CONVERSIONSTORIES AS STRATEGYWHY “YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES” IS CRUCIAL

2

INFLU

EN

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

EN

CES

PLACE THESE IN ORDER2

___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

Revolutionaries EvangelicalsNonevangelical born-again ChristiansNotional Christians

“I never knew you.” –Jesus “Confirm your calling and election” –Peter“Examine/Test yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.” –Paul

Whitefield, Edwards, Wesley

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

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...

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?

The language we use in communicating the biblical expectations for

conversion, discipleship, and the Christian life is vital...

7-Point Conversion2

“Scripture calls for and assumes a conversion to Jesus Christ that includes seven distinct but inseparable elements.”

“Only when all seven elements are in place will a young believer be capable of spiritual growth and maturity.”

–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?

The language we use in communicating the biblical expectations for

conversion, discipleship, and the Christian life is vital...

5 GUIDING BELIEFS OF MORALISTIC THERAPEUTIC DEISM (MTD)

2

1. 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

either failed to pass on as of greatest importance the faith we possess or we have been passing on exactly what we have—the inconsequential faith we ourselves possess. And 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.

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 6:8-102

And 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.” Repeated in

Mt 13:15, Mk 4:12, Lk 12:40 and Ac 28:27.

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 Groups

The Split: Savior vs. LordPalmer, 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 extend His kingdom.

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.”

ANTIDOTE TO MTDStructuring Ministries toward Consequential Faith Development

2

TRANSLATINGYOU incarnating the Word in the world

before their eyes = Living Faith!

TESTIFYINGYOU interpreting life to others while spiritual

apprentices are sacred eavesdropping

DETACHINGYOU intentionally disentangling yourself

from distractions to encounter God

HOW TO HIGHLIGHT GOD’S STORY IN YOUR LIFE

2

• Focus on those aspects that speak of God’s personal and powerful nature

• Focus on the interpersonal and spiritual significance of your faith community

• Focus on righteousness/Bible teaching• Focus on the hope that the world is

ultimately in good hands• Follow the presence of the Holy Spirit • Focus on the “What-ifs” of God• Resist self-focused spiritualities

YOUNG ADULTS: DROPO

UT?

TECHNOLOGY

IDOLSCHURCH 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

EN

CES GOD’S

POWERGOD’S PERSON

RIGHT DOING

FAITH COMMUNITY

HOPEIN GOOD HANDS

CONFESSIONS OF A CHURCH

DROPWHY TWENTYSOMETHINGS QUIT

1

OUT

CONVERSIONSTORIES AS STRATEGYWHY “YOU WILL BE WITNESSES” IS CRUCIAL

2

STEMMING THE TIDE WITHIN

BEHIND THE WALL TACTICS FOR ALL OF US

3

US 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).