Christianity: Practices

What you'll learn

This revision guide covers the essential Christian practices you need for WJEC GCSE Religious Education. You'll explore how Christians express their faith through worship, sacraments, prayer, pilgrimage and celebration of festivals. Understanding these practices is crucial for demonstrating knowledge of lived Christianity in your exam.

Key terms and definitions

Liturgical worship — Structured form of worship following a set pattern, such as the Catholic Mass or Anglican Communion service, often using formal written prayers and rituals

Non-liturgical worship — Less formal worship without a fixed structure, common in Evangelical and Pentecostal churches, where services are spontaneous and Spirit-led

Sacrament — An outward sign of an inward blessing; a religious ceremony believed to convey God's grace to believers

Eucharist — Also called Holy Communion or the Lord's Supper; the sacrament commemorating Jesus's Last Supper using bread and wine

Baptism — The sacrament of initiation into the Christian Church using water to symbolise purification from sin and entry into God's family

Pilgrimage — A journey to a sacred place undertaken for spiritual purposes and religious devotion

Evangelism — Spreading the Christian gospel through preaching and personal witness to convert others to faith

Reconciliation — The sacrament of confession and forgiveness (primarily Catholic), where sins are confessed to a priest and absolution is granted

Core concepts

Worship

Christian worship takes different forms depending on denomination and tradition.

Liturgical worship is central to Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican traditions. The structure follows established patterns:

• Set prayers and responses from service books
• Reading from a lectionary (organised system of Bible readings)
• Regular celebration of the Eucharist
• Use of symbolic actions like making the sign of the cross
• Formal vestments worn by clergy

Advantages include providing a sense of tradition, unity with Christians worldwide, and ensuring biblical teaching is covered systematically.

Non-liturgical worship is preferred by many Protestant churches, particularly Baptists, Pentecostals and independent congregations:

• Spontaneous prayers led by ministers or congregation members
• Contemporary worship songs and music
• Extended sermon focusing on biblical teaching
• Emphasis on personal encounter with God
• Freedom to respond to the Holy Spirit's leading

This style allows flexibility and personal expression but requires confident leadership to maintain focus.

Informal worship in charismatic churches includes speaking in tongues, prophecy, healing ministry and raising hands in praise. Quaker worship involves silent waiting on God with members speaking when moved by the Spirit.

Private worship occurs individually through personal prayer, Bible reading and meditation. Many Christians maintain daily devotions using resources like prayer journals or Bible reading plans.

Sacraments

Different Christian traditions recognise different numbers of sacraments.

Baptism is practiced by virtually all denominations as the rite of entry into the Church:

Infant baptism (paedobaptism):

• Practiced by Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans and many Protestants
• Parents and godparents make promises on behalf of the child
• Water is sprinkled or poured on the baby's head
• Based on belief that baptism removes original sin
• Welcomes children into God's family from birth
• Later confirmed when old enough to affirm faith personally

Believers' baptism:

• Practiced by Baptists, Pentecostals and many Evangelical churches
• Only administered to those old enough to make personal faith commitment
• Full immersion in water symbolising death to old life and resurrection to new
• Based on New Testament examples of adult baptism
• Emphasises personal decision rather than parents' faith
• Public declaration of conversion and commitment

The Eucharist is central to Christian worship but understood differently:

Catholic and Orthodox view (transubstantiation):

• Bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Christ
• Priest consecrates elements during Mass
• Re-presents Christ's sacrifice on the cross
• Only the consecrated host may be received by lay people in some Catholic contexts

Protestant view (memorial or symbolic):

• Bread and wine remain symbols representing Christ's body and blood
• Commemorates Jesus's Last Supper
• Reminds believers of Christ's sacrifice
• All baptised believers may participate

Catholics recognise seven sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Marriage, Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick. Most Protestants recognise only Baptism and Eucharist as sacraments commanded by Jesus.

Prayer

Prayer is communication with God and takes various forms.

Types of prayer:

• Adoration — Praising God for who He is
• Confession — Admitting sins and asking forgiveness
• Thanksgiving — Expressing gratitude for blessings
• Supplication — Making requests for self and others (intercession)

The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) is the model prayer taught by Jesus, used across all Christian traditions. It includes elements of praise, submission to God's will, requests for daily needs, confession and protection from evil.

Set prayers like the Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary (Catholic) or collects provide tested forms of words that unite Christians and ensure doctrinally sound content.

Informal/extemporary prayer allows personal expression and specific situations to be addressed spontaneously. Pentecostals particularly value praying "in the Spirit."

Contemplative prayer involves silent meditation and awareness of God's presence, practiced especially by monks and nuns but increasingly valued by lay Christians seeking deeper spirituality.

Prayer occurs privately (personal devotion), in families (grace before meals, bedtime prayers) and corporately (church services, prayer meetings).

Pilgrimage

Christians undertake pilgrimage to deepen faith, seek healing or give thanks.

Lourdes (France):

• Site where Mary reportedly appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858
• Famous for spring water believed to have healing properties
• Over 6 million visitors annually, many seriously ill
• Pilgrims participate in torchlight processions and Mass
• Organised by groups like HCPT (Handicapped Children's Pilgrimage Trust)

Iona (Scotland):

• Island where St Columba established monastery in 563 CE
• Associated with Celtic Christianity and evangelisation of Scotland
• Modern ecumenical community founded by George MacLeod in 1938
• Attracts those seeking peace, spiritual renewal and simple worship
• Less emphasis on miracles, more on reflection and community

The Holy Land (Israel/Palestine):

• Walk where Jesus walked — Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Galilee
• Visit sites like Church of the Holy Sepulchre (crucifixion/resurrection)
• Particular significance for Evangelical Christians wanting biblical connection
• Challenges include political tensions and commercialisation

Arguments supporting pilgrimage:

• Deepens faith through physical journey mirroring spiritual journey
• Provides dedicated time away from daily distractions
• Creates sense of global Christian community
• Biblical precedent (Jesus visited Jerusalem for festivals)
• Opportunity for healing and answered prayer

Arguments questioning pilgrimage:

• God is present everywhere, not only in special places
• Can become superstitious (believing locations have magical power)
• Expensive when money could help the poor
• Risk of treating it as "religious tourism"
• Faith should be lived daily, not only on special trips

Festivals

Christian festivals celebrate key events in Jesus's life and the Church calendar.

Christmas (25 December):

• Celebrates Jesus's birth (Incarnation)
• Preceded by Advent (four weeks of preparation)
• Worship focuses on nativity accounts from Matthew and Luke
• Midnight Mass, carol services, crib scenes in churches
• Increasingly secularised with commercial emphasis on gifts
• Christians emphasise Jesus as God's gift to humanity

Easter (March/April — date varies):

• Celebrates Jesus's resurrection from death
• Most important Christian festival
• Holy Week includes Palm Sunday (triumphal entry), Maundy Thursday (Last Supper), Good Friday (crucifixion)
• Easter Sunday services celebrate resurrection with joy
• Symbols include cross, empty tomb, Easter candle
• Followed by Ascension (40 days) and Pentecost (50 days)

The resurrection is central to Christian faith because:

• Proves Jesus was who he claimed to be (Son of God)
• Defeats death and offers eternal life to believers
• Fulfils Old Testament prophecies
• Demonstrates God's power and love
• Provides hope beyond suffering

Mission and evangelism

Christians believe they have responsibility to share faith and serve others.

The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) commands disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations," which Christians interpret as ongoing duty to evangelise.

Methods of evangelism:

• Personal witness — Sharing testimony of faith with friends, family, colleagues
• Street evangelism — Open-air preaching, distributing literature
• Alpha courses — Informal exploration of Christianity over meals
• Church events — Guest services, holiday clubs for children
• Media — Christian TV, radio, websites, social media

Church growth occurs through evangelism and by making churches welcoming, relevant and spiritually vibrant. Some churches focus on attracting seekers through contemporary worship and practical teaching.

Social action and justice: Christian mission includes practical care, not only words:

• Foodbanks for those facing poverty
• Night shelters for homeless people
• Campaigning against injustice (human trafficking, persecution)
• Overseas development work through charities like Christian Aid, Tearfund
• Believing faith must produce action (James 2:14-17)

Reconciliation and persecution: Christians are called to be peacemakers and love enemies, following Jesus's example. This includes working for reconciliation in conflicts and supporting persecuted Christians worldwide. Some debate whether converting people from other faiths shows disrespect, while others see it as sharing good news they believe is universally true.

The role of the Church in the local community

Churches serve communities in practical ways:

• Running parent-toddler groups, youth clubs, lunch clubs for elderly
• Providing space for community activities
• Offering counselling and debt advice
• Supporting those in crisis through foodbanks and emergency aid
• Celebrating life events (baptisms, weddings, funerals) for community members

Street Pastors patrol towns and cities on weekend nights, caring for vulnerable people, providing flip-flops to those in unsuitable shoes, helping people get home safely and supporting police in reducing crime and anti-social behaviour.

Trussel Trust operates foodbanks across the UK, coordinated through local churches, providing emergency food parcels to those referred by professionals. This demonstrates Christian concern for the poor and reflects Jesus's teaching about feeding the hungry.

Worked examples

Example 1: "Explain why baptism is important to Christians." [5 marks]

Answer: Baptism is important because it marks entry into the Christian Church and the family of God. When someone is baptised, they are publicly identifying with Jesus's death and resurrection, particularly in believers' baptism where full immersion symbolises dying to the old life and rising to new life in Christ.

Catholics believe baptism removes original sin, which is why they baptise infants to ensure children are cleansed and welcomed into God's grace from the earliest opportunity. The parents and godparents make promises to raise the child in the faith.

Baptism also obeys Jesus's command in the Great Commission to baptise disciples in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, so Christians see it as fulfilling Jesus's instructions. It creates a permanent spiritual mark and is a sacrament conveying God's grace to the believer.

Mark scheme notes: This answer provides multiple developed points explaining significance, uses correct terminology (original sin, sacrament, Great Commission), and demonstrates understanding of different traditions.

Example 2: "To what extent is pilgrimage important for Christians today?" [15 marks]

Answer structure:

Introduction: Define pilgrimage and note different Christian views.

Arguments for importance:

• Lourdes demonstrates importance through 6 million annual visitors seeking healing and spiritual renewal
• Provides dedicated time away from distractions to focus on God
• Creates sense of belonging to worldwide Christian community
• Biblical precedent of Jesus visiting Jerusalem
• Personal testimonies of transformed faith

Arguments against/limiting importance:

• God is omnipresent, so no place is more holy than another
• Can become commercialised tourism rather than genuine devotion
• Money spent could help the poor directly
• Many Christians deepen faith without pilgrimage through local worship and service
• Protestant emphasis on personal relationship with God anywhere

Evaluation and conclusion: While pilgrimage remains meaningful for many Christians, particularly Catholics, it is not essential for Christian life. The spiritual journey matters more than physical travel, though for some people, pilgrimage provides valuable catalyst for growth.

Mark scheme notes: 15-mark questions require balanced evaluation with multiple developed arguments, specific examples, and clear personal conclusion with reasoning.

Example 3: "Describe how Christians celebrate Easter." [5 marks]

Answer: Christians celebrate Easter as the most important festival because it commemorates Jesus's resurrection from death. During Holy Week, churches hold special services including Palm Sunday processions re-enacting Jesus's entry to Jerusalem, and Maundy Thursday communion services remembering the Last Supper.

Good Friday is solemn, with services reflecting on Jesus's crucifixion, sometimes including walking the Stations of the Cross. Churches may be stripped bare and crosses covered in black.

Easter Sunday services are joyful celebrations with flowers, alleluias, and proclamation that "Christ is risen!" Many churches hold sunrise services at dawn symbolising the empty tomb being discovered early in the morning. The Easter candle is lit, representing Christ as the light of the world who has conquered death.

Mark scheme notes: Descriptive answers should include specific accurate details, showing knowledge of practices across the Easter period, not just Easter Sunday.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Confusing different types of worship: Be specific about whether you're discussing liturgical, non-liturgical, or informal worship, and which denominations practice each. Don't claim all Christians worship the same way.

• Treating all Christians as identical: Remember Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants have different beliefs about sacraments (seven versus two), and Protestants themselves vary widely (Baptists differ from Anglicans). Always specify which tradition you're discussing.

• Describing festivals without explaining significance: Don't just narrate what happens at Christmas or Easter — explain why these events matter theologically (Incarnation, Atonement, Resurrection) and how they affect Christian belief.

• Weak evaluation in extended answers: For 15-mark questions, avoid simply listing points for and against. Develop arguments with examples, connect ideas, and provide a reasoned conclusion that weighs up the arguments.

• Vague references to "the Bible says": Use specific examples (the Great Commission, the Lord's Prayer, Jesus's baptism) rather than generic references. This demonstrates genuine knowledge.

• Ignoring the question focus: If asked about importance "today" or "in the modern world," include contemporary examples and current issues, not just historical information.

Exam technique for "Christianity: Practices"

• Command words matter: "Describe" requires factual detail without explanation. "Explain" requires reasons and development showing understanding. "To what extent" or "Evaluate" requires balanced argument with conclusion.

• Use PEEL for longer answers: Make a Point, provide Evidence (example/teaching), Explain how it connects to the question, Link to the next point or back to the question.

• Allocate time by marks: Roughly one mark per minute. A 5-mark question needs about 5 minutes with developed points. A 15-mark question needs substantial time for balanced evaluation.

• Include specialist terminology: Use terms like liturgical, sacrament, transubstantiation, evangelism correctly to demonstrate knowledge and access higher marks.

Quick revision summary

Christian practices express faith through worship (liturgical in traditional churches, non-liturgical in Evangelical contexts), sacraments (particularly baptism and Eucharist, understood differently by Catholics and Protestants), various forms of prayer (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication), and festivals celebrating Jesus's birth and resurrection. Pilgrimage to places like Lourdes deepens faith for some, though others question its necessity. Mission involves evangelism and social action, demonstrating Christian love through words and deeds. Churches serve local communities practically through foodbanks, youth work and pastoral care.