration

What is a key misconception about Christmas?

• People often write that Christmas was whe Jesus was born, but it was not when Jesus was born

• It was a festival to remembe when Jesus was born

• It is v important to make this distinction clear in exam questions bc you will not be given marks otherwise

What is Christmas?

• a festival to celebrate and remember the incarnation of Jesus

What is Advent?

• the countdown to Christmas within the church over 4 weeks leading up to Christmas where candles are lit

Why do Christians use Advent as a time to prepare?

• it is a time to relfect on actions of the year and see if you are living a Christlike life

• time to pause and get in the mindset of understanding the importance of Christmas (not getting swept up in the santa of it all)

• time to reconnect with family - a central value in Christianity

What are the different themes of Advent and why are they importat?

• hope

• joy

• love

• peace

• these help cultivate good qualities before Christmas

What do Orthodox Christians do during Advent?

Fast for 40 days, not eating red meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, oil and wine

What is the point of navities for Christians?

Navities are important because it helps pass down and educate people (specifically children) + potrays the incarnation

Why is singing carols important?

songs are sung to celebrate the birth of Jesus and they ususally collect money for Charity

Giving to others shows agape love and genorosity and singing carols shouws devotion (FWAID)

Why is giving gifts important to Christians?

• Replicates the wise men giving gifts

• Jesus was the gift tothe world and fixed the relationship

What are non religious ways to celebrate Christmas?

• sending cards

• decorating the house

• visiting family

What is the importance of Christmas for Christmas?

1. Opportunity for Christians to be Christlike and show love (e.g Advent Wreath candle as focus)

2. Remembers Jesus’ birth and incarceration

3. Spiritually brings community together and model family, Nativity play teaches about Christmas (‘Go make disciples of all nation’)

What is Easter?

a three day festival to celebrate and remember the resurrection and crucifixion of Christ

Why do Christians celebrate Easter?

it remembers Jesus’ sacrifice

How do palm leaves help Christians celebrate Eater?

people are given palm crosses to remember Jesus being welcomed into Jerusalem

How does Maundy Thursday help Christians celebrate Eater?

When Jesus had his last meal. The Eucharist was established. Jesus washed the feet of the disciples- ‘no master is greater than his servant’: Catholics will do the Eucharist and a priest will wash the feet of volunteers

How does Good Friday help Christians celebrate Eater?

• good friday services: veneration of the Cross: solemn afternoon services are attended around 3pm (when Jesus is to die). They pray and reflect on the crucifixion as this brought about atonement for humanity. They kneel or kiss a wooden cross to show devotion.

• Good Friday fasting: fasting between 9am and 3pm as this is the time believed that Jesus was on the cross.

How does Easter Sunday help Christians celebrate Eater?

celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. Traditional greetings to each other: “Christ is risen” and the response is “He is risen indeed”.

How do flowers in Church help Christians celebrate Easter?

symbolic of Jesus rising from the dead: flowers grow out of bulbs in darkness.

How does visiting graves help Christians celebrate Easter?

many Christians will visit cemeteries because the resurrection proved that death is not the end and so Christians are reminded that they will be reunited with their loved ones.

How do Easter eggs help Christians celebrate Easter?

representing the empty tomb and new life (like a chicken egg). There are often marks on the egg that seem to be like cracks- like the cracks in the tomb when the resurrection happened.

16 Marks: Easter is more Important than Christmas (Agree)

• Easter proves death is not the end and there is an afterlife

• atonement

• prophecy is fulfilled

• “I will destroy the temple and rebuild it in 3 days”

16 Marks: Easter is more Important than Christmas (Disagree)

• Incarnation

• Displays love