Christian Practises Flashcards
Why do Christians worship?
- It allows them to praise and thank god for his blessings and ask his forgiveness
- helps Christians deepen their relationship with god
- gives them comfort or strength to live a more truly Christian life
What are the different forms of Christian worship?
- liturgical worship
- non liturgical worship
- private worship
What is liturgical worship? Give an example
Services that follow a set pattern
E.g. celebration of the Eucharist for catholic, orthodox and Anglican churches
What happens in liturgical worship
- A priest leads a congregation in formal prayers that have set responses
- bible passages are read out especially from the gospel and may be a sermon based in these
- often music, hymns sung by congregation or choir or sometimes chanting by the priest
What is non liturgical worship? What churches does this happen at?
- Where there does not have to be a set order or ritual
- happens at Methodist, baptist and united reformed churches
In non liturgical worship, what’s the focus? Give an example of it being used
Focussed on bible readings and a sermon based on them
E.g. used when celebrating the holy communion
How does non liturgical worship change?
The preacher may change the order, the number of hymns or the types of prayer
What is informal worship?
Where people do spontaneous prayer and share thoughts
Give examples of informal worship. What affect do these all have on the worshippers?
-Quaker worship
-community or house churches
-Charismatic worship
The worshippers feel like it’s easier to experience Gods Holy Spirit
What is Quaker worship?
Silent worship where people speak when they feel gods spirit moving to them to offer thoughts, prayers or a bible reading
What happens at community or house churches
People meet to eat and share together faith to recreate what they believe to be the worship of the early church
What happens at Pentecostal churches in charismatic worship?
It’s ‘led by the spirit’ and may involve dancing, clapping, calling out and speaking in tongues.
Why is liturgical worship important for Christians?
- people receive god’s forgiveness through priests actions
- people receive the living presence of Jesus in the holy communion
- there is a worldwide set order that’s familiar to even visitors
- gives a sense of tradition as it’s been passed down through generations
Why is non liturgical worship and informal worship important for Christians?
- style of worship follows that of early Christians
- faith is expressed in a variety of ways
- Christians can share personal interpretations of the bible
- service can have an emotional impact with a feeling of personal revelation from god
- people can take an active part of the church without formal training
Describe private worship
Allows individuals to spend time with god either alone or with close friends or family and may involve prayer, meditation or aids to worship like an icon or rosary
Give a set prayer that Christians use before they are about to eat
“Bless us o lord, and these your gifts, which we are about to receive from your bounty. Through Christ our lord. Amen”
How do people pray in orthodox services?
How do nonconformists pray?
How do anglicans pray?
How do other Christians pray!
- standing up
- sit down
- kneel
- others raise their hands to invite the Holy Spirit into their livesn
What do Christians believe about god answering their prayers? give an example
They believe god will answer the prayer but not always in the way the person wants. Evident in Jesus’ prayer in the garden of Gethsemane in Mark
Why may Christians pray?
To help them accept god’s will even if they’re suffering
Why may Christians use informal prayer?
It makes them feel they can open their hearts to god more easily by using their own words
Why may Christians use private worship?
- helps Christians build a discipline which gives them strength to cope in times of trouble
- encourages a routine allowing time for reflection on a busy day
- helps them find peace and a sense of communication with god
What is the Lord’s Prayer?
“Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be come
On earth as in heaven,
Give us today our daily bread
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.”
When do Christians believe that prayer is only effective?
If the person’s relationship with others is right
When the Lord’s Prayer is used as private prayer…
…a Christian is reminded that he or she must forgive others in order to be forgiven