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From Dwight's Desk
“Converted”
Are you “convinced” or are you “converted”? To be
“convinced” is to be persuaded by the evidence. To be
“converted” is to be persuaded by the evidence to the point
that one changes his or her life. I know a lot of people
who are “convinced” that Jesus is the Son of God and that
the Bible is the Word of God, but they are not “converted.”
There are not persuaded to the point that they have changed
their lives. Again, are you “convinced” or are you
“converted”?
Two words are translated “convert” or “converted” in
the New Testament. The word “strepho” means “to
turn” or “to turn oneself.” The word “epistrepho”
means “to turn about” or “to turn towards.” So, the word
“convert” means “to turn.” The American Heritage Dictionary
defines “convert” as “to adapt to a new or different
purpose.” How appropriate!
The Master said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you
are converted and become as little children, you will by no
means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). Here the
word “converted” (strepho) means “to turn.” We must
“turn” to God to go to heaven! James wrote, “Brethren, if
anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns
him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the
error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a
multitude of sins” (James 5:19,20). Here the word “turn”
(epistrepho), “covert” in the King James Version, means
“to turn about.” We must turn our lives around when we do
wrong.
So, are you “convinced” or are you “converted”? You
are “convinced” that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. You
are “convinced” that His will must be followed to go to
heaven. But are you “converted”? Have you turned your life
to the Lord? Have you changed your life? Has “conviction”
resulted in “conversion”?
The Master lamented, “For the hearts of this people
have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their
eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with
their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them” (Matthew
13:15). We must “turn” (epistrepho) or “ be
converted” (King James Version) to be healed! Which is it?
Dwight Fuqua
“to Him be glory in the church by Jesus Christ to all
generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:21)
Church Growth
Principles
1.
A growing congregation has a deliberate commitment to people beyond
itself.
2.
A growing congregation knows why it exists.
3.
A growing congregation has a climate within that accepts and affirms
new persons.
4.
A growing church multiplies the number of meaningful groups within
it.
5.
A growing church has accepted evangelism as a basic responsibility of
the local church.
6.
A growing church has leadership, which encourages and enables growth.
7.
A growing church faces and deals with obstacles to growth.
8.
A growing church plans expectantly.
9.
A growing church uses the God-given gifts of its members.
10.
A growing church trains its members for the tasks to which they are
called.
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