How do Christians worship God?
Different forms of Christian worship including liturgical, non-liturgical and informal worship, private worship and prayer, and why Christians worship in these ways.
A focused answer on Christian forms of worship for AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062), covering liturgical, non-liturgical and informal worship, private worship and types of prayer.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
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What this dot point is asking
AQA wants you to describe the different forms of Christian worship, explain the difference between liturgical, non-liturgical and informal worship, and explain the place of private worship and prayer. You should be able to name examples and explain why different Christians choose different styles, which feeds the evaluation question on prayer.
Public worship
Liturgical worship, used in Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican churches, gives a sense of reverence, continuity with the past and unity, because the same words are used across the world and through the centuries. Non-liturgical worship, common in Baptist, Methodist and other Protestant churches, prioritises the preaching of the Bible and allows the service to respond to the congregation. Informal or charismatic worship is led by the Holy Spirit and can be lively and spontaneous, with raised hands, clapping, modern music and sometimes speaking in tongues or prayers for healing, common in Pentecostal churches. None of these is regarded by AQA as the only correct form; each suits different believers and traditions.
Private worship and prayer
Prayer takes several recognised forms: adoration (praise), thanksgiving, confession (asking forgiveness) and intercession (praying for the needs of others). Jesus both gave a set prayer and warned against "babbling like pagans" with empty repetition (Matthew 6:7), which is why many Christians value both forms: the structure of set prayer and the sincerity of personal prayer. Private worship matters because faith is not only public; Jesus told his followers to pray in private "to your Father, who is unseen" (Matthew 6:6).
Why Christians worship in different ways
Different traditions, cultures and personalities suit different styles, and the New Testament does not prescribe one fixed form. All forms share the same aims: to draw closer to God, to give praise and thanks, to seek forgiveness, to ask for help and to build the Christian community.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of AQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
AQA 20172 marksWhat is meant by liturgical worship?Show worked answer →
A 2-mark AO1 definition question. Liturgical worship is public worship that follows a set, formal order of service, often led by a priest, with set prayers, readings and rituals. One mark for set or formal order, the second for accuracy (followed in churches such as Catholic and Anglican, often including the Eucharist). Contrast it with non-liturgical worship, which has no fixed structure.
AQA 20194 marksExplain two reasons why prayer is important to Christians. Refer to scripture or another source of Christian belief in your answer.Show worked answer →
A 4-mark AO1 question. Reason one: prayer builds a personal relationship with God and follows Jesus' example and teaching, "This, then, is how you should pray" (Matthew 6:9, the Lord's Prayer). Reason two: prayer lets believers praise, give thanks, confess sin and intercede for others, meeting real spiritual needs. Markers reward two distinct, developed reasons plus a source. Naming a type of prayer (intercession) and a source (the Lord's Prayer) strengthens the answer.
AQA 202112 marks"Set prayers are better than informal prayers." Evaluate this statement. In your answer you should refer to Christian teaching, give reasoned arguments to support this statement, give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view, and reach a justified conclusion. [12 marks plus 3 SPaG]Show worked answer →
The AO2 evaluation, 5 bands plus 3 SPaG. Arguments for set prayers: they unite worshippers, are theologically reliable, and follow Jesus' own model in the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6). Arguments against: informal prayer is personal and heartfelt, lets believers speak honestly to God in their own words, and avoids empty repetition, which Jesus warned against (Matthew 6:7). Use terms (liturgical, set prayer, informal prayer, intercession). Reach a justified conclusion that weighs unity and tradition against sincerity and personal expression, perhaps concluding both have value.
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Sources & how we know this
- AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062) specification — AQA (2016)