Types of Christian Worship (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B): Revision Note
Exam code: 1RB0
Liturgical & Non-liturgical Worship
Christian Worship
Worship in Christianity is when Christians show respect and appreciation towards God
Worship can take many different forms including prayer, Holy Communion or collective worship
Worship can take the form of ‘reverence’ for God and ‘paying homage’ to God
For example, worship as reverence could relate to certain parts of scripture
‘Every knee shall bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God’(Romans 14: 11)
‘You shall revere your God; I am the Lord’(Leviticus 19: 32)
Worship as ‘paying homage’ could relate to other parts of scripture,
‘Hallowed be your name’ (Matthew 6: 9)
‘How great thou art’ (Psalm 145:1-3)
‘How marvellous are your works oh Lord’(Revelation 15: 3)
Liturgical and Non-Liturgical Worship
Worship can be in the form of liturgical or non-liturgical worship
Liturgical worship is when Christians worship according to a set pattern and on a regular basis
This is often the preferred style of worship for Catholics and Anglicans
Non-liturgical worship is less formal and does not always follow a set pattern
This is often the preferred style of Methodists and Pentecostalists
Liturgical Worship | Non-Liturgical Worship |
Clergy (ordained priests, vicars etc) play an important and central role in worship | Ministers may play a less prominent role and may allow others to lead / preach as part of a rota |
Prayers are usually read from a book, e.g. Book of Common Prayer or Common Worship for Anglicans | Extempore prayers are used (made up on the spot rather than from a book) |
Looks the same in different churches that belong to the same congregation | No set pattern or theme and varies from church to church |
Full of signs and symbols | More Bible-centred, stripped back to the ‘basics’ |
Ordered, structured and follows the same pattern as part of a tradition | Re-invents itself to suit the congregation following the direction of the Holy Spirit. Someone decides readings / themes etc |
Divergent Christian Attitudes to Worship Practices
Different Christian Attitudes to Worship
Different Christian denominations worship in different ways with some taking a liturgical approach and others a less rigid and traditional approach
Liturgical: | Non-Liturgical: | Non-Liturgical: Charismatic | Non-Liturgical: Quaker Meeting |
The altar is the focal point of the church as the Mass (Holy Communion) The Mass is the most important part of the service and takes place every week The church is decorated in liturgical colours, e.g. red for Saints Day. Lots of statues and paintings of Jesus, Virgin Mary, saints A crucifix is present which is a cross with Jesus on it (emphasising the suffering of Jesus) | The pulpit is the focal point of the church as there is greater emphasis on the Bible as the inspired Word of God Bible Readings and the sermon (which is longer) is the most important part of the service A simple building with no statues so as not to distract from listening to God’s Word Communion takes place once a month at a simple table Cross (empty) which puts emphasis on the risen Jesus who has conquered death | As well as Pentecostal churches, some Protestant and Roman Catholic churches worship in a charismatic way They believe Christians should be free to worship how the Holy Spirit leads them Services often include speaking in tongues (praying and speaking in a heavenly language). It usually happens when someone is experiencing the Holy Spirit during worship Services can also contain prophecies and healing | Takes place in meeting houses, not churches (these are simple buildings or rooms) A meeting begins when two or more worshippers come together to be in the presence of God They usually sit facing each other in a square or a circle Quakers sit together in silence. They believe stillness gives them space and time to listen and reflect and seek a sense of connection with those around them, with their deepest selves and with God |
The Significance of Worship in Christian Life Today
Worship in Christian Life Today
Worship is very important to Christians in the modern world for many reasons:
Worship provides a chance to express love and honour to God
It creates a sense of unity among believers
It offers personal spiritual growth and strengthens faith
It’s a means of receiving guidance from scripture and spiritual leaders
An expression of their faith in God
Allows them to see and receive forgiveness
Opportunity to connect with God allows them to grow spiritually
Worship for Christians can take place both privately and communally
Private worship can take many different forms:
On their own, at home or elsewhere
Meditation or reading
Interpreting passages from the Bible
Silent prayer to God about a personal concern
Expressing thanks to God
Can develop a personal relationship with God
Communal Worship also known as collective worship takes place together as a group
Mostly takes place on a Sunday and in a church
Can also take place in a variety of places e.g. home, community centre, church etc
Can be liturgical, which is formal, public worship
Can be non-liturgical, which is informal private worship
Worked Example
Explain two ways in which Christians worship
(4 marks)
Answer:
Christians could worship communally as part of a group. For example, Roman Catholics meeting on a Sunday for a formal liturgical service (2 marks)
Christians can also worship privately. For example, a Christian may want to pray to God because of something that is personal to them which may strengthen their relationship with God (2 marks)
Examiner Tips and Tricks
If you have not had the opportunity to do this already, watch a video clip of a liturgical and non-liturgical service to get an idea of the difference between the two. This will help you to describe how the services differ when responding to questions about different types of Christian worship
Events like ‘speaking in tongues’ are helpful to see visually to understand how this could be significant to those involved
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