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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Church Could Use More Books Like This, August 21, 2011
This review is from: Building a Discipling Culture (Kindle Edition)
I have the good fortune of knowing the authors and some of the other people that stand behind both the content and the lived-out reality of the text. I titled this post "The Church Could Use More Books Like This," for 3 reasons.
1) This book isn't theory, it emerges from decades of experience and reflection. And not just any experience, but experience in the trenches of Post-Christian Britain. It's not a perfect symmetry, but in many ways, the United States is following quick on the cultural heels of Western Europe and we would do well to pay careful attention to the insights of our brothers and sisters who are seeking to live into the reality of God's Kingdom in that context.
2) The focus of this book is something that a great many of us should be embarrassed is not more central to our ecclesiologies, discipleship. For far too long, discipleship has been seen as an add-on to the life of our churches. The assumption of these authors, however, is that churches actually only exist for one single purpose, to make disciples of Jesus. They'll come right out and tell you that their way isn't the only way to go about it, but they are unrelenting in their assertion that creating a discipling culture is imperative to a healthy identity and life for local congregations.
3) The final reason the Church needs more books like this is because it will provoke important questions. Vested readers are sure to find their margins filled with marks and notes. The assumptions and conclusions in this book emerge from a theological perspective which, though not fully unpacked here, will undoubtedly result in readers discovering that they may need to rethink some of their own perspectives and paradigms in order to really receive what the authors are saying and doing. For those who just want to extract a model and language to use in the context of another "church program," I suppose that's possible, but it would be an exercise in missing the point.
This is a great book that it written in such a way that it is accessible to any and all who are interested in thinking through what it might mean and look like for their church to build a discipling culture.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A new paradigm, not just another program, September 7, 2011
This review is from: Building a Discipling Culture (Kindle Edition)
I've been a small group and discipleship pastor for nearly ten years now, and in that time I've seen lots of different theories and resources for how to develop discipleship systems. I've led the groups ministry for a large mega-church, for a small church plant, and I've listened to, coached and counseled churches of every size in between. In all my experience it is rare to find someone who's not just talking about a new process or program but a whole new paradigm on discipleship. This is what Mike Breen and the folks from 3DM are offering. These aren't just theories or abstract ideas; this is a book borne from the labor of leaders on the front lines working with one burning passion - to create growing disciples of Jesus Christ.
One caution: do not read this book as you might all the other small groups or discipleship resources out there. Do not go looking for the next "how to" book on creating a new program or system. You may even read this book and think, "So what. That seems too simple." But do not let the simplicity of the ideas obscure its power. Read the book, reflect on its ideas, and if you are stirred by the concepts presented, I suggest you find someone already implementing these ideas in their church and learn from them. You cannot put new wine in old wineskins, and you won't be able to apply many of the principles in this book without letting go of some of your existing paradigms. Seek out someone who can help you with that journey. We've greatly benefited from the learning of others who have walked this road ahead of us.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The practical book you've been waiting for, August 20, 2011
This review is from: Building a Discipling Culture (Kindle Edition)
More than likely, Building a Discipling Culture is the book you've been waiting a long time for. It not only is able to connect many of the dots for how the Western church has gotten so wildly off track, it provides a practical way forward (that yes, every day, un-seminary trained Christians can use). Breen and Cockram make the point, over and over again, that the call of Christians is to make disciples and if you do it like Jesus, you always get the church. You will get more leaders and you will see people come to faith. Rather than putting all of our eggs in the build-the-church basket, let's go with the original plan Jesus left us: Make disciples. Out of that will emerge the types of communities we see in the New Testament.
What the book does especially well is ground it in the biblical text while giving a very helpful framework for how to make disciples that anyone can do. It's not for the spiritual elite, it's for everyone. And as such, the book is divided into three parts. Part 1 lays out the argument for how we've gotten to the place we are and why biblical discipleship is the way forward. In Part 2, the authors share the simple discipleship language they developed in the past 30 years that shapes individuals and the church culture (non-spoiler alert: it's all grounded in tons of scripture). Part 3 connects all of the dots and gives practical insight into how this is done in every-day life through a discipleship vehicle they call Huddles. It really is a great blend of theology, theory, Bible and practice.
Personally, it shed light on all the reasons why in some cases I've been successful in making disciples in the past and in others why I haven't. There isn't a magic formula that they introduce, just a way of connecting dots that perhaps we haven't put together before (yes, I've said "connecting the dots" a lot in this review!). Or as they say, "There isn't a formula to these things, but there is often a form." Suffice it to say, if you're wanting to be missional or your heart longs to see people transformed like we read in scripture, this book is for you. For me, I feel far more confident in my call to make disciples and feel I've got a great tool to see it happen well.
One thing to note: This is the second edition of Building a Discipling Culture. Probably 60% of this book is new material and is probably 100 pages longer than the first. The original book spent most of the book going into the discipling language and it seems as if the authors wanted to add a lot more practical "how-to" for the second edition. Good call.
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