GCSE Religious Studies- Christian practices

worship

the way Christians show their deep love and reverence for God

Methods of worship

• prayers

• meditation

• bible readings

• singing hymns

Times Christians can worship

anytime

Christian weekly worship

typically occurs on Sundays, as it is believed to be the day of rest

Uses of the bible in worship

• read to learn more about the faith, either systematically or randomly

• could be used for inspiration and revelations to seek advice and guidance or to overcome difficulties

Liturgical worship

structured form of worship that follows a set pattern or ritual, often using a written liturgy

Features of liturgical worship

• priest leads the congregation in formal prayers that have set responses and rituals

• passages from the bible read out

• may have music / hymn sung by choir or congregation

• holy communion

• people receiving forgiveness from God

Christian denominations who use liturgical worship

• catholic

• Anglican (Church of England)

• Orthodox (eastern Orthodox)

Holy communion (eucharist)

Christian sacrament in which bread and wine are shared to remember the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples.

Sacrament

rite and ritual where the believe receives a special gift of grace

Benefits of liturgical worship

• sense of tradition

• worldwide set order of service

• bible readings follow the Christian calendars

Non-Liturgical worship

Christian worship that does not follow a set structure or written liturgy. It is more flexible, often led by a minister or worship leader who chooses the order of service.

Non-Liturgical worship features

• places emphasis on word, communion

• No fixed order – varies each time

  May include spontaneous prayers, modern worship songs, and open Bible readings

• Often more personal and informal

Christian denominations which use Liturgical worship

Mostly non-conformist churches:

• methodist

• evangelical

• Baptist

Benefits of Non-Liturgical worship

• flexibility to plan services

• emphasis on word of God- eg. bible

Informal worship

spontaneous and flexible form of Christian worship that often includes praying, singing, or sharing experiences in a relaxed setting. It may not take place in a church building and often feels more personal and emotional.

Features of informal worship

• one can say their own prayers

• depends on peoples spontaneous prayers or sharing of thoughts

Christian denominations which use informal worship

• quakers

• Pentecostal Church

Benefits of informal worship

• anyone can take part in worship

• allows for any type of worship

• worshipping in home churches

Private worship

a service that does not follow a set of texts or structure

Reasons people pray

• to become closer to God

• to ask for forgiveness / advice

• shows respect / love

• to thank God

prayer

communication with God, either silently or through words, praise, thanksgiving, confession or request for God’s help or guidance

set prayers

prayers written down and said more than once by more than one person

informal prayer

prayer made up by an individual using their words

Non-conformist church

English Protestants who don’t want to conform to doctrine or practices of the Church of England (Anglican Church)

Lord’s prayer

prayer taught to disciples of Jesus

importance of prayers

• encourages reflection

• to talk and listen to God

• keep close relationship with God

• accept what God’s will is, even if it means to suffer

• sense of peace

Methods of prayer

• singing in God’s name

• public prayer

• private prayers

• speaking in tongues

benefits of private prayer

• helps Christians build discipline

• gives them strength to cope in times of trouble or suffering

Orthodox prayers

stand to pray and using icons of holy figures

non-conformist prayers

sat down

Anglican prayers

kneeling

Other Christian prayers

hand raised

Catholic prayers

may use rosaries

Christian beliefs about worship to God

• prayer helping someone accept God’s will even if it means suffering

• prayers will be answered by God but not always in the way the person would like

The Lord’s prayer verses

“Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, On earth as it in heaven. Give us the daily bread. And forgive use our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from Evil. Amen”

Importance of the Lord’s prayer to individuals

• gives a platform for how to pray

• combines giving praise to God and asking for God’s help

• reminds individuals to forgive or they will not be forgiven themselves

Importance of the Lord’s prayer to communities

• gives a platform for how to pray with others (in a group)

• gives a sense of unity or purpose when said with others

• no-one excluded

baptism

ritual where people become members of the church, involving the use of water as a symbol of the washing away of sins

Believer’s baptism

initiation into the church by immersion into water for people old enough to understand the ceremony

Infant baptism

ritual which babies and young children become members of the church and promises are taken on them on behalf of adults

importance of infant baptism

• the infant is freed from sin carried over from the original sin

• introduction to the saving grace of God

• support from the Christian community

The seven sacraments of Catholic and Orthodox Christians

• baptism

• confirmation (anointment)

• holy communion (eucharist)

• marriage

• holy order

• reconciliation (confession)

• anointing of the sick

Sacraments helping Christians

• involve symbolic actions, words and physical elements

• strengthen relations with God

• Christian community

• affirm that Christians are part of the body of Christ

Importance of Baptism

• process of discipleship

• acknowledge a person as a child of God

• set an example

• modelled by jesus

• personal identification with God

• death, burial and resurrection of Jesus

• personal testimony

Jesus’ Baptism

• baptised in the Jordan river by John the baptist

• when Jesus emerged from the river, the heavens opened and the holy spirit descended in the form of a dove

• the father’s voice was heard

Pilgrimage

a journey by a believer to a holy site for religious reasons; acting as an act of worship and devotion

Christian pilgrimage sites

• Lourdes, France

• Iona, Scotland

• Jerusalem, Israel

Pilgrimages to Lourdes, France

a town in the Southwest of France and is a major pilgrimage site for Roman Catholics

Pilgrimages to Iona, Scotland

small island in the inner Hebrides on the western cost of Scotland, and is the centre for Gaelic monasteries for 4 centuries renowned for its natural beauty

Reasons for Christian pilgrimages

• experiences a holy place

• grow closer to God

• reflect on lives

• express sorrow for sin and asks to be forgiven

• pray

• helping other pilgrims

Activities in pilgrimages to Lourdes

drinking or bathing in the spring water believed to be holy

Celebration of Christmas

• celebrates the incarnation of Jesus

• celebrated on the 25h of December mostly (7th of January in Eastern Orthodox)

Importance of Christmas

• incarnation of the son of God becoming human

• Jesus being both God and truly human

Quotes on the importance of Christmas

• “in the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God”- NT

Activities during Christmas

• singing carols

• exchanging gifts

• nativity

• midnight mass

Celebration of Easter

celebration of the resurrection of Jesus on easter Sunday

Importance of Easter

• demonstrates Jesus is the Son of God

• Jesus restores Christians “brokenness”

Quotes on Easter

• “he suffered death and was buried, and rose again”- nicene creed

Activities on Easter

• Lent- resist temptation for 40 days

• Ash Wednesday

• attend church

• pray to God

• decorate home

role of the church

• place to meet

• food banks

• worship

• prayers

• education (sunday school)

• share testimonies

• invite people to Christian meetings

• making disciples

• fellowship meals

Church

a group of believers under the leadership of Jesus

The great commission (things Jesus told his disciples to do)

• to make disciples

• to baptise them

• to teach them

Mission of the church

to spread the word and preach the gospel

Mission

vocation or calling of a religious organisation or individual to go out into the world and spread the faith

evangelism

spreading the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness

Missionary

person sent on a religious mission, especially to promote Christianity in a foreign country through preaching or charitable works

Quotes on Christian persecution

• “blessed are those who are persecuted”- NT

Quotes on Christian mission

• “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit”- NT

• “preach the word”- NT

Quotes on poverty

• “love your neighbour”- NT

• “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat”- NT

Poverty

lack of money / material goods

Christian mission in the UK

• Spread Christianity and encourage faith

• Support spiritual growth in communities

• Help the poor, homeless, and vulnerable

• Promote justice, peace, and reconciliation

The Church Army

• Run homeless shelters and drop-in centre

• Support young people and families in crisis

• Offer spiritual guidance and community outreach

• Set up fresh expressions of church (new, creative forms of worship)

Christian mission worldwide

• Evangelism (sharing the Gospel)

• helping those in need (charity, education, healthcare)

• Building churches and training leaders

• Promoting peace, justice, and reconciliation

The Ichthus fellowship

• Church planting and evangelism

• Social action projects addressing issues like poverty and unemployment

• Training programmes for Christian leaders

• Hosting conferences and Bible schools

The Fresh Expression of the Church

• Begins with listening to the local context and culture

• Focuses on people outside the church

• Is distinct from traditional worship but still fully Christian

• Often meets in unusual places – cafés, schools, gyms, even pubs

• Builds community first, then grows into worship and discipleship

• Seeks to be church in its own right, not just a stepping stone

Mission and Evangelism at Spring Harvest

• Equips Christians to confidently share their faith and live it out in everyday life

• Focuses on Bible teaching, worship, and discipleship to inspire personal and communal growth

• Partners with global organisations (e.g. Open Doors) to support mission worldwide

• Creates accessible events and resources that encourage outreach, especially to those outside the Church

CAFOD

• CAFOD is the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, working in over 30 countries to tackle poverty and injustice.

• They bring lasting change to the lives of poor communities, inspired by Catholic Social Teaching and the belief that every person is made in the image of God and deserves dignity and justice.

• Emergency aid during natural disasters and conflicts (e.g., food, water, shelter)

• Long-term development – supporting education, healthcare, clean water, and livelihoods

• Campaigning against global injustice (e.g. climate change, unfair trade)

• Raising awareness in schools and parishes across the UK

Tearfund

• Tearfund is a UK-based Christian charity dedicated to alleviating global poverty and injustice

• Tearfund’s mission is to follow Jesus where the need is greatest, responding to crises and partnering with local churches to bring restoration to people living in poverty.

• Humanitarian Response: Tearfund provides immediate aid during disasters and conflicts, supporting affected communities throughout the recovery process.

• Community Development: The organization empowers communities by mobilizing resources and partnering with local churches to lift themselves out of poverty.

• Advocacy and Influencing: Tearfund helps individuals and churches speak out on issues of poverty and injustice, challenging unjust policies and practices at various levels.

Christian Aid

• Christian Aid is a UK-based Christian charity that works globally to eradicate poverty, fight injustice, and respond to emergencies, regardless of religion or background.

• Emergency Relief: Provides food, shelter, and medical aid during natural disasters, conflicts, and humanitarian crises.

• Long-term Development: Supports projects that promote education, healthcare, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods.

• Campaigning and Advocacy: Challenges unjust systems, including economic inequality and climate injustice, by speaking up to governments and global institutions.

Quotes for Christian charities

• “love your neighbour”- OT