Pentecostal / Charismatic Christianese

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 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.

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

A ceremony in which parents publicly commit to raising their child in the Christian faith and the church promises to help — used by churches that don't baptize infants.

Drifting or falling away from faith and its practice after having committed to it — usually gradual, often temporary.

Having become a Christian — described as a spiritual new beginning, from Jesus' words in John 3 that a person must be "born again."

A weekend or week away at a camp or conference center for worship, teaching, and community — for youth in summer, for adults on retreat — where a lot of Christians say their faith became real.

A brand-new church started from scratch — usually by a small team sent out by an established church, meeting in a school, storefront, or home until it grows.

The uncomfortable inner sense that you're in the wrong and need to change — attributed by Christians to the Holy Spirit. Nothing to do with a courtroom.

Freeing a person from demonic influence or spiritual bondage through prayer — taken very literally in some traditions and understood more broadly in others.

The devil — a personal spiritual adversary Christians believe opposes God, works against people (especially believers), and strives to hinder God's work of bringing humanity into right relationship with Him.

A formal rite of prayer to drive an evil spirit out of a person or place — in the Catholic Church, performed only by a priest with the bishop's permission and after other explanations are ruled out.

"I had a strong inner sense that I should do this" — an impression Christians attribute to God's guidance through the Holy Spirit.

A deeper experience of God's presence and power in a person's life. Pentecostals see it as a distinct event after conversion, often marked by speaking in tongues; other traditions describe it as ongoing.

Asking God for a specific sign before making a decision — from the story of Gideon, who laid out a sheep's fleece and asked God to make it wet while the ground stayed dry.

To commit to following Jesus — turning your life over to Him — usually at a definite moment, often in response to an invitation at the end of a sermon or event.

A call-and-response affirmation used in church and conversation — "God is good!" answered by "All the time!" — expressing trust that God's character doesn't change with circumstances.

How Christians describe a sense of specific guidance from God — ranging from a strong impression to a vivid inner conviction. Almost never an audible voice.

A goodbye — "have a nice day" with a prayer folded in — wishing you God's favor. Common in the American South and in Black church culture.

A prayer asking God to keep someone safe from harm, pictured as an invisible barrier around them.

A filler word that Christians use constantly in spontaneous, out-loud prayer — "Lord, we just ask that you'd just be with us."

A Bible verse a person has adopted as personally meaningful — a motto, a promise, or a summary of their faith — often for years, and often printed on something.

Praying for someone — bringing their name and need before God. Nobody is physically lifted.

A special collection, given freely and beyond regular giving, for a specific person or cause — a guest speaker, a family in crisis, a missionary passing through.

To show active, tangible care for someone — hugs, meals, attention, help, presence — especially to people who need it.

Half-hearted about faith — going through the motions without commitment. The criticism comes from Revelation 3, where a church is told it's "neither hot nor cold."

An intense spiritual high — often at camp, a retreat, or a conference — when God feels close and everything is clear. "The valley" is what comes after.

Extremely enthusiastic about faith — often newly so, and often visibly.

An opportunity that appears (open door) or falls through (closed door), read as God's "yes" or "no" about a decision.

Church activities aimed at people outside the church — service projects, community events, food drives, anything that meets neighbors where they are.

The idea that Christianity is knowing God personally — a living relationship with Jesus — rather than following rules, belonging to an institution, or attending services.

The singing portion of a contemporary church service. Some distinguish praise (upbeat songs about what God has done) from worship (slower songs addressed to God directly).

A church's system for spreading an urgent prayer request quickly — once a telephone tree, now usually a group text or email — so that many people are praying within the hour.

Someone known for praying often, seriously, and persistently on behalf of others — the person you call when you need prayer that means business.

Continuing to pray about something persistently — over days, weeks, or years — until it resolves or until you find peace about it.

Lifting one or both hands during singing or prayer as a physical expression of praise, surrender, or reaching toward God.

In some Protestant teaching, the moment when Christ returns and living believers are "caught up" to meet Him. More broadly, the cluster of beliefs about how history ends. Christians disagree widely on the details.

Having become a Christian — trusting Jesus for forgiveness and being rescued from sin and its consequences.

A phase of life — "a hard season," "a season of waiting" — understood as temporary and, in some way, God's timing. Duration unspecified.

A short prayer some Christians say to mark the moment they commit to Jesus — admitting sin, asking forgiveness, and asking Him to take charge of their life. Often led line by line by a pastor or friend.

Falling backward, usually during prayer with laying on of hands, understood in charismatic churches as being overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit's presence.

Two related phrases. "Speak life" means say encouraging, hopeful, building-up words; "speak truth" means say the honest, hard thing someone needs to hear — ideally "in love."

Praying or speaking in a language the speaker never learned, understood in Pentecostal and charismatic churches as a gift of the Holy Spirit.

A solo or small-group song performed during the service — as opposed to congregational singing — often during the offering or before the sermon.

The belief that there's an unseen conflict between God's kingdom and evil spiritual forces that touches everyday life, and that Christians are in it — fought with prayer, scripture, and faithfulness.

A persistent sin, fear, lie, or destructive pattern that has become spiritually entrenched — hard to break because it's dug in.

How many missionaries and ministry workers fund their salaries — by asking friends, family, and churches to commit to regular monthly gifts.

The story of how someone became a Christian, or of something God has done in their life — told out loud to encourage others.

A prayer for a safe journey — asking God to protect someone while they travel.

"Unequally yoked" (from 2 Corinthians 6) is the warning against a Christian marrying a non-Christian; "missionary dating" is the tongue-in-cheek name for dating someone in hopes of converting them.

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

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.

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 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 adult on a church's staff in charge of the teen ministry — planning youth group, camps, and trips, teaching, and being a trusted adult to a lot of teenagers.