Christianity: Practices
Map Your Gaps
Card 1 of 13
Swipe right if you know it, left if you don't
✔ Know
✖ Don't know
Liturgical Worship
Liturgical worship follows a set order of service with formal prayers, readings, and rituals. Used by Catholics, Anglicans, and Orthodox Christians. The structure is the same every time.
Valued for its tradition, reverence, and unity — every congregation follows the same service worldwide.
Liturgical Worship — Key Knowledge
- Liturgical worship set order, formal structure
- Mass Catholic liturgical service
- Book of Common Prayer Anglican prayer book
Non-liturgical and Informal Worship
Non-liturgical worship is less structured, focusing on Bible readings and sermons (Baptist, Methodist). Informal worship is spontaneous — singing, speaking in tongues, personal prayer (Charismatic, Quaker).
Some Christians believe the Holy Spirit should lead worship, not a set script.
Non-liturgical and Informal Worship — Key Knowledge
- Non-liturgical worship sermon-focused, flexible
- Informal worship spontaneous, charismatic
- Speaking in tongues charismatic gift of the Holy Spirit
The Lord's Prayer
The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13) is the model prayer taught by Jesus to his disciples. It includes praise, asking for forgiveness, and asking for God's guidance.
Used across almost all Christian denominations. Some Christians also practise contemplative prayer — silent meditation on God's presence.
The Lord's Prayer — Key Knowledge
- The Lord's Prayer Our Father — taught by Jesus
- Set prayer formal, written prayer
- Informal prayer personal, spontaneous
Baptism
A sacrament marking entry into the Christian faith. Infant baptism: parents and godparents make promises; water symbolises washing away original sin. Believers' baptism: adult full immersion as a conscious personal choice.
Key difference: infant baptism is the parents' choice; believers' baptism is the individual's conscious decision.
Baptism — Key Knowledge
- Infant baptism Catholic, Anglican — baby baptised, godparents make promises
- Believers' baptism Baptist — adult full immersion, personal declaration of faith
- Sacrament outward sign of inward grace
Holy Communion / Eucharist
Remembers the Last Supper when Jesus broke bread and shared wine with his disciples. Catholics believe in transubstantiation — the bread and wine literally become the body and blood of Christ. Protestants see it as symbolic remembrance.
Catholics recognise seven sacraments; Protestants typically recognise two (baptism and communion).
Holy Communion / Eucharist — Key Knowledge
- Eucharist/Holy Communion remembrance of the Last Supper
- Transubstantiation Catholic: bread and wine become body and blood of Christ
- Symbolic Protestant: bread and wine represent Christ's sacrifice
Pilgrimage
A journey to a holy place for spiritual renewal, healing, penance, or connection to Christian history. Not compulsory — some Christians argue God is everywhere, so pilgrimage is unnecessary.
Purposes include spiritual renewal, seeking healing, penance, and deepening faith. Jesus himself made pilgrimages to Jerusalem.
Pilgrimage — Key Knowledge
- Lourdes France — site of Marian apparitions, healing, ~6 million visitors/year
- Iona Scotland — ancient Celtic Christian community, spiritual retreat
Christmas
Celebrates the Incarnation — the birth of Jesus. Preceded by Advent (period of preparation). Midnight Mass is a key service. Gift-giving symbolises the Magi bringing gifts to the infant Jesus.
Important, but not the most important Christian festival — Easter holds that place because the Resurrection is central to the faith.
Christmas — Key Knowledge
- Christmas celebration of Jesus's birth
- Advent period of preparation before Christmas
- Midnight Mass Christmas Eve service
Easter
The most important Christian festival. Good Friday remembers the Crucifixion. Easter Sunday celebrates the Resurrection. Services include communion and renewal of baptismal vows.
Easter is more important than Christmas because without the Resurrection, the faith has no foundation.
Easter — Key Knowledge
- Good Friday Crucifixion
- Easter Sunday Resurrection
- Lent 40 days of fasting and reflection before Easter
The Church in the Local Community
Churches serve their communities through food banks, homeless shelters, education (church schools, Sunday schools), pastoral care (visiting the sick, supporting the bereaved), and social activities.
Christians believe serving the community is putting their faith into action, not optional extras.
The Church in the Local Community — Key Knowledge
- Food banks, Pastoral care supporting people in need
- Church schools
Mission and Evangelism
Mission is serving others practically and spiritually. Evangelism is spreading the gospel through preaching, media, or personal testimony. Both are driven by Jesus's Great Commission.
Evangelism means sharing, not forcing. Christians believe the message of salvation can transform lives.
Mission and Evangelism — Key Knowledge
- Mission practical and spiritual service
- Evangelism spreading the gospel
- The Great Commission Matthew 28:19 — "Go and make disciples of all nations"
- Alpha Course introductory course on Christianity
Church Growth and the Worldwide Church
Christianity is the world's largest religion (~2.4 billion). It is growing rapidly in the Global South (Africa, South America, Asia) while declining in parts of Europe. Christians face persecution in some countries.
The ecumenical movement seeks unity, not uniformity — denominations working together while maintaining their own traditions.
Church Growth and the Worldwide Church — Key Knowledge
- Ecumenical movement efforts to unite different Christian denominations
- World Council of Churches, Persecution Christians targeted for their faith in some countries
Bonus — Once You've Nailed the Core Facts
Bonus — Once You've Nailed the Core Facts — Key Knowledge
Context Notes
Context Notes — Key Knowledge
Map your gaps
Christianity: Practices
0%confident
✔
0
0
❓
0
0
✖
0
0