Local Community

The Church in the Local Community

The local community is a very important feature of Christian life, where Christians gather to pray in the local church and offer practical support to people in need in the local area.

Types of gathering

There are many different types of local gatherings of Christians that vary in size.
Christianity teaches that all members of the Church make up the body of Christ and that Christians should be united and use their particular talents to support each other.

Preaching and serving others

Christians believe that the lives of others will be improved if they have faith in Jesus, and therefore try to preach the Christian faith in their local community.

Types of Local Christian Communities

Different sized Christian communities gather in different ways:

Parishes

Local gatherings of Christians are often referred to as parishes.
At the centre of each parish is the local church and the house of the priest or minister.

Diocese

On a larger scale, some Christian communities join together to form a diocese led by a bishop.
Bishops in some Churches are given the special task of caring for the spiritual lives of Christians in a local area, often a city or a town.

Christians believe that the lives of others will be improved if they have faith in Jesus, and therefore try to preach the Christian faith in their local community. Christians also believe they have a responsibility to serve others, especially those who live in their local community.

Preaching

Christians can invite non-believers to attend ‘Alpha’ courses that are run to help people understand the Christian message.
At Christmas and Easter and other important celebrations, Christians will often go onto the streets to witness to their faith to the local community.
- They may sing Christmas carols on the street corner, or walk with a cross on Good Friday.

Love one's neighbour

Jesus taught that Christians should love one’s neighbour as oneself (Matthew 19:19), and this love has to be shown in practical ways. (Matthew 25: 37 - 40)
- “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

Food banks and street pastors

Many Christians set up food banks to help the poorer members of their local community to feed and support their families.
- The Upper Room works with people from some of the most deprived areas in London, providing them with food, clothing, and long-term support to rebuild their lives.
There is also a Christian organisation of ‘street pastors’ who work to strengthen the sense of mutual support in the local community and to make the streets safer.

1Buddhism

2Christianity

2.1Key Beliefs

2.1.1The Nature of God

2.1.2The Problem of Evil

2.1.3Monotheism

2.1.4Creation

2.1.5Bible Accounts of Creation

2.1.6The Trinity and Creation

2.1.7Afterlife

2.1.8Heaven and Hell

2.1.9The Influence of Afterlife on Life

2.1.10End of Topic Test - Christianity Key Beliefs

2.1.11Exam-Style Questions - Christian Beliefs

2.2Jesus Christ & Salvation

2.2.1The Incarnation

2.2.2Jesus - Divine & Human

2.2.3The Crucifixion

2.2.4Jesus' Betrayal

2.2.5Resurrection & Ascension

2.2.6Sin

2.2.7Original Sin

2.2.8Punishment

2.2.9The Means of Salvation

2.2.10Achieving Salvation

2.2.11Disagreements About Salvation

2.2.12The Role of Christ in Salvation

2.2.13Theories of Salvation

2.2.14End of Topic Test - Jesus Christ & Salvation

2.3Worship & Festivals

2.3.1Different Forms of Worship

2.3.2Prayer

2.3.3Sacrament

2.3.4Baptism

2.3.5Other Sacraments

2.3.6Eucharist

2.3.7Pilgrimage & Celebrations

2.3.8Christmas & Easter

2.3.9End of Topic Test - Worship and Festivals

2.4Community

2.4.1Local Community

2.4.2Mission, Evangelism & Church Growth

2.4.3Worldwide Church

2.4.4Reconciliation

2.4.5Persecution

2.4.6Caring for Those in Need

2.4.7End of Topic Test - Community

2.4.8Exam-Style Questions - Christian Practices

3Catholicism (Christianity)

4Islam

5Judaism

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