Christianity Practices Flashcards
what is worship
- an act devoted to God to show love and reverence for God
- Most Christians hold acts of worship or services on Sunday every week as a communal show of devotion
what is liturgical worship
- found in the Roman Catholic Orthodox and Church of England (Anglican churches)
- the services follow a liturgy ( a set pattern) usually from a printed book
- The liturgy has an established structure (order) of set prayers and readings with the congregation repeating key phrases
- hymns are sung at set times (hymns vary)
- a sermon is given
- some of the prayers, hymns, bible readings and the sermon differ from service to service
why is liturgical worship good
the ordered nature makes worshippers feel comfortable and part of the process
what is non-liturgical worship
- informal
- follows a pattern/order but the elements are tailored to each service
- Prayers are often in the leader’s own words, the sermon on a topical theme and Bible readings chosen to fit
why is non-liturgical worship good
without set words to worshipper feels it comes more from the heart
what is charismatic worship
- a kind of informal worship
- Evangelical worship is often in this style
- The service has a recognisable characteristics (hymns, prayers, sermon, readings) but is very free-flowing
- Charismatic is ‘spirit-inspired’
- people often speak in tongues or feel the Holy Spirit at work within them
how is the bible used in worship
- the bible is always the focus of any act of worship because it is considered either the ‘word of god’ or ‘inspired by god’
- this can be processed into church, many hymns are based on it, portions are often read out loud and the sermon often explains a BIble passage
discuss private worship
- just as important as public worship for Christians
- can be liturgical, Roman Catholics may say the Angelus (a series of short meditations performed three times a day)
- it can be non-liturgical for example a simple prayer in a time of need
- allows person to feel close to god in the way they want
- a time to be with god, say things from the heart and build a relationship with god
- Believers thread a rosary through their fingers while saying set prayers
- meditation is mainly silent throughout
- could be a reflection on a bible passage or religious truth
- a sense of peace and calm is a key characteristic alternating with hustle and bustle of daily life
what is a rosary
a set of beads on a string with a crucifix at the end
discuss prayer
- talking and listening to god to be open to guidance from the holy spirit
- should include praise, confession, thanks, prayers for others and the self
- Jesus spoke about prayer - humility and honesty are essential
- he stated that an all loving god would always respond to sincere prayers
- outcomes are not always in the way Christians seek but god knows best
- set prayers like the Lord’s prayer are used both publicly and privately
why are prayers importat to worship
- god wants people to worship him
- worship can bring a sense of connection/togetherness with god to a community and/or individual
- it is an eternal expression of internal faith
- through worship people gain a deeper understanding of their religion or their faith in god
- it purifies the worshipper making them spiritually fit for what they do
discuss the Lord’s prayer
- it has praise, confession, thanks and asking god for the things the worshipper and others need so it is a ‘perfect prayer’
- it was given by Jesus so links through the whole history of Christianity
- used in public and private, aloud or silently
- usually part of ll types of worship
- Jesus taught it to his disciples when they asked him ‘Master, how should we pray?’
give two quotes about worship
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up - James 4:10
But the hour is coming and now is when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth for the Father is seeking such to worship him - John 4:23
what are the seven sacraments
BAPTISM confirmation EUCHARIST reconciliation healing marriage ordination
discuss the outward and visible sign of baptism
water and the signing of the cross with the words in the name of the Father, son and holy spirit
discuss the outward and visible sign of confirmation
the laying of the hands by the Bishop
discuss the outward and visible sign of eucharist
bread and wine
discuss the outward and visible sign of reconcilliation
words of forgiveness
discuss the outward and visible sign of healing
anointing and laying on of the hands
discuss the outward and visible sign of marriage
rings
discuss the outward and visible sign of ordination
the laying on of the hands by the Bishop
what is an outward and visible sign of each sacrament
the external and visible sign of an inward spiritual grace
what are three points about the seven sacraments
- the external and visible sign of an inward spiritual grace
- can be experienced with the senses
- has a deeper meaning which is not experienced through the senses
discuss the inward and spiritual grace of baptism
- receiving the holy spirit
- the removal of original sin
- entry into the kingdom of god/the church
discuss the inward and spiritual grace of confirmation
- strengthening/sealing the gifts of the holy spirit in the person
- becoming an adult member of the church
discuss the inward and spiritual grace of eucharist
spiritual feeding with the body and blood of christ
discuss the inward and spiritual grace of reconciliation
- the forgiveness of sins
- rebuilding of bonds
discuss the inward and spiritual grace of healing
- spiritual and sometimes physical healing
- preparation for death
discuss the inward and spiritual grace of marriage
the endless love between the couple
discuss the inward and spiritual grace of ordination
the special gifts of the holy spirit needed by a deacon or priest
which two sacraments do Protestants recognise
- baptism and eucharist
- known as the gospel sacraments because they were authorised by Jesus and there are many references to their use in much of the New Testament
what denominations recognise all seven sacraments
Roman Catholics
Orthodox Christians
some Anglicans
all of which are implied through Jesus in the early church
what is the importance of the sacraments
- god imparts gifts through the sacraments
- they are offered at appropriate times in a person’s life like rites of passage - baptism, confirmation and marriage
- in eucharist the bread and wine unites Christians with the risen christ
- reconciliation helps Christians realise what they have done wrong, show penitence and then receive forgiveness through the Priest’s words
- healing can be given during a long illness or when close to death to give strength and peace of mind
- Ordination separates those who devote their lives to god in the priesthood giving them gifts to carry out this role
why do some Christians not believe in the sacraments
- Quakers and members of the salvation army reject all seven because no direct reference is made to all seven in the bible
- they believe Jesus did not intend either baptism or his words and actions over the bread and wine at the last supper to become prescribed rituals
- they believe god speaks directly to the believer’s heart so there is no need of any form of ‘go-between’ and that symbols and ritual distract from true religion
discuss baptism in terms of John
- John the baptist was the first Jew to use baptism to symbolise the forgiveness of sins
- this prepared for a new way of life with the coming of the Messiah (Jesus)
- Jesus was baptised by john and experienced the Holy Spirit entering his life
- Jesus’ last instructions were ‘to baptise them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit’ (Matthew 28:18-19)
- Baptism welcomes a person into the Christian community
why are baptism ceremonies important
- christians feel they are doing what Jesus did so it connects them to him
- it welcomes a person into the christian church
- baptism removes sin
- it enables spiritual growth
discuss infant baptism
- actual ceremonies differ from one christian group to the next but all services have core similarities
key elements used by Roman Catholics, Orthodox and the Church of England are:
- baptism of a baby
- use of holy water (blessed) from the font and poured three times over the forehead
- the sign of the cross made on the forehead in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit
many baptism services also include promises made by parents/godparents on behalf of the child to reject evil, repent sins and turn to christ;
the lighting of the paschal candle symbolising receiving the light of Christ
use of holy oils to symbolise strengths (to fight evil) and salvation
readings and prayers
discuss believers baptism
- ceremony for older children and adults
- takes place in a baptistery
- the central rituals are the use of water and the Trinitarian formula (Father, son, holy spirit)
- the subject testifies to why they seek baptism then declares the repentance of sin and their intention to follow a Christ-centred life avoiding evil
- walking down three steps symbolises the end of the old life of sin
- then there are three full submersions in the name of the trinity
- the person then leaves by three other steps to start a new life as a Christian
what are the arguments in support of infant baptism
- natural for parents to want to bring their child into the Christian faith
- gifts of the holy spirit to allow the child to grow up strong in God’s love
- enables the child to receive the other sacraments
- brings comfort to the family of an ill child that if it dies it will be with god
- removes original sin and purifies the child
what are the arguments in support of believer’s baptism
- only those old enough to understand should take this step as they should be able to make their own promises
- a child might grow up to resent the promises made for them so they need to decide for themselves
- Jesus was an adult when baptised
- God’s love is not dependent on human actions so baptism is unnecessary
- how can an innocent child even have sin to remove