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GCSE · Christianity

RS.CP5 The Role of the Church in the Local Community

AQA 8062 · Calculators not allowed · about 42 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

This question checks key vocabulary used in Christian teaching about the local church and community service.

(a)State what is meant by a food bank.(1)

(b)State what is meant by a street pastor.(1)

(c)State what 'outreach' means, in the context of a church's work.(1)

(d)Give one example of a practical way a local church might support families with young children.(1)

(e)State what is meant by the parable of the sheep and the goats.(1)

(Total for Question 1 is 5 marks)

Explain two reasons why Christians believe it is important to help people in their local community. Refer to scripture in your answer.

(Total for Question 2 is 4 marks)

Explain two ways a local church might support people in its community.

(Total for Question 3 is 4 marks)

Explain two contrasting Christian views on how a church should prioritise its resources between practical community work and religious worship and teaching. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.

(Total for Question 4 is 5 marks)

Give three practical services a local church might offer to its community, besides a food bank.

(Total for Question 5 is 3 marks)

Explain the importance of the local church's role in the community for Christians today.

(Total for Question 6 is 6 marks)

Explain two ways involvement in community service might affect a Christian's own life and faith.

(Total for Question 7 is 4 marks)

State two skills or resources street pastors might use to help people, and for each briefly explain how it helps.

(Total for Question 8 is 4 marks)

Give three qualities or motivations a Christian volunteer at a food bank might have.

(Total for Question 9 is 3 marks)

Mark scheme · RS.CP5 The Role of the Church in the Local Community

Question 1

(a) B1 a place that collects and distributes food to people in need, often run by or with the support of a church, oe
(a) Answer: A place that collects and distributes food to people in need, often run by or with the support of a church.
(b) B1 a trained volunteer, often linked to local churches, who patrols town/city centres at night offering practical help and support, oe
(b) Answer: A trained volunteer, often linked to local churches, who patrols town or city centres at night offering practical help and support.
(c) B1 activities a church carries out to help and support people outside its own congregation, oe
(c) Answer: Activities a church carries out to help and support people outside its own congregation.
(d) B1 e.g. a parent and toddler group, oe
(d) Answer: E.g. a parent and toddler group.
(e) B1 a parable of Jesus teaching that people will be judged by how they treated those in need, oe
(e) Answer: A parable of Jesus teaching that people will be judged by how they treated those in need.

Question 2

B1 point 1: Jesus taught that loving one's neighbour is one of the two greatest commandments, oe
B1 development: Mark 12:31, 'Love your neighbour as yourself', understood by Christians as requiring practical care for others, oe
B1 point 2: Jesus taught that helping those in need is the same as helping him, oe
B1 development: Matthew 25:40, 'whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me', from the parable of the sheep and the goats, oe
Answer: E.g. loving one's neighbour (Mark 12:31); helping those in need as helping Jesus himself (Matthew 25:40).

Question 3

B1 point 1: running a food bank to provide food for people experiencing poverty or hardship, oe
B1 development: volunteers, often from several local churches together, collect and distribute food parcels to those referred to them, oe
B1 point 2: providing a street pastors scheme, oe
B1 development: trained volunteers patrol town centres at night, offering practical help such as water and a listening ear to vulnerable people, oe
Answer: E.g. running a food bank; providing a street pastors scheme.

Question 4

B1 belief 1: some Christians believe practical service to the local community should be a high priority, since faith without action is empty, oe
B1 development: based on James 2:17, 'faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead', oe
B1 belief 2: other Christians believe the primary role of the church is worship and teaching the gospel, and that practical service should not replace this, oe
B1 development: based on the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20, in which Jesus instructs his disciples to 'go and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded', oe
B1 reference to a source of wisdom and authority made accurately, oe
Answer: Contrast: practical service prioritised as evidence of living faith (James 2:17) vs teaching/discipleship prioritised as the church's core mission (Matthew 28:19-20).

Question 5

B1 a homeless shelter/night shelter, oe
B1 a debt counselling/advice service, oe
B1 a parent and toddler group (or a lunch club for elderly or isolated people), oe
Answer: Any three: a homeless shelter; a debt advice service; a parent and toddler group; a lunch club for elderly or isolated people.

Question 6

Level 3 (5-6): A detailed, well-organised answer that explains several reasons for the importance of the church's community role, supported by accurate reference to Christian teaching and/or scripture, with clear links made between the reasons given.
Level 2 (3-4): An answer that explains some reasons for the importance of the church's community role, with some relevant supporting detail, though links between points may be limited.
Level 1 (1-2): One or two isolated relevant points are made about the church's community role, with little supporting detail or explanation.
Level 0 (0): No relevant content.
Indicative content:
- It puts Jesus's teaching to love your neighbour (Mark 12:31) into practice in a direct, visible way.
- It can meet real, practical needs, e.g. food banks helping families facing poverty.
- It can be a way of sharing the Christian faith through acts of service, showing faith in action rather than only in words.
- It builds relationships between the church and the wider community, including people who do not attend the church themselves.
- It reflects the example of Jesus, who himself cared for the poor, sick and outcast during his ministry.
- For many congregations it is now a central and regular part of church life, not an occasional extra activity.

Question 7

B1 point 1: it can deepen their sense of purpose and put their faith into practical action, oe
B1 development: e.g. a volunteer at a food bank may feel their faith becomes more meaningful through direct service to others, oe
B1 point 2: it can strengthen their relationship with their local church community, oe
B1 development: working alongside other Christians on a shared project can build friendships and a sense of belonging, oe
Answer: E.g. deepening a sense of purpose through faith in action; strengthening relationships within the church community.

Question 8

B1 resource 1: flip-flops/water, oe
B1 meaning 1: help people who cannot walk safely home in high heels, or who need to rehydrate, oe
B1 resource 2: a listening/caring approach, oe
B1 meaning 2: helps vulnerable people feel supported and can de-escalate difficult situations, oe
Answer: E.g. flip-flops/water (helps people walk home safely/stay hydrated); a listening, caring approach (supports vulnerable people, can de-escalate situations).

Question 9

B1 compassion, oe
B1 a sense of Christian duty/obedience to Jesus's teaching, oe
B1 wanting to put their faith into action (or gratitude, wanting to give back), oe
Answer: Any three: compassion; a sense of Christian duty; wanting to put their faith into action; gratitude, wanting to give back.

The Role of the Church in the Local Community - Worksheets, Questions and Revision