Monday, July 29, 2013

Conversion Youth Sunday School Lesson



Conversion Bible Study

Circle the common word or words that occur in all of the following verses and passages.

Genesis 14:7 – "Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who were living in Hazazon Tamar."

1 Kings 8:46-50"When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to his own land, far away or near; 47 and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their conquerors and say, 'We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly'; 48 and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to you toward the land you gave their fathers, toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name; 49 then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. 50 And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their conquerors to show them mercy…"

Matthew 9:22 – "Jesus turned and saw her. 'Take heart, daughter,' he said, 'your faith has healed you.' And the woman was healed from that moment."

Luke 1:17"And he [John] will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Acts 3:19 – "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."

Look back over the terms that you circled.  For each use of the term, would you say that it is being used in a physical sense, an emotional sense, or a spiritual sense?  Write the verses in the boxes below.

Physical
Emotional
Spiritual
Genesis 14:7
Matthew 9:22
1 Kings 8:47
Luke 1:17
1 Kings 8:47
1 Kings 8:48
Acts 3:19


Conversion Bible Study

Circle the common word or words that occur in all of the following verses and passages.

Genesis 14:7 – "Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who were living in Hazazon Tamar."

1 Kings 8:46-50"When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to his own land, far away or near; 47 and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their conquerors and say, 'We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly'; 48 and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to you toward the land you gave their fathers, toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name; 49 then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. 50 And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their conquerors to show them mercy…"

Matthew 9:22 – "Jesus turned and saw her. 'Take heart, daughter,' he said, 'your faith has healed you.' And the woman was healed from that moment."

Luke 1:17"And he [John] will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Acts 3:19 – "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."

Look back over the terms that you circled.  For each use of the term, would you say that it is being used in a physical sense, an emotional sense, or a spiritual sense?  Write the verses in the boxes below.

Physical
Emotional
Spiritual





Conversion Class Notes



What does "Conversion" mean?

Definition: Conversion = dramatic change
Changing one thing into a completely other thing
Noticeably changing the purpose for which something is used
Example: A Convert – changes from one system of thought or set of beliefs to another system of    thought or set of beliefs
Changes commitment from one way of life to another way of life
Purpose in life or what they are committed to has changed
Synonym: "Repentance"

Selected Scriptural Terms for "Conversion" or "Repentance"
First Testament:
bwv (shub) = “to come back”, "to return"
used physically and spiritually (Genesis 14:7; 1 Kings 8:46-50, etc.)

New Testament:
epistrefw (epistrefo) = “to turn”, “to return”
used physically (Matthew 9:22; 12:44; 24:18; Mark 8:33; Luke 2:20; 8:55; John 21:20;
Acts 9:40; 15:36; 16:18; Revelation 1:12)
used emotionally (Matthew 10:13; Luke 1:17)
used spiritually (Matthew 13:15; Acts 3:19; 9:35; 11:21; 14:15; 15:3, 3; 16:18; 26:18, 20;    28:27; 2 Corinthians 3:16; Thessalonians 1:9; 1 Peter 2:25)

"Conversion" or "Repentance" is the idea of someone having turned their back on God metaphorically  and who has been walking away from Him in their heart, now turning around and coming back  to Him.

metanoew (metanoeo) – “to change one’s mind”, “to think differently” (Acts 3:19, etc.)

How does Conversion (Repentance) happen?

Regeneration is what God does in our subconscious. 

Conversion, or Repentance, is the conscious effect of regeneration. 

God regenerates us, gives us new life in our souls and once we have realized that, Conversion, or  Repentance, is our response to God's regenerating act.


Who participates in Conversion (Repentance)? 
God must grant conversion, or repentance in order to allow a person to do so (Acts 11:18; 16:14;
2 Timothy 2:25).

Isaiah 6:9-10 – "He [God] said, 'Go and tell this people: "Be ever hearing, but never     understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving."  10Make 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.'"

Acts 11:18 – "When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So   then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."

Acts 16:14 – "One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from    the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond    to Paul's message."

2 Timothy 2:25 – "Those who oppose them [the Lord's servant] they must gently instruct, in the    hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth."

This granting, however, is simply that.  It is not forcing.

Person is still responsible for conversion, or repentance (Jeremiah 18:11; Ezekiel 18:23, 32; 33:11;
Matthew 11:20; Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9; Revelation 2:21-22; 3:3; 9:20-21; 16:9-11).

Ezekiel 18:23, 32 – "'Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?' declares the Sovereign    LORD. 'Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? … For I take    no pleasure in the death of anyone,' declares the Sovereign LORD. 'Repent and live!'"

Revelation 2:21 – "I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling." 


How do I know Conversion (Repentance) has really happened?

You must be truly sorry for your sins (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).

 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 – "yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because    your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so    were not harmed in any way by us. 10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to    salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."

You must truly believe (Mark 16:16; John 3:16-18; 6:29; Romans 10:9).

You must act differently (Matthew 3:8; Luke 19:8-9; etc.).

 Matthew 3:8 – "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance."

 Luke 19:8-9 – "But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, 'Look, Lord! Here and now I give    half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will    pay back four times the amount.' 9Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this    house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.'"


How often can Conversion (Repentance) happen?

Is Conversion, or Repentance, for forever?
If someone has Converted, or has Repented, is it possible for them to turn away from God again?
Is it possible to re-Convert, or come to Repentance again, after a time of engaging in sinful behavior?

Conversion happens once.  Berhkhof says that true Conversion, or Repentance, is a change that takes  place in a moment.  It is not a process.  It takes place once and cannot be repeated.

Conversion, or Repentance, may not be repeated for those who, having known God, completely  turn away from Him once again (Hebrews 6:4-8).

 Hebrews 6:4-6 – "It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted    the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of    the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6if they fall away, to be brought back   to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and    subjecting Him to public disgrace."

Repeated Conversion, or Repentance, possible for Christians.  Conversion, or Repentance, is our  conscious, active, response to regeneration.  We may not always continue to respond to God's  grace or live our faith as we should.  We all continue to sin, even after our regeneration.  Thus  we are in need of repentance continually.  A person that does not completely turn their back on  God again can be Converted, or can Repent, more than once (Luke 22:32; James 5:19-20;  Revelation 2:5, 16, 21-22; 3:3, 19; etc.). 

 James 5:19-20 – "My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and    someone should bring them back, 20remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the    error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins."

 Revelation 2:5 – "Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things    you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from    its place."

 Christians are commanded to and given a chance to repent.

Conversion may be temporary (Matthew 13:20-21; 2 Peter 2:20-22; etc.).

 Matthew 13:20-21 – " The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the person who   hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since they have no root, they last    only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly    fall away."

 2 Peter 2:20-22 – "If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and    Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the    end than they were at the beginning. 21It would have been better for them not to have    known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the   sacred command that was passed on to them. 22Of them the proverbs are true: 'A dog    returns to its vomit,' and, 'A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.'"

Conversion Class Notes



What does "Conversion" mean?


Definition: Conversion = _______________________________________________________________
Changing one thing into a completely other thing
Noticeably changing the purpose for which something is used

Example: _______________________________________ – changes from one system of thought or set    of beliefs to another system of thought or set of beliefs 
Changes commitment from one way of life to another way of life
Purpose in life or what they are committed to has changed

Synonym: ___________________________________________________________________________

Selected Scriptural Terms for "Conversion" or "Repentance"
First Testament:
bwv (shub) = _________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________ (Genesis 14:7; 1 Kings 8:46-50, etc.)

New Testament:
epistrefw (epistrefo) = ________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________ (Matthew 9:22; 12:44; 24:18; Mark 8:33; Luke 2:20; 8:55; John 21:20; Acts 9:40; 15:36; 16:18;  Revelation 1:12)

______________________________________________________________________________ (Matthew 10:13; Luke 1:17)

______________________________________________________________________________ (Matthew 13:15; Acts 3:19; 9:35; 11:21; 14:15; 15:3, 3; 16:18; 26:18, 20; 28:27;
2 Corinthians 3:16; Thessalonians 1:9; 1 Peter 2:25)

"Conversion" or "Repentance" is the idea of someone having turned their back on God metaphorically  and who has been walking away from Him in their heart, now turning around and coming back  to Him.

metanoew (metanoeo) = ________________________________________________________________  (Acts 3:19, etc.)

How does Conversion (Repentance) happen?


Regeneration is what God does __________________________________________________________. 

____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________. 

God regenerates us, gives us new life in our souls and once we have realized that, Conversion, or  Repentance, is our response to God's regenerating act.

Who participates in Conversion (Repentance)? 

____________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________ (Acts 11:18; 16:14; 2 Timothy 2:25).

Isaiah 6:9-10 – "He [God] said, 'Go and tell this people: "Be ever hearing, but never     understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving."  10Make 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.'"

Acts 11:18 – "When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So   then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."

Acts 16:14 – "One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from    the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond    to Paul's message."

2 Timothy 2:25 – "Those who oppose them [the Lord's servant] they must gently instruct, in the    hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth."

____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________.

____________________________________________________________________________________
(Jeremiah 18:11; Ezekiel 18:23, 32; 33:11; Matthew 11:20; Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9;
Revelation 2:21-22; 3:3; 9:20-21; 16:9-11).

Ezekiel 18:23, 32 – "'Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?' declares the Sovereign    LORD. 'Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? … For I take    no pleasure in the death of anyone,' declares the Sovereign LORD. 'Repent and live!'"

Revelation 2:21 – "I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling." 



How do I know Conversion (Repentance) has really happened?


____________________________________________________________________________________  (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).

 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 – "yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because    your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so    were not harmed in any way by us. 10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to    salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."

____________________________________________________________________________________  (Mark 16:16; John 3:16-18; 6:29; Romans 10:9).

____________________________________________________________________________________  (Matthew 3:8; Luke 19:8-9; etc.).

 Matthew 3:8 – "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance."

 Luke 19:8-9 – "But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, 'Look, Lord! Here and now I give    half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will    pay back four times the amount.' 9Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this    house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.'"

How often can Conversion (Repentance) happen?

Is Conversion, or Repentance, for forever?
If someone has Converted, or has Repented, is it possible for them to turn away from God again?
Is it possible to re-Convert, or come to Repentance again, after a time of engaging in sinful behavior?

_______________________________________________________________.  Berhkhof says that true  Conversion, or Repentance, is a change that takes place in a moment.  It is not a process.  It takes  place once and cannot be repeated.

____________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________ (Hebrews 6:4-8).

 Hebrews 6:4-6 – "It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted    the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of    the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6if they fall away, to be brought back   to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and    subjecting Him to public disgrace."

___________________________________________________________________________________.   Conversion, or Repentance, is our conscious, active, response to regeneration.  We may not  always continue to respond to God's  grace or live our faith as we should.  We all continue to sin,  even after our regeneration.  Thus we are in need of repentance continually.  A person that does  not completely turn their back on God again can be Converted, or can Repent, more than once  (Luke 22:32; James 5:19-20;  Revelation 2:5, 16, 21-22; 3:3, 19; etc.). 

 James 5:19-20 – "My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and    someone should bring them back, 20remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the    error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins."

 Revelation 2:5 – "Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things    you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from    its place."

 _____________________________________________________________________________.

____________________________________________________________________________________ (Matthew 13:20-21; 2 Peter 2:20-22; etc.).

 Matthew 13:20-21 – " The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the person who   hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since they have no root, they last    only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly    fall away."

 2 Peter 2:20-22 – "If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and    Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the    end than they were at the beginning. 21It would have been better for them not to have    known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the   sacred command that was passed on to them. 22Of them the proverbs are true: 'A dog    returns to its vomit,' and, 'A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.'"

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