This mini-lesson works through the AQA GCSE topic Christianity: Practices: worship (liturgical and non-liturgical), prayer, the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion, pilgrimage, the festivals of Christmas and Easter, and the role of the Church in mission, evangelism and charity.
Work through each screen, answer the questions as you go and collect ⭐ stars. Where Christians differ (for example on baptism or Holy Communion), both views are shown. Press Start when you're ready.
Worship
Liturgical and non-liturgical worship
Worship is showing devotion and honour to God. Christians worship in different ways:
Liturgical worship — public worship that follows a set structure or order of service, often the same each week. Examples include the Eucharist / Mass in Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican churches, with set prayers and readings.
Non-liturgical worship — services with no set structure, often Bible-focused, common in Free Churches (e.g. Baptist, Pentecostal). There may be extended preaching, hymns and spontaneous prayer.
Private / informal worship — worship at home or alone, such as reading the Bible, praying or quiet reflection.
Careful: "liturgical" means set/structured, not "more holy". Both liturgical and non-liturgical worship are valued by the Christians who practise them.
Prayer
Talking and listening to God
Prayer is communication with God. Christians pray in two broad ways:
Set prayers — words that are written down and repeated, such as the Lord's Prayer.
Informal (extempore) prayer — prayer in a person's own words, spoken spontaneously.
The Lord's Prayer is especially important because Jesus himself taught it to his disciples. It is used by almost all Christians and models how to pray — praising God, seeking his will, asking for daily needs and for forgiveness.
Scripture: "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…'" (Matthew 6:9–13) — the Lord's Prayer, given by Jesus.
Quick check
Types of worship
?Which best describes liturgical worship?
Sacraments
An outward sign of inward grace
A sacrament is a religious ceremony that Christians see as an outward, visible sign of an inward, spiritual grace — a way God's grace is received.
Most Christians recognise two key (gospel) sacraments: baptism and Holy Communion, because Jesus commanded them.
Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians recognise seven sacraments (including confirmation, marriage, holy orders, reconciliation and anointing of the sick).
Some Christians (e.g. Quakers, the Salvation Army) do not practise outward sacraments at all, focusing on inward faith.
Careful: don't say "all Christians have seven sacraments" — that is the Catholic/Orthodox view. Most Protestants keep to the two given in the Gospels.
Baptism
Welcomed into the Church with water
Baptism uses water as a sign of being cleansed from sin and welcomed into the Church. Christians practise it differently:
Infant baptism — babies are baptised by pouring or sprinkling water. Practised by Catholics, Anglicans and Orthodox; parents and godparents make promises on the child's behalf.
Believers' baptism — a person old enough to understand and choose the faith is baptised by full immersion in water. Practised in Baptist and many other churches.
Scripture: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19)
Match up
Key term → meaning
Tap a term on the left, then its meaning on the right.
Holy Communion / Eucharist
Bread and wine, remembering the Last Supper
Holy Communion — also called the Eucharist, the Mass or the Lord's Supper — uses bread and wine to remember Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples before his death. Christians understand it in different ways:
Roman Catholics believe in transubstantiation — the bread and wine truly become the body and blood of Christ.
Many Protestants see it as a memorial — a symbolic remembering of Jesus' sacrifice — rather than a change in the bread and wine.
Scripture: "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19) — Jesus at the Last Supper.
Quick check
Believers' baptism
?How is believers' baptism in a Baptist church usually carried out?
Pilgrimage
A journey to a holy place
A pilgrimage is a journey to a place of religious importance. Christians go on pilgrimage to grow closer to God, to pray, to seek healing or to feel part of a wider community. Two examples on the AQA course:
Lourdes (France) — associated with Mary, who is believed to have appeared there. Many pilgrims go seeking healing and use the spring water.
Iona (Scotland) — home to an ancient Celtic Christian community and a modern community focused on peace, prayer and quiet retreat.
Note: not all Christians go on pilgrimage. Some (e.g. many Protestants) feel it is unnecessary and that God can be worshipped anywhere.
Festivals
Christmas and Easter
Festivals are special days that celebrate key events in the Christian story:
Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus — the incarnation, when Christians believe God became human.
Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus — his rising from the dead. It is the most important Christian festival, because the resurrection is the heart of Christian hope.
Careful: Easter celebrates the resurrection, not the birth of Jesus. The birth of Jesus is celebrated at Christmas.
Quick check
What does Easter celebrate?
?What do Christians celebrate at Easter?
The Church, mission & charity
Faith in action in the community
The word Church means the whole community of Christians, not just a building. It works in the local and worldwide community:
Mission and evangelism — spreading the good news (the gospel). Christians point to the Great Commission: "Go and make disciples of all nations." (Matthew 28:19)
Charity and reconciliation — helping those in need, e.g. the work of Christian Aid and CAFOD tackling poverty around the world.
Local action — running food banks, and street pastors who care for people in town centres at night.
Scripture: "Love your neighbour as yourself." (Mark 12:31) — a key motivation for Christian charity and service.
Sort it
Which practice is this?
Tap a description, then tap the box that matches.
Sort it
Liturgical ↔ Non-liturgical worship
Tap an idea, then the type of worship it best describes.
📖 Liturgical (set)
🕊️ Non-liturgical (informal)
Quick check
The Lord's Prayer
?Why is the Lord's Prayer so important to Christians?
Quick check
Understanding Holy Communion
?What does transubstantiation mean, and who holds this belief?
Recap
The practices to know
Worship: liturgical (set order, e.g. Eucharist/Mass), non-liturgical (informal, Bible-focused) and private/informal worship.
Prayer: set prayers vs informal (extempore); the Lord's Prayer, taught by Jesus (Matthew 6:9–13).
Sacraments: outward sign of inward grace; most Christians keep two (baptism, Holy Communion), Catholics/Orthodox seven.
Baptism: infant baptism (Catholic/Anglican/Orthodox) vs believers' baptism by full immersion (Baptist).
Holy Communion: bread and wine remembering the Last Supper; Catholics — transubstantiation, many Protestants — memorial.
Pilgrimage: e.g. Lourdes (healing, linked to Mary) and Iona (Celtic Christian community).
Festivals: Christmas (birth/incarnation) and Easter (resurrection — the most important).
The Church: mission & evangelism (Great Commission, Matthew 28:19); charity (Christian Aid, CAFOD, food banks, street pastors).
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