Almighty
All-powerful. Nothing is beyond God's reach.
Where you'll hear it: The creeds
Church words
Church words, in plain language
Some church words are old. Some are pictures that don't mean exactly what they say. Here is what each one means, and what it doesn't. In lessons, Memorize, and Study, tap a dotted word to see its meaning right there. En español: Palabras de la iglesia
Showing 138 words
God and Jesus
Begotten
Born from, not made. The creeds use it to say Jesus shares God's own being.
Good to know: It doesn't mean Jesus had a beginning like a baby does.
Where you'll hear it: The Nicene Creed, Luther's explanation of the Second Article
Christ
Greek for anointed one. It means the king God promised. It is a title, like saying Jesus the King.
Good to know: It isn't Jesus' last name.
Where you'll hear it: Everywhere in church
Glory
Greatness and honor that belong to God. Giving God glory means praising God.
Where you'll hear it: The Lord's Prayer, hymns
God the Father
A way to say God made us and loves and cares for us like the best parent.
Good to know: It doesn't mean God is a man or has a body.
Where you'll hear it: The Lord's Prayer, the creeds
Grace
God's love and help that you don't earn. It is a gift.
Good to know: It isn't a reward for being good.
Where you'll hear it: Everywhere in Lutheran teaching
Holy Ghost
An older name for the Holy Spirit. Ghost used to mean spirit.
Good to know: It is not a ghost like in a story about haunted houses.
Where you'll hear it: Luther's Small Catechism in older English
Holy Spirit
God, present with us now. The Holy Spirit helps people trust God and keeps the church together.
Good to know: Older books say Holy Ghost. It is not a scary ghost.
Where you'll hear it: The creeds, Baptism, Pentecost
Incarnate
Made flesh. It means God became a real human being in Jesus.
Where you'll hear it: The Nicene Creed, Christmas
Lamb of God
A name for Jesus. In the Bible, lambs were offered to God, so it is a picture of Jesus giving his life for us.
Good to know: It doesn't mean Jesus is a sheep.
Where you'll hear it: A song sung before communion in many churches
Lord
A title that means the one in charge. Christians use it for God and for Jesus.
Where you'll hear it: Prayers, the creeds, hymns
Mercy
Kindness to someone who is hurting or who did wrong, instead of punishment.
Where you'll hear it: Lord, have mercy; the Psalms
Messiah
Hebrew for anointed one: the king God promised to send. Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah.
Where you'll hear it: The Old Testament, the Gospels, Advent
Redeemer
Someone who pays to set another person free. Christians call Jesus the Redeemer because he frees us from sin and death.
Where you'll hear it: Luther's explanation of the Second Article
Son of God
A name for Jesus. Christians believe Jesus is God, and also fully human.
Good to know: It doesn't mean God had a baby the way people do.
Where you'll hear it: The creeds, the Gospels
Trinity
The Christian teaching that there is one God in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Good to know: It doesn't mean three gods. Christians believe in one God.
Where you'll hear it: The creeds, Baptism, the blessing at the end of worship
Picture words
A mighty fortress
The first line of Luther's best-known hymn, based on Psalm 46. A fortress is a strong castle that keeps people safe. The hymn uses it as a picture of God.
Where you'll hear it: Hymns, Reformation Day
Body and blood
The bread and wine at communion. Lutherans believe it is real bread and wine, and Jesus is truly there too, giving himself to you.
Good to know: Nobody is being hurt. People are eating bread and drinking wine or juice.
Where you'll hear it: Communion, Luther's Small Catechism
Born again
A picture of the new life God gives. Lutherans connect it with Baptism.
Good to know: Nobody is being born again as a baby.
Where you'll hear it: John 3, conversations about faith
Bread of life
A name Jesus used for himself. It means he gives what people need to live with God.
Good to know: Jesus isn't food from a bakery.
Where you'll hear it: John 6
Descended to the dead
A line in the Apostles' Creed. Christians explain it in different ways. Many say it means Jesus really died, the way people die.
Where you'll hear it: The Apostles' Creed
Drowned
Luther says the old Adam in us should be drowned every day. He means turning away from wrong and starting fresh, remembering our Baptism.
Good to know: Nobody is being put under water or hurt.
Where you'll hear it: Luther's Small Catechism on Baptism
Heaven
Being with God. The Bible uses pictures to describe it, like a city or a feast.
Good to know: It isn't a place up in the clouds that an airplane could reach.
Where you'll hear it: The Lord's Prayer, the creeds
Keys
Jesus gave his followers the power to forgive sins in his name. The church calls this the keys, because forgiveness opens a way back to God.
Good to know: They aren't real metal keys.
Where you'll hear it: Confession and forgiveness
Kingdom of God
Wherever God's love is in charge.
Good to know: It isn't a country on a map.
Where you'll hear it: The Lord's Prayer, the Gospels
Light of the world
A name Jesus used for himself. It means he shows people the way to God, the way light helps you see.
Good to know: Jesus isn't a lamp.
Where you'll hear it: John 8, Epiphany
Old Adam
Luther's name for the part of us that wants to do wrong. Adam was the first person in the Bible.
Good to know: It isn't an old man named Adam.
Where you'll hear it: Luther's Small Catechism on Baptism
Right hand of God
A picture that means Jesus shares God's power and honor.
Good to know: It isn't about which side of a chair Jesus sits on.
Where you'll hear it: The creeds
Sheep and shepherd
A picture: Jesus cares for people the way a good shepherd cares for sheep. Pastor comes from the word for shepherd.
Good to know: People are not sheep.
Where you'll hear it: Psalm 23, John 10
Take up your cross
Jesus' words for following him even when it is hard.
Good to know: Nobody has to carry a real cross.
Where you'll hear it: The Gospels
The Word
Can mean the Bible, God's promises spoken out loud, or Jesus himself. John's Gospel calls Jesus the Word.
Where you'll hear it: Sermons, John 1
Washed
A picture of Baptism. The water is real. The cleaning it talks about is God forgiving us.
Where you'll hear it: Baptism
Old words
Adultery
Breaking the promise of marriage by being unfaithful to your husband or wife.
Where you'll hear it: The Sixth Commandment
Art
An old word for are. Who art in heaven means who are in heaven.
Good to know: It has nothing to do with drawing or painting.
Where you'll hear it: The Lord's Prayer
Best construction
Luther says to put the best construction on everything. It means to explain what others do in the kindest way you honestly can.
Good to know: Nobody is building anything.
Where you'll hear it: The Eighth Commandment
Blessedness
Deep happiness and peace that come from God.
Where you'll hear it: Luther's explanation of the Second Article
Brake
An old way to write broke. He brake it means he broke the bread.
Good to know: It has nothing to do with stopping a car.
Where you'll hear it: Luther's Small Catechism on the Lord's Supper
Chaste
Pure and respectful. In Luther's catechism it means honoring your own body and other people's, and keeping the promises you make in relationships.
Where you'll hear it: The Sixth Commandment
Comprehended
An old word for included or held inside. Water comprehended in God's command means water that comes with God's command.
Good to know: It doesn't mean understood, the way it's used today.
Where you'll hear it: Luther's Small Catechism on Baptism
Contrition
Real sorrow for something you did wrong.
Where you'll hear it: Luther's Small Catechism on Baptism
Covet
To want something that belongs to someone else so much that it pulls you toward taking it.
Where you'll hear it: The Ninth and Tenth Commandments
Daily bread
Luther says it means everything we need for life: food, home, family, work, good weather, peace, and more.
Good to know: It means much more than bread.
Where you'll hear it: The Lord's Prayer
Esteem
Respect and value. To hold someone in esteem means to honor them.
Where you'll hear it: The Fourth Commandment
Evil
Everything that hurts people and goes against God: sin, harm, and suffering. Deliver us from evil asks God to keep us safe from it.
Where you'll hear it: The Lord's Prayer
False witness
Lying about someone, especially in a way that hurts them.
Where you'll hear it: The Eighth Commandment
Fear God
In Luther's catechism, fear means awe and deep respect.
Good to know: It doesn't mean being scared of God.
Where you'll hear it: Luther's explanation of every commandment
Hallowed
An old word for holy. Hallowed be thy name means may your name be treated as holy.
Where you'll hear it: The Lord's Prayer
Homestead
A house and the land around it.
Where you'll hear it: Luther's explanation of the First Article
Instituted
Started or set up. Luther says Jesus himself instituted the Lord's Supper.
Where you'll hear it: Luther's Small Catechism on the Lord's Supper
Livest and reignest
Old ways to say lives and reigns. People used them when praying to God.
Where you'll hear it: Old prayers
Petition
A request. Luther divides the Lord's Prayer into seven petitions, one for each thing we ask.
Where you'll hear it: The Lord's Prayer
Remission
An old word for forgiveness. Remission of sins means sins are forgiven.
Good to know: It isn't the medical word about an illness getting better.
Where you'll hear it: Communion, the Small Catechism
Righteousness
Being right with God. Lutherans teach it is a gift God gives through Jesus.
Where you'll hear it: Paul's letters, the Second Article
Sanctify
To make holy, or to set apart for God. Luther says the Holy Spirit does this.
Where you'll hear it: Luther's explanation of the Third Article
Signify
To mean, or to point to something.
Where you'll hear it: Luther's Small Catechism on Baptism
Slander
Telling lies or spreading stories that hurt someone's good name. Defame means the same thing.
Where you'll hear it: The Eighth Commandment
Supped
An old word for ate supper.
Where you'll hear it: Luther's Small Catechism on the Lord's Supper
Temptation
A pull toward doing something wrong.
Where you'll hear it: The Lord's Prayer
Thereto
An old word for to that. In addition thereto means in addition to that.
Where you'll hear it: Luther's explanation of the First Article
Thy, thee, thine
Old ways to say your and you. People used them when talking to someone close.
Good to know: They aren't fancier or holier words. They are just old.
Where you'll hear it: The Lord's Prayer, old hymns
Trespasses
An old word for sins, the wrong things we do and the good things we fail to do.
Good to know: Nobody is walking on someone's lawn.
Where you'll hear it: The Lord's Prayer
Verily
An old word for truly.
Where you'll hear it: Old Bible translations, prayers
Witchcraft
Trying to use magic or secret powers. Luther lists it as one way people misuse God's name.
Where you'll hear it: The Second Commandment
Worthy
Ready and fit to receive something. Luther says the person who trusts Jesus' words, given and shed for you, is worthy to receive communion.
Good to know: It doesn't mean you have to be good enough first.
Where you'll hear it: Luther's Small Catechism on the Lord's Supper
Yonder
An old word for over there. Yonder in eternity means in the life to come with God.
Where you'll hear it: Luther's explanation of the Second Petition
In worship
Alleluia
Hebrew for praise the Lord. Many churches don't say it during Lent, then say it loudly at Easter.
Where you'll hear it: Songs, Easter
Altar
The table at the front where the bread and wine are set out.
Where you'll hear it: The front of the sanctuary
Amen
Means yes, it's true. It's how people agree with a prayer.
Where you'll hear it: The end of every prayer
Benediction
A blessing spoken at the end of the service.
Where you'll hear it: The end of the service
Confession and forgiveness
Near the start of many services, everyone tells God they have sinned. Then the one leading worship announces that God forgives them.
Where you'll hear it: The start of many services
Creed
From the Latin for I believe. A short statement of what Christians believe. The Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed are the ones you'll hear most.
Where you'll hear it: After the sermon in many services
Doxology
A short song or prayer of praise to God.
Where you'll hear it: Often after the offering
Font
The bowl or pool that holds the water for Baptism.
Good to know: It isn't a style of letters.
Where you'll hear it: Often near the entrance or the front
Gloria
Latin for glory. A song of praise sung near the start of many services.
Where you'll hear it: Many services, except in Advent and Lent
Hymn
A song of worship that everyone sings together.
Where you'll hear it: The whole service
Invocation
Calling on God's name at the start of worship, often in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Where you'll hear it: The start of many services
Lectionary
A list of Bible readings for each Sunday that repeats every few years.
Where you'll hear it: The Word part of the service
Liturgy
The order of worship: the parts of the service and the words people say or sing together.
Where you'll hear it: Every service
Lord, have mercy
A short prayer asking for God's help and kindness. Its old Greek name is Kyrie.
Where you'll hear it: Sung near the start of many services
Narthex
The entry area of a church, before the main room.
Where you'll hear it: The church building
Offering
Gifts people give to support the church and help others.
Good to know: You never have to give to belong.
Where you'll hear it: Often just before communion
Paraments
The colored cloths on the altar and pulpit. The color shows the season of the church year.
Where you'll hear it: The front of the sanctuary
Peace be with you
A greeting people share with each other. Many people answer, And also with you.
Good to know: It isn't a question.
Where you'll hear it: Before communion in many churches
Pulpit
The raised stand where the sermon is often preached.
Where you'll hear it: The front of the sanctuary
Sanctuary
The main room where people worship. It can also mean a safe place.
Where you'll hear it: The church building
Sermon
A talk that explains the Bible readings and shares God's promises.
Where you'll hear it: After the readings
Baptism, communion, and big ideas
Absolution
The announcement that God forgives your sins.
Where you'll hear it: Confession and forgiveness
Baptism
Water and God's word. God makes a promise to the person being baptized and welcomes them into God's family. Lutherans baptize people of any age.
Where you'll hear it: The font, the start of Christian life
Catechism
A short book that teaches the basics of the faith with questions and answers. Luther wrote the Small Catechism in 1529 for families to use at home.
Where you'll hear it: Study, confirmation
Catholic
Small c. It means universal: the whole church, everywhere, in every time. It includes Lutherans.
Good to know: In the creed, it doesn't mean only the Roman Catholic Church.
Where you'll hear it: The creeds
Communion
The meal Jesus gave his friends: bread and wine. It is also called the Lord's Supper, the Eucharist, and the Sacrament of the Altar.
Where you'll hear it: Many services
Communion of saints
All of God's people, living and dead, joined together in Christ.
Where you'll hear it: The Apostles' Creed
Confession
Telling God honestly what you have done wrong. It can be done together in worship or in private.
Good to know: In the Lutheran church, Confession can also mean a statement of what the church believes, like the Augsburg Confession.
Where you'll hear it: Worship, the Small Catechism
Confirmation
A time of learning, often for young teens, that ends with a service where you say yes to the promises made at your Baptism. The ELCA calls that service Affirmation of Baptism.
Where you'll hear it: Confirmation class
Faith
Trusting God. Lutherans teach that faith itself is a gift from the Holy Spirit.
Good to know: It isn't the same as being sure about every question.
Where you'll hear it: Everywhere
Justification
Being made right with God. Lutherans teach it happens by God's grace, through faith in Jesus, and not by what we earn.
Where you'll hear it: The heart of the Reformation
Law and Gospel
Two ways God speaks. The Law shows what God wants and where we fall short. The Gospel is the good news of what God gives us in Jesus.
Where you'll hear it: Lutheran preaching and teaching
Real presence
Lutherans teach that Jesus is truly there in the bread and wine of communion. The bread is still bread and the wine is still wine.
Where you'll hear it: Communion
Repentance
Turning around: being sorry for wrong and turning back to God.
Where you'll hear it: Lent, Luther's Ninety-Five Theses
Resurrection of the body
The promise that God will raise the dead to new life, the way Jesus rose on Easter.
Where you'll hear it: The Apostles' Creed, funerals
Sacrament
A holy act Jesus commanded, joined to something you can see and touch, with God's promise attached. Lutherans usually count two: Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
Where you'll hear it: Baptism and communion
Saints
In the Bible, all of God's people. That includes you.
Good to know: You don't have to be perfect to be a saint.
Where you'll hear it: The creeds, All Saints Day
Sin
Anything that breaks trust with God or hurts other people, in what we think, say, or do.
Where you'll hear it: Confession, the commandments
Sponsor
A person who promises to help someone grow in faith after their Baptism. Also called a godparent.
Where you'll hear it: Baptism
Vocation
Your calling: the ways you serve God and your neighbors in daily life, at home, school, and work.
Good to know: It means more than a job. Every Christian has one, including kids and students.
Where you'll hear it: Called and Sent
The church year
Advent
The four weeks before Christmas. A time of waiting and getting ready. Many churches use blue, and some use purple.
Where you'll hear it: Late November and December
Ash Wednesday
The first day of Lent. In many churches, a cross of ashes is marked on people's foreheads.
Good to know: The ashes wash off. They are a reminder, not a punishment.
Where you'll hear it: The start of Lent
Christmas
The celebration of Jesus' birth. In the church it lasts twelve days, not one.
Where you'll hear it: December 25 to January 5
Church year
A calendar of seasons that walks through the story of Jesus every year.
Where you'll hear it: Colors in the sanctuary
Easter
The celebration of Jesus rising from the dead. In the church it lasts fifty days.
Where you'll hear it: Spring
Epiphany
From the Greek for showing. It celebrates Jesus being shown to the whole world, starting with the wise men.
Where you'll hear it: January 6 and the weeks after
Good Friday
The day Christians remember Jesus' death on the cross.
Good to know: It's called good because of what Jesus did for us, even though it is a sad day.
Where you'll hear it: Holy Week
Holy Week
The week before Easter, starting with Palm Sunday.
Where you'll hear it: The last week of Lent
Lent
Forty days of getting ready for Easter, not counting Sundays. Often marked with purple.
Where you'll hear it: Late winter and spring
Maundy Thursday
The Thursday before Easter, when Jesus shared the Last Supper. Maundy comes from the Latin for commandment.
Where you'll hear it: Holy Week
Pentecost
From the Greek for fiftieth. The day the Holy Spirit came, fifty days after Easter. Many churches use red.
Where you'll hear it: Late spring
Reformation Day
October 31. It remembers the day in 1517 when Luther sent out his Ninety-Five Theses.
Where you'll hear it: Late October
The Bible
Apostle
Someone sent out. The first leaders Jesus sent to tell others about him.
Where you'll hear it: The Apostles' Creed, Acts
Covenant
A promise that binds two sides together. In the Bible, God makes covenants with people.
Where you'll hear it: The Lord's Supper, the Old Testament
Disciple
A student and follower. Jesus' disciples learned from him and followed him.
Where you'll hear it: The Gospels
Gospel
Good news. It is also the name for the four books that tell about Jesus' life: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Where you'll hear it: The last reading on many Sundays
New Testament
The second part of the Bible, written in Greek after Jesus lived. It tells about Jesus and the first churches.
Where you'll hear it: The second and Gospel readings
Old Testament
The first part of the Bible, written mostly in Hebrew before Jesus was born.
Good to know: Old doesn't mean out of date. Christians read it as God's word too.
Where you'll hear it: The first reading on many Sundays
Parable
A short story Jesus told to teach something about God.
Good to know: The people in a parable usually aren't real people. The story is made up to teach a point.
Where you'll hear it: The Gospels
Pharisee
A member of a group of Jewish teachers in Jesus' time who worked hard to keep God's law.
Good to know: Not every Pharisee was against Jesus. Some listened to him and helped him.
Where you'll hear it: The Gospels
Prophet
Someone God sent to speak God's message to the people.
Good to know: A prophet isn't mainly a fortune teller.
Where you'll hear it: The Old Testament
Psalm
A song or prayer from the Bible's songbook, the book of Psalms. There are 150.
Where you'll hear it: Often read or sung between the readings
Scripture
Another word for the Bible.
Where you'll hear it: Everywhere
Luther and history
Diet of Worms
A meeting of the emperor and leaders in 1521, in the German city of Worms. Luther was asked to take back his writings.
Good to know: Diet here means a formal meeting. It has nothing to do with food or worms.
Where you'll hear it: Luther's Trail
ELCA
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It began in 1988 when three Lutheran churches joined together.
Where you'll hear it: Church history
Here I stand
Words people remember Luther saying at Worms when he refused to take back his writings.
Good to know: We aren't sure he said these exact words. They sum up what he meant.
Where you'll hear it: Worms
Indulgence
In Luther's time, a church letter that promised to lessen the punishment for sin. Some sellers offered them for money.
Where you'll hear it: Wittenberg, the Ninety-Five Theses
Lutheran
A Christian in the family of churches shaped by Martin Luther's teaching.
Good to know: Lutherans don't worship Luther. They follow Jesus.
Where you'll hear it: Everywhere
Monk
A man who lives in a religious community, praying and working under promises to God. Luther was a monk before the Reformation.
Where you'll hear it: Erfurt
Ninety-Five Theses
Ninety-five points for debate that Luther wrote in 1517 about indulgences and forgiveness.
Good to know: Tradition says he posted them on a church door. We know for sure he sent them to his archbishop.
Where you'll hear it: Wittenberg, Reformation Day
Protestant
A name for churches that came from the Reformation, like Lutherans. It comes from a protest at a meeting in 1529.
Where you'll hear it: Church history
Recant
To take back what you said or wrote. At Worms, Luther was told to recant his books.
Where you'll hear it: Worms
Reformation
The time in the 1500s when Luther and others called the church to change and return to the Bible's teaching about grace.
Where you'll hear it: Luther's Trail, church history