The document discusses the differences between conversion and discipleship. It defines conversion as the moment one becomes a believer in Jesus, while discipleship is the lifelong journey of learning from Jesus and following His example. Conversion is the starting point of the faith, but discipleship is the ongoing process of sanctification until glorification. True discipleship requires total allegiance to Christ and leaving behind worldly desires to live a Christ-centered life through obedience, love, and service.

1. Conversion and
Discipleship
Experience
Prepared by Glenn Jade V. Mariano, PhD
Personal Witnessing (Leadership)
AY: 2022-2023-B

2. Conversion
vs.
Discipleship
What is Conversion?
What is Discipleship?
What is the difference between conversion
and discipleship?
What is the difference between a convert
and a disciple of Jesus?
Where do these conversion and discipleship
belong in the process of salvation?

3. For Group
Discussion (7 min)
What is the difference
between conversion and
discipleship?
“Am I a convert or a
disciple?”

4. Let’s watch . . .
• “Am I Convert or Disciple?” With Pastor Gary Hamrick
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9Zdx6FgbWQ
• 9:30 minutes

6. Conversion
vs.
Discipleship
• Nick Cash (2012):
• “The Great Commission of our Lord is to go and
make disciples, not converts. The most
important number in the Church today – the
most critical statistic – is not the number of
attendees attracted, or members enrolled, or
even converts baptized. The most vital
barometer of the health, strength, and
longevity of the Church is only this: the number
of disciples made.”

7. Conversion vs. Discipleship
Nick Cash (2012):
• Conversion is merely the first step of discipleship.
• Conversion is not the end goal.
• “Becoming a Christian” or “getting saved” or “accepting
Jesus” (or whatever phrase your faith tradition might use) is
just the starting line! Now run the marathon of discipleship
that has been set before you and trod by Christ Himself!

8. Conversion vs. Discipleship
• Nick Cash (2012):
• “Discipleship is the lifelong journey of learning to live like
Christ and unto Christ. This involves following two things:
1. the earthly example Jesus recorded in the Gospels of the
New Testament, and
2. the ongoing leadership of His Spirit that resides in you
every day.

9. Conversion vs. Discipleship
• Nick Cash (2012):
• “For most Christians, conversion was a specific moment in time
when they:
• (a) truly believed that Jesus of Nazareth is God’s Son and is the
Savior/Redeemer of all creation (themselves included, of
course!), and
• (b) responded to that belief with a dedication of their lives to
live and love like Jesus.”
• (cf. Rom 10:9-13)

10. Conversion vs. Discipleship
• Nick Cash (2012):
• Summary:
Ø“Conversion is temporary: it is either an instance or a season
where a nonbeliever becomes a believer/follower.”
Ø“Discipleship begins at this moment (or season) of conversion and
continues on for the rest of your earthly life.”
Ø Nick Cash, “What’s the difference between conversion and discipleship?” August 24, 2012, https://liketreesplanted.com/2012/08/24/whats-the-
difference-between-conversion-and-discipleship/#:~:text=In%20either%20case%2C%20conversion%20is%20temporary
%3A%20it%20is,My%20conversion%20to%20belief%20occurred%20at%20age%209.

11. Question?
•Where does the conversion
experience belong in the
process of salvation?
a. Justification
b. Sanctification
c. Glorification

12. Question?
•Where does the discipleship
experience belong in the
process of salvation?
a. Justification
b. Sanctification
c. Glorification

13. God‘s Act of
Redemption
Call to Repentance and Forgiveness
(Justification?)
Call to Discipleship (Sanctification?)
Call to Faith and Obedience
Call to Holiness
Call to Love and Obedience

14. Call to Discipleship
• Miroslav M. Kiš (2000, p. 760):
• “’And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’
Immediately they left their nets and followed him’’ (Matt. 4:19, 20). From
this call several points emerge.
• First, a sinner is confronted with the call in the midst of the daily bustle
of life. It surprises, intrudes, and interrupts the normal routine.
• Second, it is Jesus who calls.
• Third, the call is actually a command, which allows only two
alternatives: a positive or a negative response. To ignore means to
disobey, because Jesus refuses to negotiate (Luke 9:59–62).
• Fourth, the call summons us to walk with Jesus, abandoning whatever
security we may have had.”

15. Christian Discipleship
• John Fowler (2000, p. 278):
“Salvation is thus seen as a radical shift from self to Christ.
What is crucial in Christian discipleship is a daily
experience of taking up the cross, crucifying self, and
‘being transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you
may prove what is the will of God, what is good and
acceptable and perfect’ (Rom. 12:2; cf. Luke 9:23; Gal.
2:20).”

16. Christian Discipleship
•Miroslav M. Kiš(2000, p. 787):
“Christian discipleship requires total allegiance
to Christ, leaving no room for Christians to be
enslaved to the dictates of fashion.”

17. True Sign of Discipleship
• Ivan T. Blazen (2000, p. 337):
• “At the heart of Adventism is the Christological understanding
that Christ is both Saviour and Lord. ‘If we accept Christ as a
Redeemer, we must accept Him as a Ruler’ (FW 16). As
Saviour, Christ offers to mankind the gift of salvation and, as
Lord, He calls for walking in newness of life (Rom. 6:4),
manifesting the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22), and obedience
to God‘s law (Rom. 8:4; Rev. 14:12) as the ‘service and
allegiance of love,’ ‘the true sign of discipleship’ (SC 60).”

18. Discipleship
Wheel
• Jim Putman (2017), “The Process
Of Disciple Making – The
Discipleship Wheel,”
http://jimputman.com/2018/11/
10/the-process-of-disciple-
making-the-discipleship-wheel-
free-resource/

19. Discipleship Wheel
Share
Connect
Train to
Minister
Disciple
Maker

20. Application
As the disciples of Jesus, how should we remain
faithful and improve (by God’s help) our status as
His disciples?
How should we make disciples of Christ?