Christianity Practices Flashcards
types of worship?
private
public
liturgical
non-liturgical
formal
informal
liturgical worship is…
means that the services follow a set pattern written out by the church
non-liturgical worship
informal, with less structure
what is a sacrament?
is a ceremony through which Christians believe they receive god’s grace. it’s a sign of god’s grace working within them.
what sacraments do roman Catholics and orthodox churches believe in?
7 sacraments:
baptism
confirmation
reconciliation
anointing the sick
matrimony
holy orders
eucharist
what sacraments protestants believe in?
baptism and the Eucharist, as they were the only two described by Jesus in the gospels
what sacraments do quakers and the salvation army believe in?
0 -as they see them as unnecessary symbols for the inward acceptance of God’s grace
what is baptism and why is it important?
Jesus was baptised. after his resurrection he told his disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit”.
he said “no one can enter the kingdom of god unless they are born of water and the spirit”
what does baptism do?
baptism makes someone a member of god’s family and welcomes them to the church. it also cleanses people from the original sin that everyone is born with.
what happens when someone is being baptised?
a sign of the cross is made on the babies head, and in many churches holy water is poured three times over the forehead. orthodox Christians baptise babies by total immersion.
what is the Eucharist?
is where Christians remember the last supper with bread and wine.
what do roman Catholics believe that the eucharist is?
believe in transbutation (bread and wine used at mass become the flesh and blood of Christ)
they believe they receive the saving power of Jesus through the bread & wine.
what do Lutherans, methodists and Anglicans believe about the eucharist?
they believe that there is a real presence of Christ in the bread and wine, btu they don’t believe transubstantiation occurs.
what is confirmation?
a ceremony where a Christian (teenager) renews the vows made on their behalf at baptism
it is believed to strengthens the relationship between church and god.
what takes place for reconciliation?
involves confessing sin. they tell a priest about any sinful things that they have done. the priest will give a penance (a certain number of prayers/ actions to do) and they will pronounce absolution (god’s forgiveness)
what is anointing the sick?
priest/bishop anoints a unwell person with oil of the sick. the holy spirit renews the persons faith & strength to cope with their illness & accept the suffering. The anointing links the persons suffering to Christ’s suffering, allow their sins to be forgiven and to heal them
what is matrimony
Catholics believe Jesus performed his first miracle at a wedding.
promises are made before god, as he is present at the ceremony. the union is a way that God blesses the couple
what are holy orders?
the process which men are ordained as priests/ bishops. its a commitment for life
what do the seven sacraments show?
god’s grace
“the seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christians life.”
what are the three parts of a Catholics funeral?
1) the vigil prayer-reading prayers from the service, to say goodbye
2)funeral -Catholics join together in praying to god to take care of the person
3)the committal - ceremony at the cemetery
what is prayer?
communicate with God, through talking & listening & being open to guidance of the Holy Spirit. Its 2-way communication that gives Christians comfort as they feel that God is listening
what is prayer?
Prayer is how Christians communicate with God, through both talking and listening and being open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is a two-way communication that gives Christians comfort as they feel that God is listening
why is the lords prayer important?
it’s based on the words Jesus used when he told his disciples how to pray.
what is the lords prayer?
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.
why do Christians take pilgrimages?
to seek healing /forgiveness
to connect to god
to deepen their faith
where do Christians take pilgrimages to?
Jerusalem - where they can visit key places of Jesus’s life and death
where do Roman Catholics take pilgrimages to?
Rome, the home the pope
where do Catholics take pilgrimages to?
to shrines where Mary appeared.
Lourdes, the water is said to have healing properties which can cure ill health & lots of people believe miracles take place their
where do protestants take pilgrimages to?
they visit places they can find peace and study the bible. Iona
why is Jesus important?
his name translates to the lords saviour
part of the holy trinity
god incarnate
brang peace “prince of peace”
he is the messiah - came to save people
died for their sins -sent as the final sacrifice
brang goodwill to humanity as the “light of the world”
why is christmas important?
the day the son of god. Jesus was born. Jesus was god in human form and he brought peace to humanity as the “light of the world”
why Christians celebrate Christmas?
to remember Jesus coming into the world
help Christians remember major events in their religion
to plan their public worship
what is advent? how is it celebrated?
4 Sundays before Christmas. Christians spend it getting ready for Jesus birth -a time for prayer & reflection.
advent candles are lit at home &churches, which symbolises Jesus as being the “light of the world”
how do Christians celebrate christmas?
give presents -as god gave Jesus to us
nativity plays
midnight mass- church on Christmas eve to welcome Christmas day
attend church -remember Jesus coming into the world.
why is easter important for Christians?
celebrates Jesus victory over death, when god raised him back to life after the crucifixion. this is a reminder that god loves them as he was willing to suffer death on the cross & give them hope of eternal life
Jesus sacrifice atoned for our sins so humans can now have a relationship with god without the barrier of sin & have eternity with him when they die
what is lent? And what happens during this?
40 day before easter on Ash Wednesday (1st day of lent) ash is put on believers forehead to show they are sorry for their sins. Christians fast during lent to mark when Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert.
what is palm sunday?
Sunday before easter
when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey as the “prince of peace”
it marks the beginning of holy week
how is palm sunday celebrated?
palm crosses are given out
how is palm sunday celebrated?
palm crosses are given out
what is Maundy Thursday and what does it commemorate?
commemorate the last supper where Jesus told the disciple eh was going to die
Jesus broke bread “this is my body” and poured wine “this is my blood”
he asks the disciples to “do this in remembrance of me”
how is Maundy Thursday remembered?
catholics churches hold a service in the evening which includes the eucharist.
Christians renact the washing of peoples feet, to show they serve others as Jesus did
what is good Friday and what does it commemorate?
Quote?
day Jesus was crucified. his death was necessary to fix the broke relationship with god.
“while we were still sinners Christ died for us”
how is Good Friday remembered?
hold services at a similar time to Jesus death (3pm)
Catholics hold the stations of the cross, which renacts the final journey of Jesus when he carried his cross to this crucifixion.
what is Easter Sunday and what does it commemorate?
3 days after the crucifixion, Mary Madgalene visited the tomb to find the stone have been moved and Jesus body gone.
how is easter Sunday remembered?
paschal candle is lit to show Jesus as the “light of the world”
church services art sunrise
swap cards & eggs “the gift of god is eternal life in Christ Jesus”
how do churches put Christians faith into action?
1) provide regular services & a place for quiet reflection
2)providing rite of passage - baptisms, etc
3) running youth groups& Sunday school - to engage young people in the local community
4)offering support and advice
5)street pastors - support others in need on Friday and Saturday evenings. this demonstrates Christian love
6) foodbanks
7) raise money for charity
quote for the church from the bible
“be shepherds of gods flock that is under your care”
“love your neighbour as yourself”
what is evangelism?
spreading the Christian message with the aim of converting people
what is the great commission?
when Jesus instructed his disciples to “go forth make disciples of all nations”
many Christians believe that this is their duty
in the bible Jesus taught “as the father sent me i am sending you”
why do Christians evangelise?
so they can help people discover their real purpose in life and find salvation and to tell others about Jesus love
how does the salvation army (SA) and Gideons evangelise
SA - helps others by providing hot meals & bed for homeless people
G- distribute copies of the bible in hotels & care homes
ways Christians evangelise:
provide services to the community
street pastors
preaching
volunteering
missionaries
setting up oppotunites for people to explore the christian faith
ways Christians evangelise:
provide services to the community
street pastors
preaching
volunteering
missionaries
setting up oppotunites for people to explore the christian faith
what are missionaries?
spread the Chrisitan message abroad
what is reconciliation?
restoring harmony after relationships between people have broke down
why do Christians believe in reconciliation?
they believe it is needed between people who have been in conflict - just as Jesus brought god and human kind together through the atonement
quotes about reconciliation:
“blessed are the merciful”
“just as I loved you, you are also to love one another”
“blessed are the peacemakers”
why should Christians reconcile with god?
so they can recognize what they have done wrong, to say sorry for their sins & god then forgives them through his grace & removes their guilt.
how does the CorryMeela community in northern Ireland work for reconciliation? which broken relationships are they trying to reconcile?
works with people in areas where there is tension and strives to help people understand each other and reconcile through group activities and discussions
social, religious, political divisions
how does Pax Christi an international catholic organisation work for reconciliation?
work for human rights, disarmament and peace. they believe violence should be avoided and they work to create a world where people can live in harmony
how does the organisation of the cross of nails work for reconciliation?
they attend schools to spread the message
some ways organisation and churches help persecuted Christians?
providing bibles so they can worship in secret
offer training to church members
support people who have lost their homes
pray
send money
might petition to the government to help
why is charity important to Christians?
in the parable of the sheep and the goats Jesus explains that people who have been good (sheep) and have helped others will be looked after by god. people who haven’t (goats)will suffer. this tells Christians that they are helping Jesus when they help others
how does Christians aid help others?
works globally to relieve poverty. set up projects in the developing world drawing on the skills of local people. aims to change government policies to help reduce the suffering of the worlds poor
how does CAFOD (catholic agency for overseas development) help others?
fights poverty/injustice around the world. work through churches helping in emergencies and giving people the skills to help themselves
how does Tearfund (an evangelical organisation) help others?
helps communities with projects run through their churches. they try to end hunger, resolve tension in conflict zones and help refugees. they help areas hit by natural disasters
