Brief Answers to Key Questions
Here are my brief responses to the research questions being studied by a doctoral student at Asbury Seminary.
Convert
Suppose that someone asks you, “Can you help me know what a Christian is, and how I can be one?” How would you respond? To get at this question, please complete the following sentence:
A person is a Christian convert if… [Finish this sentence with a list of things you associate with Christian conversion]
A person is a Christian convert if he/she trusts in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus as the foundation for his/her life and lives moment by moment in light of this reality.
Maturity
Suppose that you have to categorize the Christians in your church (ministry) into two groups - young (immature) believers and mature (or maturing) believers. How would you define mature (maturing) believers? To get at this question, please complete the following sentence:
A person is a mature or maturing Christian if… [Finish this sentence with a list of things you associate with Christian maturity]
1) Is an active participant in God’s mission to restore Creation and humanity; (Mission)
2) is part of a community of Christ followers; (Community)
3) Is growing in Christlikeness; (Holiness)