Jargon Buster

Advent means “coming.” It is the season before Christmas when Christians prepare to celebrate Jesus’ first coming (his birth) and look forward with hope to his second coming, when he will make all things new. Advent invites us to slow down, reflect, and live with hope that history is heading somewhere good.

The Ascension is when Jesus returned to heaven, forty days after his resurrection. Christians believe he now reigns as King and prays for his people. It shows Jesus is alive and ruling today, not just a figure from the past.

The act of immersing a believer in water, symbolising their commitment to Christ and identification with His death, burial, and resurrection. At Gold Hill we baptise only believers, while other Christian traditions practise infant baptism.

A grouping of churches that emphasises believer’s baptism by immersion, the autonomy of local congregations, and the authority of the Bible.

The sayings of Jesus at the start of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3–12). They show who God calls “blessed,” often people the world overlooks or pities. Rather than rules to follow, they are good news that God’s kingdom is for the poor, the hurting, and the humble—people we might not expect.

The sacred scripture of Christianity, consisting of the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is considered by believers to be the inspired and authoritative word of God. Click here for further information.

A term used to describe a spiritual rebirth or conversion experience marked by a personal commitment to Jesus Christ. It derives from the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus in John 3.

Breathe was the name of the Sunday evening youth meeting for several years. In 2025, it was superseded by Reset.

Christ comes from the Greek word, Christos, the equivalent of the Hebrew word Messiah.  Christ is the title given to Jesus (not his surname).

The church is the community of people who trust and follow Jesus. Church buildings are simply the places where that community meets to worship and serve together.

The Church Council comprises various ministry leaders from across the church and supports the strategic leadership of the church and the implementation of its vision.

Someone who has committed themselves to be part of Gold Hill Baptist Church and accepts the responsibilities that this involves.

ChurchSuite is the software package we use to manage the church’s operations. It includes a database of people who are regularly engaged with the church. It supports rota management, children and youth work, calendar planning. The church family can access some of this information through My ChurchSuite.

At supper with his friends, on the night before he was crucified, Jesus shared bread and wine. He instructed them to “do this in memory of me”.  This started the practice of sharing communion.  At Gold Hill we take communion weekly at the 8.45 gathering and monthly at the 10.30 gathering.

A covenant is a solemn promise or agreement between God and people. In the Bible, God made covenants with Noah, Abraham, and Israel, and Christians see Jesus’s death and resurrection as establishing a new covenant. Covenants show God’s faithfulness and his desire to be in relationship with us.

The cross is the central symbol of Christianity, reminding us of Jesus’ death and the forgiveness and freedom it brings. It’s a symbol of hope that even the worst suffering can be turned to good.

The Cross Cultural Team oversees Gold Hill’s worldwide outreach through its Mission Partners

Crucifixion was a Roman form of execution by being nailed to a cross. Jesus’ crucifixion is where he took the world’s sin onto himself out of love. Christians see the cross as the place where God’s justice and mercy meet.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is a UK background check that helps keep children and vulnerable adults safe. It shows whether someone has a criminal record or is barred from working in certain roles, ensuring our volunteers are suitable and safeguarding is taken seriously.

Deacons are church leaders who serve by caring for practical needs and helping the church live out its mission.

Easter is the Christian celebration of Jesus rising from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. It is the centre of the Christian faith, showing that death has been defeated and new life is possible. Christians celebrate Easter because it means hope: Jesus’ victory over death is the promise of new life for all who trust him.

In a church, elders are leaders who guide, teach, and care for the church family, following the pattern of the New Testament.

Emmanuel (sometimes spelt Immanuel)  is a title for Jesus meaning “God with us.” See Isaiah 7:14. It expresses the belief that God came to live among us in Jesus. It means God is not distant – he stepped into our world and understands our struggles.

Gold Hill is an evangelical church. In the UK, evangelical describes Christians and churches who are passionate about God, take the Bible seriously, and seek to live with Jesus at the centre of their lives. Evangelicals also believe it is good for others—family, friends, neighbours, and the wider world—to know Jesus too. In the United States, the word carries different cultural and political associations.

An organisation that represents and connects evangelical Christians in the UK. The Evangelical Alliance serves as a network for cooperation and collaboration among various evangelical denominations and groups.

The practice of sharing the Christian message with the aim of converting others to the faith. At Gold Hill we regard evangelism as a vital aspect of fulfilling the Great Commission.

Exile refers especially to when the people of Judah were taken into captivity in Babylon around 586 BC, after Jerusalem was destroyed. It followed earlier exiles of Israelites by Assyria in 722 BC, and was seen as both a judgment for unfaithfulness and a time of longing for restoration.

This could refer to the second book of the Bible. Alternatively it is the main event described in that book, when God rescued the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt.

A group within the church responsible for overseeing and managing financial matters, including budgeting, fundraising, and financial planning to support the church’s mission and ministries.

The Friday before Easter, which is the day Christians remember Jesus’s death on the cross.

The word “gospel” means “good news.” It is the message that Jesus is King, that he died and rose again, and that he invites us to follow him. The word Gospel can also refer to the first four books of the New Testament – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – which tell the story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

Grace is a key concept in the Christian faith. It represents the notion that all the good things we enjoy from God are given by him freely, and not as a reward for our good behaviour.

A directive given by Jesus to his disciples, recorded at the end of Matthew’s Gospel. He instructed us to go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them and teaching them to obey his commands. This mission is foundational for evangelism and outreach.

An expression of joyful praise, often used in worship and music. The term originates from Hebrew and is commonly used in Christian hymns and songs.

The ancient Semitic language in which the Old Testament was written.

Heart Hub Home was the title of Gold Hill’s project to build the Hub building as a Home for the church in the Heart of Chalfont St Peter.

The Holy Spirit was sent by God at Pentecost to be with the followers of Jesus after his ascension. He is the third person of the Trinity, fully God, and works alongside the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live as disciples of Jesus, guiding our decisions, teaching us truth, and giving us strength to follow God’s ways. He brings comfort, conviction, and encouragement, helping disciples to grow in love, hope, and faith.  The Holy Spirit is sometimes called the Holy Ghost.

An alternative spelling of Emmanuel, meaning “God With Us”

Intercession is prayer on behalf of others — bringing their needs, struggles, or situations before God and asking for His help, guidance, or blessing

Lent is the 40 days before Easter (not counting Sundays). It remembers the time Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting and being tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1–11). Christians use this time to pray, reflect, and get ready to remember Jesus’ death and celebrate his resurrection.

The prayer taught by Jesus to his disciples, found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.

The mother of Jesus Christ, a central figure in the Christian narrative. UK Baptist churches such as Gold Hill generally recognise Mary’s role in the nativity story but do not accord her the same level of veneration as in some other Christian traditions.

Messiah is a Hebrew word meaning “anointed one” and refers to the promised saviour in the Bible who would rescue God’s people. Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah, fulfilling Old Testament promises. The Greek translation of Messiah is Christ – the title we use to refer to Jesus.

My ChurchSuite is part of the ChurchSuite system which is accessible to anyone who is part of the church family.  Confusingly if you use it through an app on your phone it calls itself ChurchSuite (rather than My ChurchSuite).

The New International Version, an English translation of the Bible

Pentecost remembers the day the Holy Spirit was poured out on Jesus’ followers 50 days after his resurrection and 10 days after his ascension.  It marks the beginning of the church’s mission to the world. It shows God’s power is available to ordinary people to share his love and live transformed lives.

Preaching is the process of teaching and explaining the Bible, usually in order to help people understand God’s word and live it out. The talk given in a church service is called a sermon, and people use the word “preach” to refer to delivering that sermon. In wider society, the word “preaching” can carry negative overtones, sometimes suggesting being lectured or judged rather than encouraged.

Prophecy is speaking God’s message – sometimes about the future, but often calling people back to God’s ways in the present. In the Bible, prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah delivered God’s word to guide and warn his people, and Christians believe God can still speak through prophecy today.

Within Gold Hill, PTL stands for Pastor Team Leader, the job title of Stephen Walker-Williams, the leader of our church.  In general Christian usage, PTL may also mean Praise The Lord.

The term “rapture” is used by some Christians to describe what Paul writes about in 1 Thessalonians 4: believers being “caught up” to meet Jesus when he returns. Christians interpret the timing and details differently, but all agree Jesus will return to renew creation and gather his people.

Redemption means being set free, like a slave being bought back. Christians believe Jesus’ death has freed us from sin and death. It tells us we are worth rescuing and that God has done everything to bring us home.

Repentance means turning around – changing your mind and heart. It is choosing to turn from sin and towards God’s way, trusting in Jesus for forgiveness. It’s good news because no matter what you’ve done, you can make a fresh start with God.

Resurrection is when a person who has died is raised back to life. In the Bible, Jesus’ resurrection on the third day after his crucifixion shows his victory over sin and death, and Christians believe that all who trust him will also share in resurrection life.

The Sabbath is God’s gift of rest. In the Old Testament it was the seventh day, when Israel stopped work and remembered God’s creation and rescue. Christians see its fulfilment in Jesus, who gives ultimate rest from sin and striving, and call believers to rhythms of worship, rest, and trust in him. Sabbath reminds us we are not defined by work or busyness but by being loved by God.

The Second Coming is when Jesus will return to bring justice, renew creation, and live with his people forever. It gives Christians hope that evil, suffering, and injustice will not have the last word.

The Septuagint is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). It was widely used in the early church and is often quoted in the New Testament.

A sermon is the talk given during a Sunday gathering  that explains a passage of the Bible.  When someone delivers it, they are said to be “preaching”.

Sin is more than doing bad things – it is living as though God is not King. It breaks our relationship with God, others, and creation. Christians talk about sin because facing it honestly and repenting is the first step to healing and freedom.

SLT stands for the Strategic Leadership Team of Gold Hill Baptist Church.  Click here to find out more about them.

Tongues (or “speaking in tongues”) is when a person speaks in a language they have not learned, as described in the New Testament (Acts 2; 1 Corinthians 12–14). Christians believe it is a gift of the Holy Spirit that can strengthen faith, encourage others, or be a form of prayer. It reminds us that God can work in ways beyond our understanding and invites us into a deeper reliance on the Spirit.

The word Torah means “teaching” or “instruction” in Hebrew. It refers especially to the guidance God gives his people in the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), but more broadly it points to all of God’s instruction and truth.

The Trinity is the Christian belief that there is one God who exists eternally as Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit – three persons, one God. It means God is relational and loving in his very nature, and invites us into that love.