Terms starting with A

The invitation to become a Christian by personally trusting and following Jesus — often the closing line of a sermon, a camp talk, or a conversation about faith.

A friend you regularly and honestly tell about your struggles, temptations, and goals, who encourages you and asks hard questions — so you're not fighting alone.

The four weeks before Christmas, kept as a season of waiting and preparation — for the celebration of Jesus' birth and for His return.

The moment at the end of a service when people are invited to come to the front to commit to faith, pray, or ask for help — usually while a song plays.

"Yes" or "I agree" — said at the end of prayers, and in some churches shouted mid-sermon to agree with the preacher.

Specially empowered or set apart by God for a task — and also, literally, having oil placed on one's forehead during prayer.

Making the case for Christian belief with reasons, evidence, and argument. Nothing to do with apologizing.

The first day of Lent, marked by a cross of ashes on the forehead as a sign of repentance and mortality — "remember that you are dust."

Confidence that one truly is saved and forgiven — the settled sense that your standing with God is secure.

How Jesus' death makes things right between God and people. Christians agree it does; they've written libraries on exactly how.