Talk about God in words people understand

Christians sometimes speak a language only we understand: churchy words, stock phrases, catechism answers recited from memory. They're true, but they don't get through. Speaking about God in the other person's language means telling what you live in your own words, starting from what worries them and using examples from their world. It's not watering down the message: it's making it arrive. Already at Pentecost, each person heard the apostles in their own language. Before explaining something, think about who's listening: what they know, what worries them and which words sound strange to them. A friend doesn't need a sermon; they need to understand you.