R.S Christian + Sikh Beliefs and Practices (Units 1, 2, 5 & 6)

The Nature of God

"God is fair and just, He corrects the misdirected, sends them in the right direction"

"Nothing is impossible With God"

"God so loved the world he gave his… Son"

“The son (Jesus) ....is the exact representation of his being”

Evil + Suffering

"Love your neighbour as yourself"

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love"

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast it is not proud".

The Trinity

"We believe in one God the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen" Nicene Creed

"I and the Father are one" John

"There is but 1 God, the Father, from whom all things came... and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ ...through whom we live"

Creation

"God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female.”

"In the beginning was Word, and Word was with God and Word was God."

"We believe in one God the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen"

"The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters"

Resurrection and Judgement

"The body that is sown in perishable, it is raised imperishable"

"If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body"

"I believe in the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting"

"He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the father, and he will come back to judge the living and the dead"

Heaven and Hell

"...there men will weep and gnash their teeth."

"...they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death"

Incarnation

*She was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit."

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us"

"When Jesus was baptised, a voice from heaven said, "You are my Son."

Crucifixion

"Surely this man was the Son of God."

"Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands, 1 commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last."

"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Jesus said, "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

Ascension and Resurrection

"While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven"

"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead... For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive"

Sin and Salvation

“whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord"

"For it is by grace you have been saved"

"Faith by itself, if is not accompanied by action, is dead"

"He is the atoning sacrifice”

Guidance for Christians

The 10 Commandments

The teachings of Jesus

The Lord’s prayer

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.”

Nature of God

"One Universal Creator God. The name is Truth. Creative Being personified."

"My Lord... is great,... unfathomable,... and formless. His condition cannot be described."

God as creator

"He is the perfect transcendent God."

"He is contained within."

God-Centred

"The Gurmukh acts in harmony with God's will; the Gurmukh finds perfection."

"The foolish self-willed Manmukh does not remember the Lord, and shall regret and repent hereafter."

5 stages of liberation

"By the Grace of the Holy, let your mind be imbued with the Lord's love."

"Why do you take pride in such trivial matters? Why are you so attached to your household?"

"Those who are committed to the Nam, see the world as merely a temporary pasture."

Karma, Rebirth and Mukti

"Whatever you plant, you shall harvest."

"Those who do not serve the true Guru.... they are like dead bodies in the world. They go through the cycles of 8.4 million reincarnations."

"They [The Manmukh] are ruined through death and rebirth."

"By the karma of past actions, the robe of this physical body is obtained. By His Grace, the Gate of Liberation is found."

Nature of human life

"Truth is higher than everything, but higher still is truthful living."

"My mind is imbued with the Lord's love; it is dyed a deep crimson. Truth and charity are my white clothes."

Oneness of humanity

“His light pervades the three worlds.”

“Recognise the Lord’s light within all.”

“Call everyone exalted; no one seems lowly.”

Equality and Guru Nanak

“Without woman, there would be no one at all.”

“All human beings, high or low, of any caste or colour may sit and eat in the Guru’s kitchen.”

“There are no classes or castes in the world hereafter.”

Guru Gobind Singh

“Serving the True Guru one finds lasting peace.”

“The greatest comforts and lasting peace are obtained when one eradicates selfishness from within.”

GGS

“Whoever wishes to hear the Guru’s word should read the Granth.”

“All beings and creatures are His; He belongs to all.”

“God’s kingdom is steady, stable and eternal… all are equal there.”

“The God-conscious being look upon all alike.”

Sewa

“One who performs selfless service, without thought of reward, shall attain his Lord and master.”

“Through selfless service, eternal peace is obtained.”

“One who works for what he eats, and gives some of what he has… he knows the path.”

Sangat

“Join the Sat Sangat… and find the Lord.”
“In establishing the Gurdwara with its holy fellowship, Guru Nanak brought the heaven on Earth.”

Worship and Prayer

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name.." The Lords Prayer

"Give us this day our daily bread" The Lord's Prayer

"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." The Lord's Prayer

'When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father."

"And when you pray, do not keep on babbling"

Baptism

“Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved.”

“Go and make disciples of nations, baptising them…”

Holy Communion

“This is my body which is broken for you… This is my blood of the new covenant poured out for many.”

“Do this in remembrance of me.”

Pilgrimage

"As I raised my head to look at the grotto, I saw a lady dressed in white....a blue girdle and a yellow rose on each foot." St Bernadette who had a vision of the Virgin Mary in Lourdes

"The God who made the world... does not live in temples made by man" could be used to link to lona

+ Against Pilgrimage

"The God who made the world... does not live in temples made by man"

Festivals

"Father you make this holy night radiant with the splendour of Jesus Christ our light." From the Catholic Christmas Mass

"She will bear a son, and… he will save his people from their sins."

"Why do you seek the living among the dead?"

"He has risen, he is not here, see the place where they laid him."

Food Banks and Street Pastors

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat."

"I was a stranger and you invited me in."

"Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by actions, is dead."

Mission and Evangelism, Church Growth

"go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."

"Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation."

"Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. "

Reconciliations and the Worldwide Church

"We were reconciled to him through the death of his Son."

"Blessed are the peacemakers.."

Christian Persecution

"Blessed are those who are persecuted, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

"Blessed are you when people persecute you...because great is your reward in heaven."

World Poverty

"Let us not love with words and speech, but with actions and in truth."

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat."

"Whatsoever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me."

TRUSSELL TRUST

• provides emergency food to people

• care professionals identify those in need and help them

TEARFUND

• UK churches donate, hold fundraisers, pray and raise awareness to help to establish local churches in places of need globally

• help people to get out of poverty + travel to areas of need (like jesus) (long term)

• emergency aid (responding to disasters, helping vulnerable areas)

The Gurdwara

"At the gurdwara, the Guru's Gate, the kirtan of the Lord's praises are sung. Meeting with the true Guru, one chants the Lord's praises."

"Whoever wishes to hear the Guru's word should wholeheartedly read the Granth or listen to the Granth being read."

The Guru Granth Sahib

"Whoever wishes to hear the Guru's word should wholeheartedly read the Granth or listen to the Granth being read."

"The light of the ten Gurus shines in the Guru Granth Sahib."

Worship in the gurdwara

"Worship and adore him and you shall be at peace forever."

"Worship in adoration that True Lord; everything is under his power."

Ardas Prayer

“Remember the divine Might, then the [Gurus]. May they support us everywhere.”

The Langar

"The langar has been opened and its supplies never run short."

"All human beings high or low may sit and eat in the Guru's kitchen."

Worship in the home and Nam Japna

"rise in the early hours and meditate on the Lord's name."

"If there be a home for praise and thoughts of the Creator, Let that home sing in celebration and remember our Designer."

"Those who have the treasure of the Lord's Name deep within their hearts-the Lord resolves their affairs."

Festivals

"The stories of one's ancestors make the children good children."