Prayer

Match one prayer to the major world religion with which it is most associated

Shema - Judaism

Outline two difficulties with prayer that may be experienced by the members of a major world religion today

• Prayer is the act of communicating with God
• People may find it difficult to pray because God does not always answer in an obvious way
• God answers in a mysterious way that may lead people to wonder if God has heard them at all
• People may find it difficult to pray because God doesn't answer in words
• For example, if a person is ill, God may give them the strength to cope with their sickness
• This may give people the impression that God has not listened to them

Name a person associated with prayer in a religion you have studied

Jesus - Christianity

Explain why prayer was important in the life of the person that you have named above

• In Jesus' life, prayer was very important
• Jesus prayed to God to communicate with him and to keep a strong relationship that he had with God
• Jesus prayed throughout his whole life
• He especially prayed during times of significance
• These times included his baptism in the River Jordan and meeting his disciples for the first time in the Sea of Galilee

Outline how the person that you have named has influenced the understanding of prayer among the members of his/her world religion today

• Jesus has influenced the understanding of prayer among members of the Christian community of faith today
• Christians are following the example of Jesus when they pray
• Jesus praised God when poor, ordinary people welcomed his teaching
• This has inspired Christians to praise God for the wonder of creation
• Jesus thanked God the Father when Lazarus was raised from the dead

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Worship

Explain how one way of participating in worship can help people to communicate with God

• At a prayer service, we communicate with God and celebrate with other members of a community of faith
• Praying refers to act of communicating with God
• We can pray either personally by ourselves or communally with other members of your community of faith
• Praying with God strengthens your relationship with God
• Praying with God always creates a special personal connection that you have and share with God

Choose: communicating experience or encountering mystery. Describe an example of how it can be seen in an act of worship that you have participated or observed.

• At a prayer service, we communicate with God and celebrate with other members of a community of faith
• Praying refers to act of communicating with God
• We can pray either personally by ourselves or communally with other members of your community of faith
• Praying with God strengthens your relationship with God
• Praying with God always creates a special personal connection that you have and share with God