Christianity - Christian practices Flashcards
what is worship
showing adoration and reverence by offering praise to God
what are the types of worship
liturgical
non liturgical
informal
private
what is liturgical worship
- when Christians worship according to a set pattern on a regular basis
what are the features of a liturgical worship
- Set prayers and readings led by a priest or minister, often using the book of common prayer
- singing hymns
- set bible readings
- receiving holy communion
- Sermon from priest
what denominations tend to do liturgical worship
- catholics
- anglicans
- and they attend the holy communion/ eucharist service on a sunday
what is informal worship
a church service without a set/formal structure and can involve more unscripted / improvised forms of worship
what are the features of a non - liturgical worship
- speaking in tongues
- laying of hands
-personal testimonies
-unscripted prayers
what denominations tend to do non liturgical worship
Methodism
pentecostalism
what is informal worship
form of worship where Christians prefer spontaneity in their style of worship, eg adoration of god outside a church setting and no fixed structure
What are the features of informal prayer
- held in a large auditorium
Modern worship music - spontaneous singing
- charismatic worship eg clapping , dancing
-speaking in tongues
What is an example of a denomination which does informal worship
pentecostal
what is private worship
worship that spends time alone considering one’s faith or connecting to God
what are the features of private worship
- Praying before a meal
- private prayer
-reading bible
-Meditating on God
what type of worship do quaker christians follow
no set pattern of worship
instead they attend “meetings” where followers sit in silence and there are no ministers/ worship leader and anybody can decide to speak or read
what is a quote from Matthew which supports the idea of public worship being better than private worship
” For where two or three gather in my name, there am i with them”
what are the advantages of
what are the different purposes of prayer
adoration - showing deep love and respect for God
confession - statement of faith, through prayer
contemplation - meditation
penitential - saying sorry for sins
praise - giving praise to God
thanksgiving - saying thank you, showing gratitude
supplication - asking for something
intercession - asking God to help someone else
what quotes does James state in terms of purpose of prayer
“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective “
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise “
what quote does John state in terms of purpose of prayer
” this is the confidence we have approaching God; if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us “
what quotes does St Pauls state in terms of purpose of prayer
” be constant in prayer “
what quotes does it state in proverbs in terms of purpose of prayer
“The Lord is far from the wicket, but he hears the prayers of the righteous “
what quotes does Mark state in terms of purpose of prayer
” whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours”
what is an example of a set pryer that is used worldwide in christianity
the Lords prayer
what are set prayers , an example and advantages of set prayers
- prayers that follow a certain format which is regularly repeated
- said by congregation together and Christians may learn by heart
- used during liturgical worship or can be said privately at home
example : the lords prayers ( Our Father )
set prayers advantages = easy to follow and give sense of solidarity with other christians
what is informal prayer
when people pray by themselves privately = it can include praying silently or out loud and is usually from the heart
- spontaneous
advantage : strengthens personal connection and relationship with God
what is baptism
a Christian rite of initiation where you are cleansed of sin and welcomed into the church community
what is infant baptism
practiced by the roman catholic and church of england churches,
- sacrament of initiation of babies and young children into the church at a young age to get rid of original sin = done as soon as possible
- the parents make the decision for the child to be baptised ( children have no say in the matter )
what is believer’s baptism
initiation into the church, by immersion in water of adult or people old enough to understand the ceremony/rite and who have made a decision to live a christian life
baptists and pentecostals believe that baptism should only occur once somebody is an adult
what is the eucharist
also known as holy communion, is a sacrament that commemorates the last supper
- it celebrates Jesus’ sacrifice through his death and resurrection, Christians give thanks to God for his creation of the wrold, life and the death of jesus
why may some people prefer the believer’s baptism over infant baptism
some people prefer believer’s baptism, as the adult is able to make the decision themselves to live a christian life
whereas in infant baptism, it is the parent’s decision to baptise the child as soon as possible, to be removed of original sin
what is a sacrament
rites and rituals, through which an outward sign of blessing is given by God
what are the 7 sacraments
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist
- Reconciliation
- Anointing of the sick
- Matrimony
- Holy orders
was Jesus baptised
YES - when he was an adult by john the baptist
what is the belief of infant baptism
infants are baptised as soon as possible, to be removed of original sin ( caused by Adam and Eve) , so even if they die young, their soul will be able to enter heaven
do Quakers believe in Baptism
NO - THEY REJECT BAPITSM ALTOGETHER ( AND ALL OUTWARD SYMBOLS AND RITUALS ) - instead they try to find the sacred in all of life
what is the belief of believer’s baptism
it is seen as a gift of grace from God to wash away sins
and gives the individual the opportunity to declare their faith, and accept christianity for themselves
what is a quote used by John in terms of Baptism
“no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit”
what are quotes used by Matthew in terms of Baptism
” go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”
describe differences between infant baptism and believer’s baptism
INFANT: baptism takes place as a baby
- it is believed to be the ‘ basis of the whole Christian life - children are welcomed into the Christian faith and church at a young age as they are baptised young
- believed to remove original sin
- parents and godparents make promises on behalf of the child
- a sign of the cross is made on the baby’s forehead and water is poured on their head from the front in the church
- A lighted candle is given to represent the light of Jesus
BELIEVERS BAPTISM:
- baptism takes place as an adult
- only an adult can fully make the choice of belonging to the church
- seen as a gift of grace from God to wash away sins ( NOT ORIGINAL SIN )
- each candidate is asked questions about theur faith and states why they wish to become a christian
- they are baptised through full immersion - fully put under water
what quote is used from the Catechism of the Catholic Church in terms of infant baptism
” Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit and he door which gives access to the other sacraments .. through baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God”
why do some christians practice infant baptism whereas other practice believers baptism
what is the catholic church interpretation of the Eucharist
Transubstantiation - a roman catholic belief where the bread and wine becomes the body and blood of Christ. Christ’s presence in them is known as the ‘real presence. ‘
Eucharist is described in the Catechism of the Catholic Church as :
the ‘ source and summit ‘ of Christian life
what is the protestant church interpretation of the Eucharist
baptists/protestants believe the ritual is simply an act of remembrance, and the bread and wine is symbolic of Jesus
what is the orthodox church interpretation of the Eucharist
accept the Eucharist as a sacrament though it is not possible to explain the transubstantiation as it is a divine mystery
what does Jesus say in relation to the eucharist
” I am the living bread “ - John -
reinforcing the centrality of the Eucharist as a sacrament in the life of a Christian that Jesus is seen and remembered in the bread and the wine as they represent the body and blood of Christ ( serves as a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice and act of atonement to remove original sin and restoring relationship with God
what is the importance of the Eucharist
- it is a sacrament - an outward sign on inward grace
it is a memorial of Jesus’ sacrificial death, inaugurated by Jesus himself on the night before he died: “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me” - Luke. Without Jesus’ sacrificial death, there would be no salvation
- marks the sacrifice made by jesus through his death
- brings the Christian community together in worship and is an act of fellowship between christians. “ Where two or three are gathered, I am there” - Matthew. ( millions of Christians gather every Sunday for this
why is the eucharist not as important as the other sacraments
- Quaker Christians do not celebrate Holy communion or any other sacrament. Instead they try to carry the Sacred into every part of their lives, believing there is “ something of God “ in everybody
- Parable of the Sheep and the Goats teaches that God will judge you based on whether you have helped others, not whether you’ve taken part in religious rituals. The Book of James teaches, ‘ faith without works is dead’ = performing good works is just as important
- whilst the eucharist was initiated by Jesus, it is not the only thing he commanded. He also commanded baptism : “ Make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit “ - Matthew
what is a pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey to a sacred place, practiced as an act of religious devotion
- Jesus went on a pilgrimage to the temple in Jerusalem
what happened at lourdes
- town in france, where the virgin mary appeared to bernadette in a series of visions
- 18 visions took place between february and july 1858 near to massabielle grotto
- Mary revealed herself with the words “ i am the immaculate conception”
- during one vision Mary told Bernadette to drink the water of a spring - as there was no spring Bernadette dug and a day or so later water started to flow from where she dug ( the water still flows today with a reputation for healing
- during other vision Mary told Bernadette that a chapel should be built on the site and that people should attend the processions
