How do Christians worship and use the sacraments?
Liturgical and non-liturgical worship and the role of the sacraments, including baptism and the Eucharist, across denominations.
A focused answer on Christian worship and the sacraments for Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies A (1RA0), covering liturgical and non-liturgical worship, baptism and the Eucharist across denominations.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
Have a quick question? Jump to the Q&A page
Jump to a section
What this dot point is asking
Edexcel wants you to explain liturgical and non-liturgical forms of worship, when and why each is used, the divergent Christian attitudes to them, and the role of the sacraments, especially baptism and the Eucharist, in at least two denominations. Worship and the sacraments open the Christianity Practices section on Paper 1.
Liturgical and non-liturgical worship
Worship is showing devotion to God, and Christians do it in different ways.
Each form has reasons behind it. Liturgical worship gives reverence, order and unity: everyone follows the same pattern, which connects them to Christians across the world and through history, and it carries the sacraments. Non-liturgical worship gives freedom and a sense that the Holy Spirit can move spontaneously, and it can feel more personal and heartfelt. The Book of Common Prayer is a historic source of set, liturgical worship in the Church of England, while churches such as some Pentecostal congregations worship with much less structure. Christians hold divergent attitudes: some value the dignity of set worship, others value the sincerity of free worship, and Jesus taught that true worshippers worship "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24), which both forms aim to do.
The sacraments
This difference in the number of sacraments is a clear point of divergence between traditions, and the 39 Articles of Religion (Anglican) reflect the Protestant view of two gospel sacraments. The disagreement is partly about what counts as a sacrament: Protestants limit them to those directly instituted by Jesus, while Catholics and Orthodox include others drawn from the life of the Church. For the exam, be able to name the two most widely practised, baptism and the Eucharist, and explain why traditions differ on the rest.
Baptism and the Eucharist
Baptism marks entry into the Church and the washing away of sin, a new birth into the Christian life. It uses water and the threefold name of the Trinity, following Jesus' command to baptise "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19) and his own baptism. Infant baptism is practised by Catholics, Orthodox and Anglicans, where parents and godparents make promises for the child; believers' baptism is practised by Baptists and others, where a person old enough to choose is baptised, often by full immersion. This is a useful contrast between denominations.
The Eucharist (also called Holy Communion, the Mass or the Lord's Supper) re-enacts the Last Supper, where Jesus shared bread and wine and said "do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19). Christians differ on its meaning: Catholics believe the bread and wine truly become the body and blood of Christ (transubstantiation); many Protestants see it as a symbolic memorial of Jesus' death; Anglicans hold a range of views. Despite these differences, the Eucharist unites believers with Christ and with one another and is central to Christian worship. For a strong answer, link worship and the sacraments to other practices (prayer, festivals) and be ready to evaluate whether set or informal worship is better, noting that both can be genuine worship of God.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of Pearson Edexcel exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Edexcel 1RA0 20193 marksOutline three features of liturgical worship.Show worked answer →
A 3-mark Outline question (AO1): three accurate, distinct features. Acceptable points include: it follows a set order or liturgy; it is led by a priest or minister; it includes set prayers and readings; it often includes Holy Communion; it uses the church year and seasons. One mark for each distinct feature, no development needed.
Edexcel 1RA0 20184 marksExplain two reasons why the Eucharist is important for Christians.Show worked answer →
A 4-mark Explain question (AO1): two developed reasons. Reason one: it obeys Jesus' command at the Last Supper to share bread and wine "in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19), so it remembers his death. Reason two: it unites believers with Christ and with one another, and for many it is a means of receiving God's grace. Two marks for each developed point.
Edexcel 1RA0 20225 marksExplain two reasons why baptism is important for Christians. In your answer you must refer to a source of wisdom and authority.Show worked answer →
A 5-mark Explain question (AO1): two developed reasons plus a source. Reason one: baptism marks entry into the Church and the washing away of sin, a new birth into the Christian life. Reason two: it obeys Jesus' command and follows his own baptism. Support with a source: "baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19), or John 3:5. The accurate source secures the fifth mark.
Edexcel 1RA0 202112 marks"Set, formal worship is better than informal worship." Evaluate this statement. In your answer you should give reasoned arguments to support this statement, give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view, refer to Christian teaching, and reach a justified conclusion. [12 marks plus 3 SPaG]Show worked answer →
The 12-mark Evaluate question (AO2), plus 3 SPaG. Arguments for: liturgical worship gives reverence, order and unity, connects believers to centuries of tradition, and includes the sacraments, so it is fitting for worshipping God. Arguments for a different view: non-liturgical and informal worship lets the Spirit move freely, feels personal and heartfelt, and suits churches such as some Pentecostal and Quaker traditions, and Jesus said God seeks worship "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). Use specialist terms (liturgical, non-liturgical, sacrament, Eucharist). Reach a justified conclusion weighing reverence and order against freedom and sincerity, noting both can be true worship. The best answers sustain a line of reasoning.
Related dot points
- The nature and purpose of prayer, including set, informal and the Lord's Prayer, and the nature, purpose and places of pilgrimage.
A focused answer on Christian prayer and pilgrimage for Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies A (1RA0), covering set and informal prayer, the Lord's Prayer, and pilgrimage sites such as Lourdes, Iona and Walsingham.
- The nature and history of Christian festivals in the church year, including the celebration and significance of Christmas and Easter.
A focused answer on Christian festivals for Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies A (1RA0), covering Advent and Christmas, Holy Week and Easter, and why these celebrations matter to Christians.
- The future of the Church and mission, the role of the local church, and the role of the worldwide Church, including charity and reconciliation.
A focused answer on the role of the Church for Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies A (1RA0), covering mission and evangelism, the local church, the worldwide Church, reconciliation and the work of Christian Aid.
- The nature and significance of the Trinity as expressed in the Nicene Creed, the oneness of God, the nature and significance of each Person, and how this is reflected in worship today.
A focused answer on the Christian belief in the Trinity for Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies A (1RA0), covering the oneness of God, the three Persons, the Nicene Creed and worship today.
Sources & how we know this
- Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Religious Studies A (1RA0) specification — Pearson Edexcel (2016)