Basic 7 · Religious and Moral Education · Worship
Types of Worship in the Three Major Religions
In this topic you will explain the meaning of worship and identify the types of worship in Christianity, Islam and African Traditional Religion.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Explain the meaning of worship
- Describe the types of Christian worship
- Describe the types of Islamic worship and worship in African Traditional Religion
What you already know
- The attributes of God
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
Lesson 1
- Strand
- Religious Practices
- Sub-strand
- Worship
- Indicator
- B7.2.1.1.1 – Identify the types of worship in the three major religions
Introduction
Every Sunday morning, church bells ring and drums beat as Christians gather to sing, pray and listen to God's word. This is worship.
1. What Is Worship?
Worship: Showing honour, reverence and love to God through prayer, praise, songs, offerings and obedience.
Worship comes from the Old English word "worthship", meaning to give worth or value. When people worship, they show that God is the most important being in their lives.
2. Types of Christian Worship
| Type | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| congregational (public) | worship by a group in a church | Sunday service, Bible study |
| private (individual) | worship by one person alone | personal prayer and Bible reading |
| family | worship by a household | morning or evening family devotion |
| liturgical | worship following a set order and written prayers | Catholic Mass, Anglican services |
| non-liturgical (free) | worship with less fixed order and spontaneous prayer | Pentecostal and charismatic services |
3. Why Christians Worship
- To thank God for His blessings.
- To praise God for who He is.
- To ask for forgiveness and help.
- To obey God's command to worship Him (Exodus 20:3; Hebrews 10:25).
- To grow in faith and fellowship with other believers.
4. Worship Beyond the Church
Christians believe that worship is not only what happens in church. Romans 12:1 urges believers to offer their bodies as "living sacrifices", meaning that honest work, kindness and good behaviour every day are also forms of worship.
5. Special Times of Christian Worship
Besides Sunday services, Christians hold special worship at important times. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus on 25th December. Lent is a period of forty days of prayer and fasting before Easter. Good Friday remembers the death of Jesus, and Easter Sunday celebrates His resurrection. Many churches also hold watch-night services on 31st December, harvest thanksgiving services and weekday prayer meetings. These times help Christians remember key events of their faith and draw closer to God.
New words
- worship
- Honouring and praising God.
- congregation
- A group of people gathered for worship.
- liturgy
- A set order of worship.
- devotion
- Private or family prayer and Bible reading.
Summary
- Worship means showing honour, reverence and love to God.
- Christian worship may be congregational, private, family, liturgical or non-liturgical.
- Christians worship to thank, praise and obey God, and good daily living is also worship.
Class activity: Worship Survey
- Ask classmates which type of Christian worship they take part in.
- Record the results in a table.
- Explain why each type is important.
You need: Bible, Qur'an, Printed photograph of a Ghanaian traditional shrine
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Worship by one person alone is…
- A. private worship
- B. congregational worship
- C. liturgical worship
- D. family worship
Show answer
Answer: private worshipIndividual.2. A set order of worship is called…
- A. liturgy
- B. sermon
- C. offering
- D. hymn
Show answer
Answer: liturgyFixed order.3. Family devotion is a type of worship.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueHousehold worship.4. A group of people gathered for worship is a ______.
Show answer
Answer: congregationChurch members.5. State three types of Christian worship.
Show answer
Answer: Congregational, private, family (or liturgical, non-liturgical).Any three.6. Explain what Romans 12:1 teaches about worship.
Show answer
Answer: That worship includes living a holy, obedient life every day, not only in church.Living sacrifice.
Lesson 2
- Strand
- Religious Practices
- Sub-strand
- Worship
- Indicator
- B7.2.1.1.1 – Identify the types of worship in the three major religions
Introduction
Five times a day, the call to prayer rises from mosques across Ghana. At shrines and family houses, traditional priests and elders pour libation. These are forms of worship in Islam and African Traditional Religion.
1. Worship in Islam (Ibadah)
In Islam, worship is called ibadah. It includes all acts done to obey and please Allah. The main acts of worship are the Five Pillars of Islam.
| Pillar | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Shahadah | declaring faith: there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger |
| Salat | praying five times a day |
| Zakat | giving a portion of wealth to the poor |
| Sawm | fasting during the month of Ramadan |
| Hajj | pilgrimage to Makkah at least once if able |
2. Types of Islamic Prayer
Salat can be performed individually or in congregation. The five daily prayers are Fajr (dawn), Zuhr (midday), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (after sunset) and Isha (night). The Friday congregational prayer, Jumu'ah, is held at midday in the mosque. Muslims also offer personal prayers called du'a at any time.
3. Worship in African Traditional Religion
| Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| communal | worship by the whole community, such as at festivals |
| family | worship by a family or clan, such as at the family stool room |
| individual | personal prayers and offerings |
| libation | pouring a drink to God, the gods and the ancestors with prayer |
| sacrifice | offering animals, food or drinks |
Traditional worship is led by priests, priestesses, chiefs and family heads. It often takes place at shrines, sacred groves, rivers and the stool room, especially on sacred days and during festivals such as Akwasidae, Odwira and Homowo.
4. Worship and Daily Life in Islam
Muslims believe that every good action done to please Allah is ibadah. Working honestly, helping a neighbour, studying hard and treating parents kindly can all be acts of worship when done with the right intention (niyyah). This means that worship is not limited to the mosque but covers the whole of a Muslim's life. Traditional believers also see daily life as connected to the spiritual world, so respecting elders and keeping taboos are part of their worship.
New words
- ibadah
- Worship in Islam.
- Salat
- The five daily prayers in Islam.
- Jumu'ah
- The Friday congregational prayer.
- libation
- Pouring a drink as a prayer.
Summary
- Islamic worship (ibadah) is centred on the Five Pillars, especially the five daily prayers.
- Muslims pray individually or in congregation, including Jumu'ah on Fridays.
- Traditional worship can be communal, family or individual, using libation and sacrifice.
Class activity: Worship Comparison Table
- Make a table comparing who leads worship, where and when in Islam and African Traditional Religion.
- Use pictures of a mosque and a shrine.
- Present your table.
You need: Bible, Qur'an, Printed photograph of a Ghanaian traditional shrine
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. How many times a day do Muslims pray?
- A. five
- B. three
- C. seven
- D. two
Show answer
Answer: fiveSalat.2. The Friday congregational prayer is…
- A. Jumu'ah
- B. Fajr
- C. Hajj
- D. Zakat
Show answer
Answer: Jumu'ahMidday Friday.3. Libation is part of traditional worship.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TruePouring drinks with prayer.4. Worship in Islam is called ______.
Show answer
Answer: ibadahAll acts of obedience.5. Name the Five Pillars of Islam.
Show answer
Answer: Shahadah, Salat, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj.All five.6. Describe two types of worship in African Traditional Religion.
Show answer
Answer: Communal worship at festivals by the whole community, and family worship led by the family head at the stool room (or libation, sacrifice).Any two.
Homework
- Write a short report on how a Christian, a Muslim or a traditional believer in your area worships.