Christianity: Practices

What you'll learn

This revision guide covers all testable content on Christian practices for AQA GCSE Religious Studies. You'll explore how Christians express their faith through worship, sacraments, prayer, pilgrimage and festivals, with clear explanations of differences between denominations. The guide includes exam-style questions with model answers to help you achieve top grades.

Key terms and definitions

Sacrament — an outward sign of an inward blessing; a holy ceremony where God's grace is received (seven in Catholic/Orthodox traditions, two in most Protestant churches)

Liturgical worship — a structured form of worship following a set pattern, often using a service book like the Book of Common Prayer

Evangelism — spreading the Christian gospel through preaching, mission work or personal testimony to convert others to Christianity

Pilgrimage — a journey to a place of religious significance, undertaken for spiritual growth and to demonstrate devotion

Reconciliation — the sacrament of confession and forgiveness; restoring the relationship between a sinner and God (also called Penance)

Ecumenism — the movement promoting unity and cooperation between different Christian denominations

Charismatic worship — spontaneous, Spirit-led worship emphasizing personal experience of the Holy Spirit through gifts like speaking in tongues

Mission — the calling to share Christian teachings and serve others, both locally and globally, following Jesus' example

Core concepts

Worship

Christian worship takes various forms across denominations, each reflecting different theological emphases and traditions.

Liturgical worship is practised by Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican churches. Services follow set patterns with prescribed readings, prayers and responses. The Eucharist forms the central act of worship. Worshippers use books like the Roman Missal or Book of Common Prayer. Benefits include:

• Connects worshippers with Christians across time and space using traditional forms
• Ensures Bible readings cover the whole scripture systematically
• Provides structure that helps people focus on God rather than planning worship

Non-liturgical worship is common in Baptist, Methodist and other Protestant churches. While there's a general structure, ministers have freedom to plan services differently each week. This allows:

• Flexibility to respond to congregation's current needs
• Services tailored to specific occasions or themes
• Greater variety in hymns, prayers and teaching content

Informal/charismatic worship emphasizes spontaneity and personal experience of the Holy Spirit. Found in Pentecostal and some evangelical churches, features include:

• Contemporary worship music with bands rather than organs
• Speaking in tongues and prophecy
• Raising hands, dancing or kneeling during worship
• Emphasis on emotional connection with God

Private worship involves individual prayer, Bible reading and meditation. Christians pray at home, perhaps using devotional books or apps. Many follow daily prayer patterns like Morning and Evening Prayer. Private worship strengthens personal relationship with God and provides spiritual nourishment between communal services.

Sacraments

Sacraments are physical acts with spiritual meaning. Different traditions recognize different numbers.

Baptism welcomes people into the Church and washes away original sin. Two main approaches exist:

Infant baptism (Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Methodist):

• Parents and godparents make promises on the child's behalf
• Water is poured over the baby's head three times
• The child is welcomed into the Christian community
• Parents commit to raising the child in the faith
• Later confirmed when old enough to affirm faith personally

Believers' baptism (Baptist, Pentecostal):

• Only those old enough to choose Christianity for themselves
• Full immersion in water symbolizes dying to sin and rising to new life
• Public declaration of personal faith
• Reflects Jesus' adult baptism in the Jordan River

Biblical basis: Matthew 28:19 — "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

Holy Communion/Eucharist commemorates Jesus' Last Supper. Christians receive bread and wine representing Jesus' body and blood. Interpretations vary:

• Catholic transubstantiation: bread and wine literally become Christ's body and blood
• Anglican consubstantiation: Christ is truly present alongside the bread and wine
• Protestant memorial view: symbolic remembrance of Christ's sacrifice

Communion strengthens faith, creates unity among believers, and provides spiritual nourishment. Most churches celebrate it weekly or monthly.

Catholic and Orthodox churches recognize five additional sacraments: Confirmation, Reconciliation, Marriage, Holy Orders (ordination), and Anointing of the Sick.

Prayer

Prayer is communication with God, taking multiple forms in Christian practice.

Types of prayer:

• Adoration: praising God's nature and greatness
• Confession: admitting sins and asking forgiveness
• Thanksgiving: expressing gratitude for God's blessings
• Supplication: requesting help for oneself and others (intercession)

The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) is Christianity's most important prayer. Jesus taught it to his disciples as a model. It includes praise ("hallowed be your name"), submission to God's will ("your kingdom come"), requests for daily needs ("give us today our daily bread"), and petitions for forgiveness and protection from evil.

Set prayers use traditional words (like the Lord's Prayer or Hail Mary). Benefits include:

• Tested by generations of Christians
• Unite believers using common words
• Helpful when struggling to find own words

Informal prayers use spontaneous, personal language. These allow:

• Direct, honest expression of feelings
• Prayers specific to immediate situations
• Natural conversation with God

Many Christians combine both approaches, using set prayers as frameworks while adding personal requests.

Pilgrimage

Pilgrimage involves travelling to sacred sites for spiritual purposes. While not obligatory, many Christians find it spiritually beneficial.

Lourdes, France:

• Site where Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858
• Spring water believed to have healing properties
• Attracts sick pilgrims seeking physical or spiritual healing
• Over 5 million visitors annually
• Activities include bathing in the baths, attending Mass at the Grotto, candlelit processions

Iona, Scotland:

• Island where St Columba established a monastery in 563 CE
• Centre of Celtic Christianity
• Iona Community promotes peace, social justice and ecumenism
• Pilgrims seek peace, reflection and spiritual renewal
• Simpler, contemplative atmosphere than Lourdes

Benefits of pilgrimage:

• Strengthens faith through focused spiritual time
• Healing (physical or emotional)
• Community with other believers
• Following in footsteps of saints or Jesus himself (Holy Land pilgrimages)
• Time away from daily distractions for prayer and reflection

Alternative view: Some Christians question pilgrimage, arguing God is equally present everywhere. They suggest money spent on pilgrimage could better serve the poor. Protestant reformers historically rejected pilgrimages as works-based righteousness rather than faith-based salvation.

Christian festivals

Festivals celebrate key events in Christian history, particularly Jesus' life.

Christmas (25 December):

• Celebrates Jesus' birth in Bethlehem
• Theological significance: the Incarnation — God becoming human
• Practices: Advent preparation, carol services, Nativity plays, Midnight Mass, gift-giving
• Symbols: Christingle (orange represents world, candle represents Christ as light), Nativity scenes, Christmas tree
• Challenges commercialization that obscures religious meaning

Easter (March/April):

• Celebrates Jesus' resurrection, Christianity's most important festival
• Holy Week: Palm Sunday (triumphal entry), Maundy Thursday (Last Supper), Good Friday (crucifixion)
• Easter Sunday: resurrection; victory over sin and death
• Practices: Stations of the Cross, hot cross buns, Easter eggs (symbolizing new life), sunrise services
• Provides hope of eternal life for believers

Significance of festivals:

• Remember and celebrate salvation history
• Bring Christian community together
• Teach faith to children through symbols and stories
• Renew commitment to Christian life
• Demonstrate faith publicly in increasingly secular society

The role of the Church in the local community

Churches serve both spiritual and practical needs.

Mission and evangelism:

• Food banks providing emergency supplies to families in poverty
• Street pastors supporting vulnerable people on weekend nights in town centres
• Parent and toddler groups offering support and community
• Debt counselling services helping people manage finances
• Youth clubs providing safe spaces for teenagers
• Mission trips to support development projects overseas

Biblical basis: Matthew 25:35-40 teaches that serving "the least of these" is serving Jesus himself. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) commands Christians to make disciples of all nations.

Importance of mission:

• Demonstrates Jesus' love through action, not just words
• Addresses social problems like poverty and loneliness
• Provides practical help while sharing Christian hope
• Fulfills Jesus' command to love one's neighbour
• Challenges injustice and supports marginalized groups

Persecution: Christians face persecution in various countries for their faith. Churches respond through:

• Prayer for persecuted believers
• Supporting charities like Open Doors and Release International
• Raising awareness of religious freedom violations
• Advocating with governments for policy change
• Providing aid to refugees fleeing religious persecution

The worldwide Church

Christianity is the world's largest religion, present on every continent with approximately 2.4 billion adherents.

Reconciliation and ecumenism: Different denominations seek unity despite theological differences. Examples include:

• Churches Together networks bringing local congregations into cooperation
• Joint services during Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
• Shared community projects and food banks
• Ecumenical councils like the World Council of Churches

Different Christian traditions working together can:

• Present a unified witness in increasingly secular societies
• Pool resources for more effective mission and service
• Heal historical divisions that contradict Jesus' prayer for unity (John 17:21)
• Learn from each other's strengths and traditions

Challenges to unity:

• Theological disagreements (nature of communion, women's ordination, same-sex relationships)
• Different worship styles that some find uncomfortable
• Historical conflicts and suspicions between traditions
• Questions about authority and which church practices are essential

Worked examples

Example 1: "Explain two ways Christians worship." (4 marks)

Model answer:

One way Christians worship is through liturgical worship (1 mark). This involves following a set service with prescribed prayers and Bible readings, such as Catholics celebrating Mass using the Roman Missal, which helps connect worshippers with Christians throughout history (1 mark for development).

Another way is through charismatic worship (1 mark). This spontaneous, Spirit-led worship includes contemporary music, speaking in tongues and physical expressions like raising hands, allowing worshippers to experience God personally and emotionally (1 mark for development).

Example 2: "Explain two reasons why pilgrimage is important for Christians." (4 marks)

Model answer:

One reason pilgrimage is important is that it provides spiritual healing and renewal (1 mark). For example, pilgrims to Lourdes may experience physical healing through the spring water, or more commonly, find emotional and spiritual healing through focused prayer time away from daily distractions (1 mark for development).

Another reason is that pilgrimage strengthens faith through community (1 mark). Travelling with other Christians to sacred sites like Iona creates bonds with fellow believers and allows pilgrims to share their faith journey, encouraging one another and feeling part of the global Church (1 mark for development).

Example 3: "Baptism is the most important sacrament." Evaluate this statement. (12 marks)

Model answer structure:

Arguments supporting (4-5 marks):

• Baptism is essential for church membership and salvation in many traditions
• Jesus commanded it in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19)
• Removes original sin and brings person into relationship with God
• Only performed once, marking permanent change in status
• Required before receiving other sacraments in Catholic tradition

Arguments against (4-5 marks):

• Holy Communion is celebrated repeatedly, maintaining ongoing relationship with Christ
• Eucharist commanded by Jesus at Last Supper: "Do this in remembrance of me"
• Communion provides regular spiritual nourishment, not just one-time initiation
• Central to most Christian services, suggesting primary importance
• Makes present Christ's sacrifice, the foundation of salvation

Evaluation and conclusion (2-3 marks): While baptism is essential for beginning Christian life, Holy Communion could be considered more important because it sustains that life repeatedly. However, Catholics might argue baptism is more fundamental as it's required before other sacraments. Ultimately, both sacraments serve different crucial purposes: baptism for initiation and Communion for ongoing nourishment, making comparison difficult. Personal perspective may depend on denominational background and whether one values the transformative moment of entry or continuous sustenance of faith.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Confusing denominations: Don't claim all Christians practice infant baptism or recognize seven sacraments. Always specify which tradition you're discussing (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Baptist, etc.).

• Vague statements about prayer: Avoid writing "Christians pray to talk to God" without development. Specify types of prayer (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication) and explain purposes with examples.

• Underdeveloped evaluation answers: In 12-mark questions, don't just list points. Develop each argument fully with examples, quotations or theological reasoning. Always include a reasoned conclusion that engages with both sides.

• Ignoring the question focus: If asked about "importance," explain why something matters to Christians, not just what they do. If asked about "differences," don't write only about one tradition.

• Omitting biblical references: Strengthen answers with specific quotations or references (Matthew 28:19 for baptism, Matthew 6:9-13 for Lord's Prayer, Matthew 25:35-40 for serving others).

• Writing narratives instead of explanations: Don't just tell the story of what happens at baptism. Explain the significance and meaning for Christians' faith and relationship with God.

Exam technique for "Christianity: Practices"

• Command words matter: "Outline" (1 mark) needs a basic point. "Explain" (4-5 marks) requires developed reasoning with examples. "Evaluate" (12 marks) demands arguments for multiple viewpoints plus reasoned judgment.

• Use PEEL for 5-mark questions: Point (make your claim), Evidence (biblical quote or example), Explain (why this matters), Link (connect back to the question). This ensures full development of ideas.

• Structure 12-mark evaluations clearly: Write 2-3 developed arguments supporting the statement, then 2-3 developed arguments challenging it, then a conclusion weighing both sides. Use paragraphs to separate different positions.

• Demonstrate knowledge of Christianity specifically: Don't write generic religious statements. Use correct Christian terminology (sacraments, Eucharist, liturgical worship) and reference different denominational practices to show detailed understanding.

Quick revision summary

Christianity: Practices covers how Christians express faith through worship (liturgical, non-liturgical, charismatic), sacraments (baptism and Holy Communion are universal; Catholics recognize seven), prayer (set and informal, including the Lord's Prayer), pilgrimage (e.g., Lourdes, Iona), and festivals (Christmas celebrating Incarnation, Easter celebrating Resurrection). Churches serve communities through mission and evangelism, providing practical help like food banks while sharing the gospel. Different denominations seek reconciliation through ecumenism despite theological differences. Understanding denominational diversity is essential for exam success.