Terms starting with W

Walk (Your Walk

Salvation & Conversion

How a person lives out their faith day to day — their ongoing relationship with God, as opposed to the moment they became a Christian.

"My spiritual life, and how it's actually going."

Very confusing

Watch Night

Holidays & Calendar

A church service on New Year's Eve that prays the old year out and the new year in — with deep roots in the Black church, where it commemorates the night before the Emancipation Proclamation took effect.

"New Year's Eve at church — praying, singing, and testifying into midnight. In Black churches, it's also Freedom's Eve."

Very confusing

The Word

Bible & Theology

The Bible — or, in John chapter 1, Jesus Himself. Context tells you which; most of the time in conversation it's the Bible.

"The Bible. (Or Jesus, if we're reading John 1.)"

Very confusing

Word of Knowledge

Spiritual Warfare & Supernatural

A message someone believes God has given them, often for a specific person — a fact they couldn't have known, or an encouragement meant for you.

"I believe God just told me something about you."

Total mystery

Worship

Worship & Music

Honoring God — most often meaning the singing part of a church service, but also the whole service, and sometimes a person's entire way of living.

"The songs — or the service — or my whole life, depending on who's talking."

Confusing

Chorus

Worship & Music

A modern church song, usually written in the last few decades and led by a band — simpler and more repetitive than a hymn, with a chorus and often a "bridge" that repeats and builds.

"The modern church songs. Four chords, one chorus, a bridge that goes on a while."

Mildly puzzling

Worship Team

Worship & Music

The band and singers who lead the music in a contemporary church service, and the person — often on staff — who directs them and chooses the songs.

"The church band and its front person."

Mildly puzzling