by Tom Allen

I'm sure I've said it a hundred times or more. And as far as I can tell, the best way is to say it the way I heard it and the way I have practiced it. Can it hurt to say it repeatedly--over and over again--in the exact same, rehearsed way?

I'm talking about all the "church" language I grew up with, the words that changed my life. That's how I usually give my "testimony"--you know, how I found "salvation" through the gift of God's "grace" through "faith" in Jesus Christ my "Savior" and "Lord," through his "redemption" of my "sin" on "Calvary" so that I can have "eternal life."

Anyone who grew up in church has heard these lines before, so naturally they know what they mean, right?

Wrong!

People can master "churchspeak" without having the slightest idea what they're saying. The fact is, we have invented a language at church that most of us would not be caught dead using in normal conversation. Because they emulate those around them, young people especially are in danger of resorting to pat answers without knowing the underlying implications.

For example, we use the word "grace" quite a bit. We know that God offers us grace, we ask for grace before meals, we try to get into someone's good graces, and of course, we sing "Amazing Grace" by heart week after week in worship. But how often do we actually stop and think about the true definition of "grace"? Obviously, this is not the only word that might need explaining.

Though it may take a little extra time to explain religious terminology, the added effort will be worth the end result: understanding. Making something simple to understand by no means diminishes its importance. In fact, its momentum only increases when combined with lucidity.

Take time to prepare each of your sessions thoroughly. Most importantly, know what you're talking about. It's so easy to fall into the trap of using the same old words, letting those cliches roll off our tongue. But laying down the basics one at a time--for your youth as well as for yourself--is essential to making sure the lessons stick.