Transforming Your Life The Process Of Conversion

The Bible reveals that conversion is a process that begins with God's calling, followed by repentance, baptism and the receiving of the Holy Spirit—finally climaxing with the return of Jesus Christ, when the dead in Christ are resurrected to immortality and given eternal life. That is the ultimate transformation, being changed from a mortal to an immortal being! Inside this Bible study aid: - Praying for a Right Spirit and New Attitude - We Must Change Our Way of Thinking - What Is Sin? - What's Wrong With Our Human Nature? - What's So Bad About Sin? - Must We Obey God's Commandments? - Why Be Baptized? - The Holy Spirit: God's Transforming Power - Why Can't Theologians Explain the Trinity Doctrine? - Is the Holy Spirit a Person? - A High Priest Eager to Help Us - Growing to Spiritual Maturity - Why Bible Study Is Necessary for Spiritual Growth - How to Stir Up God's Spirit - The Prayer God Will Hear - Repentance Must Be With Faith - Does God Set Conditions on His Gift of Eternal Life?

Gordon T. Smith contends that a chief cause of spiritual immaturity in the evangelical church is an inadequate theology of conversion. Surveying Scripture, spiritual autobiographies and a broad range of theologies of conversion, he seeks to foster in the Christian community a dynamic language of conversion that leads to spiritual transformation and mature Christian living.

During the past thirty years the American religious landscape has undergone a dramatic change. More and more churches meet in converted warehouses, many have ministers who've never attended a seminary, and congregations are singing songs whose melodies might be heard in bars or nightclubs. Donald E. Miller's provocative examination of these "new paradigm churches"—sometimes called megachurches or postdenominational churches shows how they are reinventing the way Christianity is experienced in the United States today. Drawing on over five years of research and hundreds of interviews, Miller explores three of the movements that have created new paradigm churches: Calvary Chapel, Vineyard Christian Fellowship, and Hope Chapel. Together, these groups have over one thousand congregations and are growing rapidly, attracting large numbers of worshipers who have felt alienated from institutional religion. While attempting to reconnect with first-century Christianity, these churches meet in nonreligious structures and use the medium of contemporary twentieth-century America to spread their message through contemporary forms of worship, Christian rock music, and a variety of support and interest groups. In the first book to examine postdenominational churches in depth, Miller argues that these churches are involved in a second Reformation, one that challenges the bureaucracy and rigidity of mainstream Christianity. The religion of the new millennium, says Miller, will connect people to the sacred by reinventing traditional worship and redefining the institutional forms associated with denominational Christian churches. Nothing less than a transformation of religion in the United States may be taking place, and Miller convincingly demonstrates how "postmodern traditionalists" are at the forefront of this change.

This volume offers much-needed theological reflection on the phenomenon of conversion and transformation. Gordon Smith provides a robust evaluation that covers the broad range of thinking about conversion across Christian traditions and addresses global contexts. Smith contends that both in the church and in discussions about contemporary mission, the language of conversion inherited from revivalism is inadequate in helping to navigate the questions that shape how we do church, how we approach faith formation, how evangelism is integrated into congregational life, and how we witness to the faith in non-Christian environments. We must rethink the nature of the church in light of how people actually come to faith in Christ. After drawing on ancient and pre-revivalist wisdom on conversion, Smith delineates the contours of conversion and Christian initiation for today's church. He concludes by discussing the art of spiritual autobiography and what it means to be a congregation.

Just as He promised, Jesus Christ is returning soon. When He comes He will replace the human governments of the world with His own Kingdom of peace and joy. Find out what Jesus' reign on earth will look like and how you can be there to see it. Inside this booklet: - Introduction - The Fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil - A Dream Come True - Causes of War - The Way of Peace - The Entire World is in Need of a Heart Transplant - Changing Hearts and Minds - The Wonders of the World Beyond Today - Jesus Chris is coming with His Kingdom - Choose life today!

The Creator of mankind does have a plan for you, and He reveals it through an annual cycle of festivals called Holy Days described in the Scriptures. It is an astounding plan offering an incredible future to every man, woman, and child who has ever lived. The Bible study aid ebook, God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind, will help you understand the incredible truth about what lies ahead for all humanity. Chapters in this ebook: -- Introduction: God's Holy Day Plan -- Are God's Holy Days Relevant Today? -- God's Festivals in the New Testament -- The Passover: Why Did Jesus Christ Have to Die? -- The Feast of Unleavened Bread: Replacing Sin With the Bread of Life -- The Feast of Pentecost: The Firstfruits of God's Harvest -- The Feast of Trumpets: A Turning Point in History -- Atonement: Removal of Sin's Cause and Reconciliation to God -- The Feast of Tabernacles: Jesus Christ Reigns Over All the Earth -- The Eighth Day: Eternal Life Offered to All -- What Is the Fate of the Unrepentant? -- How God's Festivals Teach Us About Jesus Christ -- How Should We Observe God's Festivals? -- Colossians 2:16 Shows Gentile Christians Observed the Biblical Holy Days -- The Annual Festivals of God - Holy Day Calendar Inside this Bible Study Aid ebook: "Paul and all the apostles taught a consistent message of the Christian's obligation to follow the example of Jesus Christ in all matters." "Keeping the Passover each year reminds us that God is the forgiver of sin who grants us eternal life in His Kingdom through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our Passover." "Our observance of the Days of Unleavened Bread helps us realize our crucial need for Jesus' help in overcoming our weaknesses." "Pentecost serves as an annual reminder that our Creator still works miracles, granting His Spirit to those called to be the firstfruits of His spiritual harvest, empowering them to carry out His work in this world." "Jesus Christ will return to raise His followers from death and establish God's perfect rule over the earth. This is the wonderful, inspiring meaning of the Feast of Trumpets." "The Day of Atonement thus pictures the loving reconciliation all people can have with God through Christ's sacrifice. It also shows the remarkable truth that Satan, the author of sin, will eventually be removed so that humanity can at last attain reconciliation with God on a universal basis." "The Feast of Tabernacles offers a marvelous opportunity for salvation to those left alive at Christ's return, as well as their physical descendants during the Millennium." "What is the fate of those who die with no real knowledge of Jesus Christ, the Son of God? What hope is there for the billions who have lived and died without knowledge of God's purpose? The Scriptures show that these are not cut off without hope. He will bring them back to life and give them their opportunity for eternal salvation!"

As you begin to change the way you think about yourself on the inside, the life of God begins to show up on the outside-your relationships, your finances, your career, even your health. Let the transformation begin and start to change your life from the inside out!