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SKETCHES
S
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of Leadership o o o o >
trands of Conversion
Acts 8:29-38 Then the Spirit said to Philip, `Go over to this chariot and join it.' 30So Philip
ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, `Do you understand what you are
reading?' 31He replied, `How can I, unless someone guides me?' And he invited Philip to get in and
sit beside him. 32Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: `Like a sheep he
was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth.
33In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken
away from the earth.' 34The eunuch asked Philip, `About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet
say this, about himself or about someone else?' 35Then Philip began to speak, and starting with
this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36As they were going along the
road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, `Look, here is water! What is to prevent me
from being baptized?' 38He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the
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eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39When they came up out of the
water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his
What do you notice about
way rejoicing.
conversion in each of the
passages?
Acts 26:12-18 `With this in mind, I was travelling to Damascus with the authority and
commission of the chief priests, 13when at midday along the road, your Excellency, I saw a light
from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions. 14When we had all
fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, "Saul, Saul, why are
you persecuting me? It hurts you to kick against the goads." 15I asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The
Lord answered, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16But get up and stand on your feet; for
I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and testify to the things in which
you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you. 17I will rescue you from your people
and from the Gentiles--to whom I am sending you 18to open their eyes so that they may turn from
darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins
and a place among those who are sanctifi ed by faith in me."
Acts 10:30-33, 44-47 Cornelius replied, `Four days ago at this very hour, at three o'clock,
I was praying in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling clothes stood before me. 31He said,
"Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32Send
therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is called Peter; he is staying in the home of Simon, a
tanner, by the sea." 33Therefore I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to
come. So now all of us are here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded
you to say.' ...
44 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. 45The
circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had
been poured out even on the Gentiles, 46for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling
God. Then Peter said, 47`Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have
received the Holy Spirit just as we have?'
INTERVARSITY ®
Sketches of Leadership #55

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SKETCHES of Leadership o o o o >
S @
trands of Conversion
Gordon Smith in Beginning Well defi nes conversion as a series of
Each strand is distinct but interrelated. The order and timing in which
events that God uses to equip a person for a lifetime of transformation
one embraces these components will be unique for each person and are
and mission. Smith suggests seven strands that a person must engage with
not hoops to be jumped through. Usually a person will have an experience
or embrace for a "good conversion" to occur. He uses the word "strand"
with one or more of the seven strands that creates a "tipping point, or
because it represents components of conversion that God has likely been
moment that crystallizes their commitment to becoming a follower of Jesus.
building toward in one's life for years. The assumption is that God's grace is
There are "little c" and "Big C" conversions along the way that signify that
constantly at work in the lives of those not yet converted.
something profound has happened in that person's journey toward Christ.
Strand Scripture
Approaches
Conversion Initiation
Comments:
In this strand the need is for clarity for the
Acts 8:29-39
sake of belief. Clarity could come in through
Answering questions;
the non- christian's own awareness or some-
Acts 10:9-23
clarifying mistruths;
Belief in Gospel
one helping them see what they lack. Jesus
John 3:1-15
Challenge/Allegory
does this with Nicodemus, the Holy Spirit
does this for Cornelius.
"It's your kindness that leads to repentance"
Enables someone to see their
Acts 26: 12-18
An awareness of sin allows for a turning
sin and He is quick to show
Confession of sin/ Repentance
John 8: 1-11
away from it and is accompanied by God's
mercy
love and grace.
For both the Ethiopian eunuch and the
Internal
woman at the well, they experience joy in
Acts 8: 29-39
Love someone into a trusting
Relationship/Trust Joy/
their conversion. Their joy is an overfl ow
John 4: 1-26
relationship with Him
Assurance of forgiveness
from the new sense of security. Thy trust

Jesus and want relationship with Him
Paul's conversion was about commitment to
Jesus. The rich young ruler was proposed
Acts 26: 12-18
Helping to transfer our
Allegiance to God;

the choice--could he sell everything? Selling
Mark 10:17-31 loyalties
God's purposes
everything was what was needed for a com-
plete transfer of allegiance to take place.

There are a variety of beliefs related to how
Prayer for the empowerment
Acts 10: 24-48
you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. What-
of the God through the Holy
Empowerment
Acts 14: 1-7
ever the church tradition, the emphasis is on
Spirit

receiving the gift offered to every believer.
Water baptism is a key strand because it
Invitation to embrace and
Outward statement of
Acts 8: 29-39
signifi es that the phyiscal body has a role in
participate in the death &
commitment; the physical
Acts 10: 47-48
conversion. It also is part of someone identi-
resurrection of Jesus
body's participation
fying themselves with the Body of Christ
Conversion ultimately is not completed
External
Acts 10: 1-48
Receiving love and help
Reconciliation; Church
alone, we need others involved for our long-
Acts 26: 12-18
from the Body
term growth and transformation.
Journal Suggestion
It is helpful to be in touch with the full breadth of our own journey of con-
version. Most, when asked about their story, recall only a narrow portion.
The more we are know about how God has worked in our lives, the better
we will be at discerning his work in others ­ and calling their attention to
it. Can we describe in our own journeys where we have seen these seven
strands? Smith encourages us to write a spiritual autobiography.
INTERVARSITY ®
Sketches of Leadership #55
©2007 InterVarsity Christian Fellowship 6400 Schroeder Road, P.O. Box 7895 Madison, WI 53707-7895
tel 608.274.9001 email info@intervarsity.org web www.intervarsity.org

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S
@
SKETCHES of Leadership o o o o >
trands of Conversion
Acts 8:29-38 Then the Spirit said to Philip, `Go over to this chariot and join it.' 30So Philip
ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, `Do you understand what you are
reading?' 31He replied, `How can I, unless someone guides me?' And he invited Philip to get in and
sit beside him. 32Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: `Like a sheep he
was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth.
33In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken
away from the earth.' 34The eunuch asked Philip, `About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet
say this, about himself or about someone else?' 35Then Philip began to speak, and starting with
this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36As they were going along the
road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, `Look, here is water! What is to prevent me
from being baptized?' 38He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the
eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39When they came up out of the
@
What do you notice about
water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his
conversion in each of the passages?
way rejoicing.
Acts 26:12-18 `With this in mind, I was travelling to Damascus with the authority and
Acts 8--Eunuch admits he
commission of the chief priests, 13when at midday along the road, your Excellency, I saw a light
doesn't understand and needs
clarity--an intellectual under-
from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions. 14When we had all
standing is needed; sacremental-
fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, "Saul, Saul, why are
-water baptism; emotional--joy
you persecuting me? It hurts you to kick against the goads." 15I asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The
Acts 26: Clarity about what Paul
Lord answered, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16But get up and stand on your feet; for
is doing wrong, persecuting
I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and testify to the things in which
Jesus, but done with Paul's best
in mind. He is being rescued.
you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you. 17I will rescue you from your people
God wants Paul's allegiance for
and from the Gentiles--to whom I am sending you 18to open their eyes so that they may turn from
Paul's sake and also for the sake
darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins
of the Kingdom--the Gentile
community.
and a place among those who are sanctifi ed by faith in me."
Acts 10:30-33, 44-47 Cornelius replied, `Four days ago at this very hour, at three o'clock,
Acts 10: Clarity and under-
I was praying in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling clothes stood before me. 31He said,
standing-- Cornelius speaking
"Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32Send
about God's preparation of his
therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is called Peter; he is staying in the home of Simon, a
heart; The Holy Spirit's empow-
erment--charismatic; community
tanner, by the sea." 33Therefore I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to
b/w Jews and Gentiles; baptism:
come. So now all of us are here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded
you to say.' ...
44 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. 45The
circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had
been poured out even on the Gentiles, 46for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling
God. Then Peter said, 47`Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have
received the Holy Spirit just as we have?'
INTERVARSITY ®
Sketches of Leadership #55

---

SKETCHES
S @
of Leadership o o o o >
trands of Conversion
Gordon Smith in Beginning Well defi nes conversion as a series of
Each strand is distinct but interrelated. The order and timing in which
events that God uses to equip a person for a lifetime of transformation
one embraces these components will be unique for each person and are
and mission. Smith suggests seven strands that a person must engage with
not hoops to be jumped through. Usually a person will have an experience
or embrace for a "good conversion" to occur. He uses the word "strand"
with one or more of the seven strands that creates a "tipping point, or
because it represents components of conversion that God has likely been
moment that crystallizes their commitment to becoming a follower of Jesus.
building toward in one's life for years. The assumption is that God's grace is
There are "little c" and "Big C" conversions along the way that signify that
constantly at work in the lives of those not yet converted.
something profound has happened in that person's journey toward Christ.
Strand Scripture
Approaches
Conversion Initiation
Comments:
In this strand the need is for clarity for the
Acts 8:29-39
sake of belief. Clarity could come in through
Answering questions;
the non- christian's own awareness or some-
Acts 10:9-23
clarifying mistruths;
Belief in Gospel
Intellectual
one helping them see what they lack. Jesus
John 3:1-15
Challenge/Allegory
does this with Nicodemus, the Holy Spirit
does this for Cornelius.
"It's your kindness that leads to repentance"
Enables someone to see their
Acts 26: 12-18
An awareness of sin allows for a turning
Penitentive
sin and He is quick to show
Confession of sin/ Repentance
John 8: 1-11
away from it and is accompanied by God's
mercy
love and grace.
For both the Ethiopian eunuch and the
Internal
woman at the well, they experience joy in
Acts 8: 29-39
Love someone into a trusting
Relationship/Trust Joy/
Affecitve
their conversion. Their joy is an overfl ow
John 4: 1-26
relationship with Him
Assurance of forgiveness
from the new sense of security. Thy trust

Jesus and want relationship with Him
Paul's conversion was about commitment to
Jesus. The rich young ruler was proposed
Acts 26: 12-18
Helping to transfer our
Allegiance to God;

Volitional
the choice--could he sell everything? Selling
Mark 10:17-31 loyalties
God's purposes
everything was what was needed for a com-
plete transfer of allegiance to take place.

There are a variety of beliefs related to how
Prayer for the empowerment
Charismatic
Acts 10: 24-48
you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. What-
of the God through the Holy
Empowerment
Acts 14: 1-7
ever the church tradition, the emphasis is on
Spirit

receiving the gift offered to every believer.
Water baptism is a key strand because it
Invitation to embrace and
Outward statement of
Acts 8: 29-39
signifi es that the phyiscal body has a role in
Water
participate in the death &
commitment; the physical
baptism
Acts 10: 47-48
conversion. It also is part of someone identi-
resurrection of Jesus
body's participation
fying themselves with the Body of Christ
Conversion ultimately is not completed
External
Acts 10: 1-48
Receiving love and help
Reconciliation; Church
alone, we need others involved for our long-
Communal
Acts 26: 12-18
from the Body
term growth and transformation.
Journal Suggestion
It is helpful to be in touch with the full breadth of our own journey of con-
version. Most, when asked about their story, recall only a narrow portion.
The more we are know about how God has worked in our lives, the better
we will be at discerning his work in others ­ and calling their attention to
it. Can we describe in our own journeys where we have seen these seven
INTERVARSITY
strands? Smith encourages us to write a spiritual autobiography.
®
Sketches of Leadership #55
©2007 InterVarsity Christian Fellowship 6400 Schroeder Road, P.O. Box 7895 Madison, WI 53707-7895
tel 608.274.9001 email info@intervarsity.org web www.intervarsity.org

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Document Outline

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• 55L.pdf

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