The meanings of some Christianity key terms
Worship
Acts of religious praise, honour or devotion
Liturgical worship
Worship which follows a set structure or ritual
Non liturgical worship
Worship which does not follow a set structure or ritual
Informal worship
A type of non-liturgical worship sometimes ‘spontaneous' or ‘charismatic' in nature
Private worship
When a believer praises or honours God on his or her own
Communal worship
When Christians go to worship with other people
Believer’s baptism
Initiation into the church by immersion in water of people old enough to understand the ceremony/rite and willing to live a Christian life
Infant baptism
The ritual through which babies and young children become members of the Church; when an infant is cleansed of original sin
Set prayer
Prayers that have been written down and said more than once by more than one person eg Lord’s prayer
Informal prayer
Prayer that is made up by an individual using his or her own words
Lord's prayer
Prayer taught by Jesus to his disciples
Prayer
Communicating with God, either silently outer through words or praise, thanksgiving or confession or requests for God's help and guidance
Transubstantiation
Catholic belief that during Eucharist their bread and wine actually becomes the body and blood of Christ
Eucharist/Holy communion
A service of thanksgiving in which the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus are celebrated using bread and wine
Sacrament
A ritual through which the grace (or blessings) of God can be received. An outward sign of an inward grace
Monotheism
Only one God
Denomination
A branch of Christianity e.g Catholic
Transcendent
Existing out of time and space
Immanent
God in the world
Omni-benevolent
All-loving
Omnipotent
All powerful
Omniscient
All knowing
Incarnation
God in human form as Jesus
Miracles
An extraordinary event which can not be explained by human or natural powers
Holy Trinity
One God in three distinct forms: Father, Son and the Holy Spirit
Father
Creator. First part of the trinity
Son
The saviour. Second part of the trinity
Holy spirit
The part of God that is with Christians as their constant guide and comforter. Third part of the trinity
Nicene creed
A statement of belief used in Christian services. References to the Holy Spirit
Creation
The act by which God brought the universe into being
The fall
Used to describe the movement by Humans out of a perfect relationship with God due to Adam and Eve
Genesis
The first book of the Bible which contains the creation of humans and the universe
The word
Term used at the beginning of John's gospel to refer to God the son
Literalist
Bible is factual and totally accurate
Non literalist
The Bible is symbolic. It is not to be treated as factual but instead we should look at the underlying message
Nazareth
Where Jesus spent the majority of his life and grew up
Resurrection
Coming back to life
Messiah
Means the anointed one (king or lord)
Bethlehem
Where Jesus was born
Disciple
Follower of Jesus
Crucifixion
Roman method of execution. Also refers to the execution and death of Jesus
Blasphemy
A religious offence which includes claiming to be God
Jesus’ greatest commandment
‘love the lord with all your heart… Love your neighbor as yourself’
Parable
Story told by Jesus to illustrate a moral message
Lord's prayer
Prayer Jesus taught to his disciples
Inconsistent triad
As evil exist, God cannot be all powerful and loving
Natural evil
Suffering caused through no fault of humans
Moral evil
Suffering caused by humans
Irenaean/Hicks theodicy
God allows evil and suffering to exist as it is through suffering that we learn and develop spiritually
Augustinian theodicy/Free-Will Defense
Due to the fall, evil and suffering have come into the world. God created a perfect world and we cannot corrupt it
The story of Job
Through all of his suffering, Job remains faithful to God and trust it is all part of God's plan
Theodicy
An attempt to show that the existence of evil doesn't rule out the possibility of God's existence
Ascension
The event 40 days after the resurrection when Jesus returned to God in heaven
Apostle’s creed
Essential aspects of the Christian faith- contains belief in the trinity and the events in the last days of Jesus' life
Resurrection
Coming back to life
Eschatology
Life after death
Heaven
A state of eternal happiness in the presence of God ; the place of eternal peace ruled over by God
Hell
The place of eternal suffering or the state of being without God
Purgatory
The intermediate state where souls are cleansed in order to enter Heaven
Day of judgment
The day that Jesus will judge humanity and destroy earth and heaven
Sin
Any action or thought that separates humans from God/goes against his wishes
Salvation
Saving the soul, deliverence from sin and admission to heaven brought about by jesus
Satan
Name for the devil -the power and source of evil
Parable of the sheep and goats
Jesus makes it clear that a life worthy of the reward of heaven must involve actively helping people in need
Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man
The rich man does nothing while alive to help Lazarus so he is sent to hell. While in hell he asks for relief and he is declined in the same way he did nothing to help Lazarus
Original sin
Everyone is born with a built in urge to do bad things and siobey God due to the Fall.
Jerusalem
Where jesus spent his last days of his life. Visit where he was resurrected
Lourdes
Dedicated to Mary. Visit to get healed
Walsingham
Many miracles happened. Statue of virgin Mary
Rome
Largest church in the world
Christmas
Commemorating the incarnation of jesus
Easter
Celebrating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead
Advent
Marks the period of waiting before Christmas
Lent
Period of fasting for 40day to remember when Jesus did the same
Holy week
Week leading up to Easter Sunday
Palm Sunday
Jesus arrived to Jerusalem on a donkey and people welcome him with palm leaves. Palm crosses are given
Maundy Thursday
Last supper. Celebrated with washing of the feet and the Eucharist
Good friday
Jesus’ crucifixion. Stations of the cross
Easter sunday
Jesus’ resurrection. Easter vigils
Church
Holy people of god
Trussel trust
Famous food Bank. Around 420 in the uk
Agape
Selfless unconditional love
Ecunemism
Different denominations working together to be united as one
Tearfund
Evangelical alliance relief fund. Trvale to places that of great need, respond to disasters and help vulnerable communities
Christian aid
Emergency relief and sustainable development agency.stop poverty
Cafod
Catholic agency for overseas development. Bring hope to people of all faith and in poor communities
Corrymeela
Set up after troubles in northern island .attend to talk and listen to eachother and move away from violence to peace