Ecumenical Christianese

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

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

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

The water ceremony marking a person's entry into the Christian faith and the church. Some traditions baptize infants by sprinkling or pouring; others baptize believers by full immersion.

The closing blessing spoken over the congregation at the end of a service — often "The Lord bless you and keep you…" — sending people out with God's favor.

Mildly mocking labels for very zealous Christians — "Bible thumper" for the preachy, rule-quoting kind; "holy roller" (originally) for the loud, expressive Pentecostal kind.

Grateful and fortunate — recognizing good things in life as gifts from God rather than luck or achievement.

The church — all Christians together — pictured as one living organism with Jesus as the head and each believer as a part. Also, in Catholic and Orthodox use, the Eucharist itself.

The printed program handed out at the door with the order of service, hymn numbers, announcements, and prayer list — or its modern equivalent on a screen or app.

A strong, lasting sense that God wants you to do something specific — a job, a place, a form of service — and that your life is meant for it.

"Universal" — as in the creeds' "holy catholic church," meaning the whole church of all times and places. Not the same as the Roman Catholic Church.

A required worship service at a Christian school or college — usually a few times a week — and also a small church or worship room inside a larger building (a hospital, a university, a mansion).

The evening service on December 24 — the best-attended of the year in many churches — with carols, the Christmas story from Luke 2, and, traditionally, "Silent Night" sung by candlelight at the end.

The ritual of sharing bread and wine (or juice) in memory of Jesus' last meal with His disciples. The name, the meaning, and who may take it vary by tradition.

The people who belong to and attend a particular church — the local community of believers, as distinct from the building or the denomination.

Two styles of worship service — contemporary (band, screens, modern songs, casual) and traditional (organ, hymns, liturgy, formal) — and the long, mostly friendly argument between them.

A binding promise between God and people — with commitments on both sides — that structures the whole Bible: God's covenants with Noah, Abraham, Israel, David, and the "new covenant" in Christ.

A short, formal summary of Christian belief, recited in worship — the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds are the oldest and are shared by nearly all Christians.

A named branch of Christianity with its own structure, beliefs, and churches (Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian). A non-denominational church is one that declines to belong to any of them.

Being trained in following Jesus — learning to think, pray, and live as a Christian, usually with the help of someone further along.

A church's official teaching on a topic — what it holds to be true about God, Jesus, salvation, the Bible, and the rest — organized, stated, and passed on.

Church leadership roles from the New Testament. Elders typically oversee teaching and direction; deacons typically oversee practical care and service. The exact meaning varies widely by denomination.

Telling other people about Jesus with the hope they'll believe — from a quiet conversation with a friend to a stranger with a megaphone.

Careful reading and interpretation of a Bible passage — drawing out what it meant (exegesis) — and the principles and methods for doing that well (hermeneutics).

The story in Genesis 3 of humanity's first disobedience — Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit — and the brokenness of the world and human nature that Christians believe followed.

Going without food — or something else — for a set time as a spiritual practice, usually paired with prayer, to focus on God and express dependence on Him.

The ways Christians address God in prayer. "Father" is Jesus' own word; "Lord" is the most common; "Abba" is the Aramaic Jesus used, close to "Dad."

Christian friendship and community — the shared life of people in a church, from deep spiritual bonds to coffee after the service.

The church's multipurpose room — used for meals, classes, receptions, and events — usually with a kitchen attached and folding tables stacked against the wall.

The core Christian message — that God loves the world, Jesus lived, died, and rose to make things right, and anyone can be forgiven and made new.

God's undeserved kindness and forgiveness — receiving good you didn't earn and couldn't have.

Jesus' final instruction to His followers — to go to all nations, make disciples, baptize, and teach — and the reason Christians do missions and evangelism.

The volunteer at the church door whose job is to welcome people, hand out bulletins, and make visitors feel expected.

"Praise the Lord" — a Hebrew exclamation kept untranslated in every Christian language. "Alleluia" is the Latin-influenced form used in liturgical churches.

A church song in the traditional form — several verses of poetry set to a tune, usually sung from a book with organ or piano, and often centuries old.

The traditional closing of a Christian prayer — praying on Jesus' authority and in line with His will, based on His promise to answer prayers made in His name.

Praying on behalf of someone else — asking God for another person's needs, rather than your own.

Two stages of the Christian life in Protestant teaching — being declared right with God (justification, instant, by faith) and being made actually good over a lifetime (sanctification, gradual).

God's rule and reign — the realm where His will is done — which Jesus said is both already here and still coming. Not only the afterlife.

Placing a hand on someone's shoulder, head, or back while praying for them — for healing, blessing, commissioning, or ordination.

Formally joining a church — usually after a class, sometimes a vote, interview, or ceremony — as distinct from just attending.

Any organized work of serving others in the church or in Jesus' name — from a food pantry to a choir to a career as a pastor. "My ministry" means the particular service someone does.

Christian work of sharing the faith and serving people in another culture or country — for a week (a mission trip), a few years, or a lifetime (a missionary).

The entryway of a church, between the outside doors and the worship space. Which word a church uses tells you its tradition: narthex (liturgical), vestibule (older Protestant), foyer or lobby (modern).

An orientation for people new to a church — what it believes, how it works, how to get involved — often over a meal, and usually the first step toward membership.

Someone who identifies as Christian by background or culture — checks the box, celebrates the holidays — but isn't actively practicing or personally committed.

Money given to the church during or around the service. A tithe specifically means ten percent of income; an offering is any gift beyond or apart from that.

The two main sections of the Bible: the Old Testament (39 books in Protestant Bibles; the Jewish scriptures, before Jesus) and the New Testament (27 books: Jesus' life, the early church, and the apostles' letters).

The ceremony that formally makes someone a minister, pastor, priest, or deacon — with prayer and the laying on of hands, after the church has examined and approved them.

"Correctly believing" — in line with historic Christian teaching, especially the creeds. With a capital O, it means the Eastern Orthodox Church. Same problem as "catholic," one letter over.

Collecting the offering by handing a plate, basket, or bag down each row for people to put money in — the traditional way churches gather gifts during the service.

The person who leads a church. The title depends on the tradition: Catholics, Orthodox, and Anglicans have priests; most Protestants have pastors or ministers; "Reverend" is a formal title for any of them.

The day, fifty days after Easter, when the Holy Spirit came upon the first Christians with wind and fire, and the church began — often called the church's birthday.

The long wooden bench in a traditional church, arranged in rows facing the front — where the congregation sits, and where families have sat in the same spot for generations.

A shared church meal where everyone brings a dish — the classic form of Christian community, held in the fellowship hall after the service.

Asking other people to pray for something specific in your life — a health scare, a job interview, a struggling family member.

The standard Christian response to hard news — a promise to bring the person's situation to God in prayer.

The teaching that God chose, before time, who would come to faith. Christian traditions hold it in different forms, and the debate over how it fits with human freedom is very old.

Someone who left the faith or the family and came back — from Jesus' story of a son who squandered his inheritance, hit bottom, and was welcomed home by his father.

Turning away from wrongdoing and toward God — a change of mind and direction, not just feeling bad about something.

A ritual Christians believe carries God's grace through a physical sign — water, bread and wine, oil. Catholics and Orthodox count seven; most Protestants count two.

In Catholic and Orthodox use, a person officially recognized as holy and in heaven, who can be asked to pray for you. In the New Testament — and Protestant use — every Christian.

The main room where a church worships. "Sanctuary" signals a traditional church; "auditorium" or "worship center" signals a modern one. In Catholic use, the sanctuary is specifically the area around the altar.

The Bible — the collection of books Christians hold to be inspired by God and authoritative for faith and life. "Scripture" is the reverent word for it.

Graduate school for pastors, priests, and ministers — usually a three-year Master of Divinity in Bible, theology, church history, and pastoral skills.

The talk the pastor or priest gives in a service, usually explaining and applying a Bible passage. "Homily" is the Catholic and Orthodox term and tends to be shorter; "message" is the modern evangelical one.

Leading by serving — putting the people you lead first, doing the humble tasks, and using authority for others' good rather than your own — modeled on Jesus washing His disciples' feet.

A church gathering for worship — typically on Sunday morning — with singing, prayer, scripture, a sermon, and sometimes communion, following a set order.

Anything that falls short of God's goodness — wrong actions, attitudes, or the underlying human condition of being turned away from God.

Managing money, time, abilities, and the earth as things that belong to God and are entrusted to you. Also, in practice, the name churches give the annual giving campaign.

Bible classes held at church on Sunday — for children during or before the service, and for adults in age- or topic-based groups.

The Christian belief that God is one God who exists eternally as three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — equal, distinct, and inseparable.

The system for locating passages in the Bible — book, chapter, verse, written "John 3:16" — and the small numbered units it divides the text into.

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

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.

A church's program for teenagers, usually meeting midweek, mixing games, food, a short Bible talk, and time with friends.