In his article "Christian Apologetics" in Hooper's anthology: C. S. Lewis "God in the Dock", Lewis put his finger on the problem of communicating the gospel to non-churched people.
He listed words that have either no meaning, or a mistaken meaning to them:
Here's a selection. I've updated some of Lewis' explanations.
ATONEMENT
People have no idea what this means.
BEING
This may or may not be understood as 'person', as 'human being'. For example the Holy Spirit as a 'being' may not be understood as a person: a 'centre of consciousness'.
CATHOLIC
The Roman church, rather than the church universal.
CHARITY
An organization that helps people for no charge, instead of 'love in action'.
CHRISTIAN
A nice person, a person who is ordinarily 'moral' or 'nice'.
CHURCH
A building they'd never step inside, rather than a gathering of saints.
CREATIVE
Description of an artist, designer or sometimes writer or film-maker (photoplay maker: I like that older term).
CREATURE
An animal.
CRUCIFIXION, CROSS
A ceremonial religious emblem rather than an instrument of cruel torturous death.
DOGMA
Unreasoning and stubbornly held statement of opinion.
MORALITY
Being 'good', rather the general behaviour category of values.
PERSONAL
Applicable to oneself exclusively: my personal wardrobe, computer, equipment, tools.
PRIMITIVE
Not fully developed as in 'primitive man' uses sticks for weapons and stones for pillows.
SACRIFICE
Something you give up, usually at tolerable personal cost.
SAINT
A super-spritual person, usually related to episcopal church usage for special religious people.
SPIRITUAL
Immaterial, usually related to aesthetics or emotions.
The lesson? In talking to people outside your church circle, use common language that communicates meaningfully to your listener.
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