your conversion story as strategy
TRANSCRIPT
CONVERSIONSTORIES AS STRATEGYWHY “YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES” IS CRUCIAL
2
INFL
UEN
CES
YOUNG ADULTS
: DROPO
UT?
TECH
CHURCH
PASTORS
CONVERSION
PARENTS
YM
CULTURE
BRAIN
What can
we do?
2
Our Conversion Story As Strategy
2IN
FLU
ENCE
S
PLACE THESE IN (SOME) ORDER
2
___FAITH ___CONVICTION___GRACE ___REGENERATION ___ASSURANCE ___CONVERSION ___BAPTISM ___REPENTANCE ___CALLING ___SALVATION
___DEVOTION___TRUST___BELIEF ___JUSTIFICATION ___PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL ___CHURCH MEMBERSHIP ___RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT ___FORGIVENESS OF SINS ___SANCTIFICATION___CONSIDERATION/CONTEMPLATION
ALMOST CHRISTIANS?2
Are we missing something? Something in what we have passed
on to the next generation?
The language we use in communicating the biblical
expectations for conversion, discipleship, and the Christian life
is vital...
ORDO SALUTIS2
ORDO SALUTIS2
ALMOST CHRISTIANS?2
Are we missing something?
Something in what we have passed on to the
next generation?
RENEWAL not REVIVAL2
“I am convinced the renewal of the church will not come through efforts to foster revival but through a renewed appreciation and formulation of the nature of conversion.”
–Gordon Smith in Beginning Well: Christian Conversion and Authentic Transformation, 2001, p24).
ALMOST CHRISTIANS?2
Are we missing something?
Something in what we have passed on to the
next generation?
7-Point Conversion2
“Scripture calls for and assumes a conversion to Jesus Christ that includes seven distinct but inseparable elements.”
–Gordon Smith in Beginning Well: Christian Conversion and Authentic Transformation. 2001, p125. Belief in Jesus Christ, Repentance, Trust in Jesus
Christ, Transfer of allegiance, Baptism, Reception of the gift of the Holy Spirit, Incorporation into congregational life.
ALMOST CHRISTIANS?2
Are we missing something?
Something in what we have passed on to the
next generation?
5 GUIDING BELIEFS OF MORALISTIC THERAPEUTIC DEISM (MTD)
21. God wants people to be good, nice,
and fair to each other as taught in the Bible and by most world religions.
2. The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself.
3. A god exists who created and orders the world and watches over life on earth.
4. God is not involved in my life except when I need God to resolve a problem.
5. Good people go to heaven when they die.
--K. C. Dean, Almost Christian, 2010, p14
ALMOST CHRISTIANS?2
MTD tells us we HAVE BEEN MISSING SOMETHING while doing Church. We have failed to pass on
as of greatest importance the faith we possess; we have been
passing on exactly what we have—the inconsequential faith we ourselves possess. This can be
traced to inconsequential conversions.
MAIN STATEMENT2
Our Conversion Story, when we rightly understand it,
and rightly communicate it, becomes the strategy God wants to use
to extend His kingdom.
MAIN STATEMENT2
Acts 1:8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses … when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.”
ISAIAH 6:8-10 = Mt 13:15, Mk 4:12, Lk 12:40 and Ac 28:27.
2And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be
ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the heart of
this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts, and TURN and be healed.”
THE SEVEN CONVERSION STORIES IN ACTS
2THE CROWD (2)
ETHIOPIAN ENUCH (8)
SAUL/PAUL (9)
CORNELIUS (10)
LYDIA (16)THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER (16)CRISPUS (18)
ObedienceThe Holy Spirit’s
Involvement Preaching/Exposition
ConvictionInquiry/Seeking
RepentanceBaptism
Receive the Remission of Sins
The Gift of the Holy Spirit
Hospitality
WHAT DO WE NEED?2
A Plan? The Catechumen Conversion of Augustine
A Community? Monastic Conversion of Saint Benedict
Agreement? The Reformers’ Example
A Great Experience of God? Edward’s Affections & Wesley’s GroupsThe Split: Savior vs. Lord
Palmer, Oberlin, Finney, Bonhoeffer, & The Nazarenes
MTD IS ANOTHER GOSPEL 2
God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other as taught in the Bible and by most world religions. The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself. A god exists who created and orders the world and watches over life on earth. God is not involved in my life except when I need God to resolve a problem. Good people go to heaven when they die.
--K. C. Dean, Almost Christian, 2010, p14
MAIN STATEMENT2
Our Conversion Story, when we rightly understand it,
and rightly communicate it, becomes the strategy God wants to use
to build His kingdom.
Acts 1:8…you will be my witnesses …
ANTIDOTE TO MTDStructuring Ministries toward Consequential Faith Development
2TRANSLATING
YOU incarnating the Word in the world before their eyes = Living Faith!
TESTIFYINGYOU interpreting life to others while spiritual
apprentices are sacred eavesdroppingDETACHING
YOU intentionally disentangling yourself from distractions to encounter God
HOW TO HIGHLIGHT GOD’S STORY IN YOUR LIFE
2Focus on • Speaking of God’s personal & powerful
nature• Spiritual relationships in your church• Promises of God• Hope = the world is ultimately in good
hands• The “What-ifs” of God• The presence of the Holy Spirit • Resist self-focused spiritualities
YOUNG ADULTS: DROPO
UT?
TECHNOLOGY
IDOLS CHURCH WARS:
TRAD VS. EMERG
WEAK PASTORIN
G
INCOMPLETE
CONVERSIONS“FAKE”
CHRISTIAN
PARENTS
POOR YM EXPERIEN
CE
FAST-PACED
CULTURE
LATE BRAIN
DEVELOP’T
2IN
FLU
ENCE
S
YOUNG ADULTS: DROPO
UT?
TECHNOLOGY
IDOLS CHURCH WARS:
TRAD VS. EMERG
WEAK PASTORIN
G
INCOMPLETE
CONVERSIONS“FAKE”
CHRISTIAN
PARENTS
POOR YM EXPERIEN
CE
FAST-PACED
CULTURE
LATE BRAIN
DEVELOP’T
2IN
FLU
ENCE
S GOD’S POWER
GOD’S PERSON
RIGHT DOING
FAITH COMMUNITY
HOPEIN GOOD HANDS
YOUNG ADULTS: DROPO
UT?
TECHNOLOGY
IDOLS CHURCH WARS:
TRAD VS. EMERG
WEAK PASTORIN
G
INCOMPLETE
CONVERSIONS“FAKE”
CHRISTIAN
PARENTS
POOR YM EXPERIEN
CE
FAST-PACED
CULTURE
LATE BRAIN
DEVELOP’T
2IN
FLU
ENCE
S GOD’S POWER
GOD’S PERSON
RIGHT DOING
FAITH COMMUNITY
HOPEIN GOOD HANDS
STEMMING THE TIDE WITHIN
BEHIND THE WALL TACTICS FOR ALL OF US
3US ALL
Our Conversion Story As Strategy
Q&AThe “window for forming a sense of
security in attached relationships closes quickly after adolescence,” so a Church
would be wise to not "disregard the importance of ministry specifically
tailored to adolescents,” because to do so would be to “neglect the best
opportunity the church has to effect fundamental change in people.” The positive effects, both “personal and
practical” of “Bible study in the context of relational youth ministry” cannot go
unnoted (Belsterling 2009, 348).