Worship and the Sacraments (1RA0)

Many ways to worship

Worship is showing devotion and reverence to God. Christians worship in very different ways: some in grand, formal services that have barely changed in centuries, others in spontaneous gatherings full of music and movement. This module covers the main forms of worship and the sacraments, and, just as importantly, why denominations disagree about how to do both. Understanding that disagreement is where the marks are.

Forms of worship

Christians worship in four broad ways:

Which form of worship?

At a Pentecostal service, people pray aloud spontaneously, sing with raised hands and sometimes speak in tongues, with no set order. Which form of worship is this?

• Informal worship
• Liturgical worship
• Individual worship
• Private prayer at home

Set words or free?

Two of the most common forms of Sunday worship sit at opposite ends of a scale.

Match each form of worship to its description

Features of liturgical worship

Select the TWO features of liturgical worship.

• It follows set words and a fixed structure
• It often uses a prayer book such as the Book of Common Prayer
• Prayers are made up spontaneously on the day
• There is no set structure at all

An outward sign of inward grace

A sacrament is often defined as an outward sign of an inward grace, a visible action through which Christians believe God's grace is given. The two that nearly all Christians share are baptism, welcoming a person into the Church and washing away sin, and the Eucharist (also called Holy Communion or Mass), sharing bread and wine in memory of the Last Supper. Denominations disagree about how many sacraments there are and what happens in them.

How many sacraments?

Christians disagree on how many sacraments there are, and even whether to have any.

Complete the practice

Worship that follows a set structure and fixed words is _____, while spontaneous, expressive worship is _____. A sacrament is an outward sign of an inward _____. Welcoming a person into the Church by washing away sin is _____, and sharing bread and wine in memory of the Last Supper is the _____.

What happens at the Eucharist?

Catholics and many Protestants understand the bread and wine of the Eucharist very differently. Which describes the Catholic belief of transubstantiation?

• The bread and wine truly become the body and blood of Christ
• The bread and wine are only symbols that represent Christ
• Nothing happens; it is just an ordinary meal
• Ordinary bread is blessed but never shared out

Spot informal worship

A visitor describes a church service. Tap the TWO features that are typical of informal worship.

• Everyone read the same responses from a prayer book.
• People prayed aloud spontaneously, in their own words.
• The priest followed the set order of the Mass.
• A band led lively songs and some people danced.
• The congregation knelt at the same points as always.

Whose practice is it?

Three Christians describe their beliefs. Match each to the tradition that fits.

• A Christian believes the Eucharist bread truly becomes the body of Christ. Which tradition does this fit?
• A Christian worships with no set words, spontaneously, often speaking in tongues. Which church fits?
• A Christian believes grace is inward and rejects all outward sacraments. Which group fits?

Explain the disagreement

Christians disagree about how many sacraments there are. Explain the different views, and give a reason each group holds its view.

• State how many sacraments Catholics and Orthodox Christians recognise
• State how many Anglicans and most Protestants recognise, and name the two
• Explain why some groups, such as Quakers, use none
• Refer to the idea that a sacrament is an outward sign of inward grace