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Choose the Life: Exploring a Faith that Embraces Discipleship

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"Choose the Life" addresses fundamental reasons why many discipleship programs fail to work. Bill Hull's thesis is as follows, "A transformed life is needed, a life of depth of true disciples who have chosen to follow the life that Jesus lived. The reason the mission languishes is the acceptance of a nondiscipleship Christianity that creates shallow believers with hollow lives who don't affect those around them. This has led to the marginalization of the gospel and has retarded its spread because of its lack of authenticity and power" (215).

I have been a long-time fan of Bill Hull's writings and his passion for disciplemaking. With stark vulnerability, Hull reveals his own weaknesses and reasons why disciplemaking wasn't working as he desired at his Church. Hull asserts that character is formed in community and the New Testament model of discipleship should have the following characteristics:

1. A disciple submits to a teacher who teaches him or her how to follow Jesus.
2. A disciple learns Jesus' words.
3. A disciple learns Jesus' way of ministry.
4. A disciple imitates Jesus' life and character.
5. A disciple finds and teaches other disciples for Jesus.

Hull states, "The reason characteristics 2 through 4 are most common is that they are the least challenging of the five. Frankly, people can do these without having to change. It goes back to the indictment that we have found ways to be Christian without becoming Christlike. Items 1 and 5 make it all work" (37).

"Choose the Life" goes far beyond methodology to the underlying principles of how discipleship can be effective to transform others. Throughout the book, Hull emphasizes the necessity of relationships of trust in an environment of grace. Hull emphasizes that "people only accept truth they trust" (130). Hull candidly reveals his own spiritual journey how he, as a successful pastor, author, and discipleship leader, experienced brokenness before God resulting in a new perspective on ministry. "The key to developing character is brokenness before God. This brokenness is a product of humility and submission. These are the very qualities that Jesus modeled as his core" (194). God led him to an entirely new understanding of humility and submission to God, "I had so romanticized the concept of brokenness that I saw it as an event with a beginning and an end rather than a process - a state of being" (197). This is a significant concept for a proper understanding of brokenness.

I would be remiss if I did not reveal the source of the ideas which led to Bill Hull's spiritual revelation from success to significance. Hull clearly credits Bill Thrall and Bruce McNichol from Leadership Catalyst and their seminal book on character based leadership, "The Ascent of a Leader." Hull has masterfully applied the principles from the Leadership Catalyst workshop " Forming the High Trust Culture" to the disciplemaking context. I recommend that anyone who is serious about discipleship, attend the "Forming the High Trust Culture" workshop from Leadership Catalyst to learn the biblical principles which enables truth to transform others - I have witnessed firsthand its amazing effectiveness in transforming others into the likeness of Jesus Christ. "Choose the Life" emphasizes the necessity for a disciplemaker to develop the inner life because ministry flows from being. This will be one of the primary textbooks for my students in discipleship.

Bill Hull has made an important contribution to twenty-first-century disciple-making. Whereas much twentieth-century writing on discipleship focused on the product and the purpose, "Choose the Life" rightly moves us back to the process and the people.

Hull returns us to the ancient paths reminding us that God's way focuses upon character developed in community based upon content that leads to competence. In other words, we start with the heart (character) developed in the home (community) based upon the head (biblical content) resulting in hands (competence to do the work of the ministry).

"Choose the Life" provides the biblical and psychological (in the biblical sense of that word) foundation necessary for effective discipleship. It is a refreshing return to Jesus' model of ministry. Though not "programmatic," it is still practical for real world ministry.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction," "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends," and the forthcoming "Sacred Friendships: Listening to the Voices of Women Soul Care-Givers and Spiritual Directors."

I think what I liked best about this book is that is far from a "how to" manual on discipleship or church leadership full of "tips and tricks" on how to implement programs or get people to do things. Hull is honest about his own journey, and is compelling when he encourages the reader to choose a life of genuine discipleship. Hull identifies one of the primary problems in our churches as a lack of genuine discipleship, or Christ-likeness in the lives of average believers. The solution, he argues, is to become "intolerant of fringe Christianity." He then uses a five-fold rubric to structure his vision of discipleship: transformed mind, character, relationships, service, and influence.

One of Hull's more gripping arguments is that evangelism begins with a deepening church. Disciples given over to Christ and who have a God-like love for the world will make the best evangelists. In order to extend the branches of the church, it first must strengthen its roots. In addition, Hull argues, evangelism must be a call to a whole life. We should no longer get away with momentary decisions. We must model, encourage, and produce a structure where believers at all maturity levels can find their lives aimed toward Christ.

I am convinced of Hull's basic argument that the Church needs to recapture a robust notion of discipleship. His argument that, "discipleship...is the primary and exclusive work of the church" is right on the money (pg. 29). If you want to be motivated to find out what that means as an individual or even as a leader, this is a tremendous work.

Bill Hull raises the bar for those who claim to be Christians. This book clearly supports his thesis that discipleship is not optional, and is not reserved for some elite segment of the church. He presents discipleship for what it should be - a lifelong multifaceted transformation of our character, our mind, our heart, our service and our leadership - instead of the all-too typical depiction of discipleship as a limited duration study of biblical facts leading to some type of "certificate of discipleship." One strength of the book is the degree to which Hull is willing to be transparent about his own life struggles, and the degree to which he himself is willing to model vulnerability. Fans of Richard Foster, Dallas Willard and Dietrich Bonhoeffer will enjoy, be enlightened, and experience tremendous challenge in their faith by reading and re-reading this book. I have bought and distributed no less than 30 copies.

Bill Hull has written an insightful book about the failings of the church. His thesis is summed up on page 31, "The awful truth is that we are making very little impact on culture because we are shallow. And we are shallow because we have separated salvation from discipleship." Hull defines discipleship as a five step process wherein one submits to a mentor, learns of the words, ministry and life of Jesus and then finds others and makes disciples of Jesus. Hull says that the first and last steps are often neglected with the result that genuine discipleship is rare.

The last half of the book, where the life of discipleship is discussed in the context of the mind, relationships, submission and leadership is outstanding. I could quote in this review dozens of sentences I highlighted in these chapters. Choose the Life is a book I will be revisiting often as I seek to follow Christ.

This is truly one of the best books I have read in a long time. This book helped crystalize my thinking on some things that have been bothering me for a while about how we live the Christian life and has given me some direction on how to address these problems in my own life and how I may be able to help other do the same thing along the way. I'm planning on getting more copies of this book for a few friends.

I heartily recommend this book. I am studying this book with a group of men from my church. Bill Hull challenges us to put into action the teachings of the Bible. Intellectual accent to the truths taught in the Bible is not the faith taught in the Bible. Bill is refreshingly direct. He provides a method to help us grow in Christ. He identifies the bearers to moving forward in discipleship both within the church and each of us individually. He shares his experience of dealing with his church environment as well as his own bearers. His honesty and humility resulted in him be broken before God and allowed God's Spirit to use him to help others embrace the life of discipleship. The accompanying study guide and video help reinforce the principle's discussed in the book.

Hull has hit it on the head. After many years as a pulpiteer, even preaching discipling, he faced the poverty of his approach. His is a radically biblical call back to personally making disciples. Pastors wrapped up in programs or power or personality and not people won't like this book. Pastor, return to what God called you to in the beginning - not pleasing people but making true disciples of Christ and, in the PROCESS (not purpose-driven, you notice), you will become one yourself.

I have enjoyed reading this book immensely! I am finding in application that it is a wonderful look at the Gospel and a great way to get to know the Savior better and listen for His voice in my life!

This book is a must read for all professing christians. The author provides the motivation and the method to enable the reader to evaluate "nondiscipleship" christianity, and decide whther or not that is an oxymoron, and if it is, what the would-be christian must do about it.
It is written clearly and is easy to understand, and therefore begs the choice from each of us!