Christianity : Practices Flashcards
State the difference between liturgical and non-liturgical worship.
Liturgical worship involves set patterns of worship, led by a priest or minister. The congregation respond to the
person leading the service using set words from a book or order of service. In non-liturgical worship there is no
set pattern and it is more spontaneous.
Describe charismatic worship.
Charismatic worship involves the use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These can include speaking in tongues
(glossolalia), prophecy and healing.
Give a reason why Christians may spend time in individual worship.
One reason why Christians may spend time in individual worship is to develop their personal relationship with
God and to seek his guidance for their lives.
What is a sacrament?
A sacrament is a ritual through which Christians believe they can receive God’s grace or blessing
List two sacraments
Any of the following answers would be correct: Eucharist, baptism, confirmation, marriage, holy orders,
anointing the sick.
Give three reasons why Eucharist is important to Christians.
it reminds them of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross to bring about their salvation
it brings them together as a Christian community
it is obedience to following a ritual established by Jesus at the Last Supper.
What is the difference between consubstantiation and transubstantiation?
Transubstantiation is the belief that the bread and wine received at Eucharist actually become the body and
blood of Jesus, whereas consubstantiation is the belief that Jesus is spiritually present in the bread and the
wine.
What is the purpose of baptism?
Baptism symbolises a person’s admission into the Christian Church.
Why do some Christians choose adult baptism instead of infant baptism?
Some Christians choose adult baptism because they believe it should be a conscious choice which a baby is
therefore not able to make. They also believe it follows the pattern for baptism set out in the New Testament.
State three ways that congregational prayer is different to individual prayer.
Congregational prayer is different to individual prayer because it involves praying with a group of Christian
believers. Sometimes in congregational prayer everyone will say the same prayer out loud, reading from a
service book. Congregational prayer does not focus on praying for the specific needs of each individual.
List the four different types of prayer.
adoration, confession, intercessions and thanksgiving.
Describe what is meant by praying in the Spirit
Praying in the Spirit means to pray an inspired prayer, led by the Holy Spirit.
What is meditation?
Meditation is when a believer focuses, in stillness and often silence, on God.
What is grace?
Grace is a prayer of thanksgiving offered before eating a meal.
What is a pilgrimage?
A pilgrimage is a physical journey with a spiritual significance.
List three places that Christians may go on pilgrimage.
Walsingham, Rome, Jerusalem or Lourdes
What caused Lourdes to become a place of pilgrimage?
A series of visions of God to a 14-year-old girl names Bernadette Soubirous. Then a spring appeared at the site
and was believed to have healing powers.
Why is Jerusalem a significant place to many Christians?
Jerusalem is the place Jesus lived towards the end of his life and it is where he died, was buried and seen alive
after his resurrection. Many Christians want to spend time in the places where Jesus was.
What would a pilgrim visit in Rome?
St Peter’s bones
What is Advent?
Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day and it marks the start of the liturgical year in
Catholic and Anglican churches. It marks the period of waiting for the celebration of Jesus’ birth and for
Parousia.
Give three reasons why Christmas is important to Christians.
it is the celebration of Jesus’ incarnation
it created the way for there to be reconciliation between God and humanity
it gives hope for humanity.
What day starts Holy Week?
Palm Sunday
Describe what is being remembered on Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday remembers Jesus washing the disciples’ feet at the Last Supper, with his command for his
followers to love one another. It is also the time when Jesus established the practice now known as Eucharist.
On which day is there a vigil held and why?
There is a vigil on Easter Saturday evening. It is a time when the wounds of Jesus are recalled.
What is celebrated on Easter Sunday?
Jesus’ resurrection is celebrated on Easter Sunday.
What is the purpose of infant baptism?
Infant baptism welcomes the child into the Christian Church.
What is the link between infant baptism and confirmation?
When a child who has been baptised reaches the age where they can make their own decision about belonging
to the Christian faith, then they choose to be confirmed.
Name two denominations that practise infant baptism
Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican
What denominations practice adult baptism and why?
Baptists will pratice only adult baptism
This is because Jesus was already an adult when he was a baptised, as were many others in the Bible
They were also already believers when baptised.
Beliervrs baptism - when a believer comes to a personal faith in Christ.
State three elements that you would expect to be part of a Christian wedding service.
The exchange of rings, the exchange of vows and the signing of the register are part of a Christian wedding
service.
What is a stefana?
A stefana is the silver crown that is held over the heads of the bride and the groom at an Orthodox wedding. It
represents the royalty of marriage.
What is the purpose of the vows in a Christian wedding service?
Wedding vows are the promises to love and support one another in all circumstances until death.
What is the sipping of wine from the cup symbolic of in an Orthodox wedding service?
Sipping of wine from the cup is a reminder of Jesus’ miracle at Cana when he turned water into wine. It is a
symbol of the shared life that the couple are about to begin.
List the four features of a Christian funeral service.
Bible reading, prayers, eulogy,
sermon in which the minister reminds the mourners about life after death.
Requiem Mass - Catholics almost always perform it. Orthodox (eastern/greek) is the longest part (3hrs). High Anglican services may include it, but usually it doesn’t.
State why prayers for the deceased are especially important in a Roman
Catholic funeral service.
Prayers for the deceased are believed to help a person’s soul move from purgatory to heaven.
What is the purpose of the committal?
The committal is when Christians believe that they are committing the dead person to God’s care.
What is the relationship between marriage and Christ that is explained in Ephesians 5:31–33?
Marriage is an image of Christ and his commitment to the Church. In Ephesians 5, Christ is described as a
groom and the church as his bride.
How may Jesus’ claim in John 11:25 provide comfort to mourners during a funeral service?
Jesus’ claim in John 11:25 leads mourners to understand that after physical death there is an eternal life
awaiting them in heaven.
In what way may Corinthians 15:51 provide mourners at a funeral with a sense of hope?
Corinthians 15:51 may give mourners hope that one day they will be reunited with those who have died before
them and they will go on to live for eternity
What is meant by Missio Dei?
Missio Dei means God’s activity or mission.
What two aims did the WCC identify for Christian mission?
Two aims are the goals of conversion and of reconciliation.
Name a Christian organisation that has a strong tradition of evangelism.
The Salvation Army has a strong tradition of evangelism.
Describe the form of worship most common in churches that have emerged from the house church
movement.
Charismatic worship is the form of worship most common in churches that have emerged from the house
church movement.
What is ecumenism?
Ecumenism is the idea of creating Christian unity as it seeks to unite Christians from different denominations.
What three areas does the World Council of Churches focus on?
visible unity
promoting common witness
engaging in Christian service by meeting human needs.
List three ecumenical communities
Taizé, Iona, Corrymeela are ecumenical communities.
Name one organisation that works to help the persecuted church and summarise what it does.
The Barnabas Fund directs aid to Christians facing persecution and publicises the cases of persecuted
Christians and communicates this to governments. It uses petitions, letter-writing campaigns and constant
prayer for the persecuted.
How does the work of Tearfund reflect Jesus’ teaching in John 13:34–35?
Tearfund reflects Jesus’ teaching as it works to show love to those in poverty around the world. It does this by
working with local partner churches. For example, it has helped communities develop handicraft skills to make
and sell items.
