S16 E7: The One About GCSE RE Christian Practice - Prayer, Worship and Sacraments (Baptism and Holy Communion)

This episode is sponsored by Reimagining Education https://reimaginingeducation.uk/

Over the summer, I recorded a series of episodes to support GCSE RE - specifically AQA Islam and Christianity.  Suppose you are a student of GCSE RE, or a teacher of GCSE RE who is new to teaching GCSE, or new to AQA, or you are a teacher from another subject teaching GCSE for the first time. In that case, I hope these episodes are beneficial to you in consolidating your learning, preparing for exams if you are a student, or helping you feel more confident if you are a teacher.

The first episode provided an overview of Paper 1 - Religious Beliefs and Practices, covering the exam structure, how to approach the various question types, and offering some top tips for the exam. Each subsequent episode has provided an overview of the main content and apply it to key exam questions. Over the last few weeks I released episodes on The Nature of God, the oneness of God and the Trinity, different Christian beliefs about creation including the role of Word and Spirit (John 1:1-3 and Genesis 1:1-3), Jesus' incarnation crucifixion resurrection ascension, then last weeks episode focussed on Beliefs and teachings about sin, including original sin, the means of salvation, including law, grace and Spirit, and the role of Christ in salvation including the idea of atonement, the problem of evil and suffering and different Christian beliefs about the afterlife and their importance, including: resurrection and life after death; judgement, heaven and hell.

This is the FIRST episode in our series on Christian Practices. 

• Different forms of worship and their significance:

• liturgical, non-liturgical and informal, including the use of the Bible

• private worship.

• Prayer and its significance, including the Lord’s Prayer, set prayers and informal prayer.

• The role and meaning of the sacraments:

• the meaning of sacrament

• the sacrament of baptism and its significance for Christians; infant and believers' baptism; different beliefs about infant baptism

• the sacrament of Holy Communion/Eucharist and its significance for Christians, including different ways in which it is celebrated and different interpretations of its meaning.

4-markers

Explain two similar or different ways Christian worship, practice liturgical worship, practise private worship, or practice set prayer

Explain two different ways in which Christians pray.

One way Christians pray is through set prayers, which means formal prayers that are written down and recited.The Lord’s prayer is an example of a set prayerA different way that Christians pray is through informal prayer which is spontaneous, personal prayers that are spoken in one's own words.These are often used in liturgical worship publicly or privately.

Explain two similar ways in which Christians worship.One way Christians worship is through liturgical worship, which follows a set pattern.An example of this might be singing hymns from a hymn book.A similar way Christians worship is through non liturgical worship, which is spontaneous and informal.This is similar in that it's still worshipping God and involves singing, but the words will be made-up rather than read from a book.

Explain two similar ways that Christians practice sacraments.

One way is through believers baptism, which means a Christian's getting baptised after they've decided to follow Christ.

This is usually done by fully submerging the person in water.

A similar way is through infant baptism, which is where a baby is welcomed into the Christian family.

This also uses water, but it is usually sprinkled over the baby's head.

Explain two different ways Christians celebrate the Eucharist.

One way Catholics celebrate Eucharist is by going up to the altar and drinking communion wine from the same cup.

This represents equality and unity as they are sharing a cup

A different way is when Christians are given individual cups at their seats and drink the wine at the same time.

This also shows equality and unity as everyone is seated and drinks together.

6-markers

Explain two reasons why the Lord's Prayer is important to Christians. Refer to sacred writing or another source of Christian belief in teaching in your answer.

It is important because it because it is the prayer Jesus taught his disciples to pray, which means it is a model prayer.

In the Bible, the disciples asked Jesus how to pray and Jesus gave the Lord's Prayer as the answer to this question.

This shows the importance of the Lord's Prayer as it makes Christians pray like Jesus.

It is also important because it is used as a basis for prayer today as it states all the important elements for what a prayer can include.

For example, it starts by worshipping God.

Explain two reasons why believers baptism is important to Christians. Refer to sacred writing or another source of authority in your answer.

It is important because Jesus got baptised and God was pleased with him.

In the Bible, when Jesus got baptised, a voice from heaven said this is my son with whom I am well pleased.

This shows why believers in baptism is important to Christians because God was pleased that Jesus was baptised as an adult.

It is also important because it represents that Christians have been forgiven because Jesus took their sins away on the cross.

This is shown through the symbol of water in baptism which represents the sins being washed away.

It is important because Jesus got baptised and God was pleased with it.

12-markers

‘Prayer is the most important way for a Christian to worship God’

'The Lord’s prayer is the most important Christian prayer’

'Baptism is the most important sacrament'

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