Customer Reviews

True Discipleship

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As is typical, God used an unknown author and an obscure little book to shake me up. MacDonald talks about the costs of discipleship- leaving behind worldly cares (including money!), being set apart, and living exactly like Jesus commanded. He says that we've too often tried to meld a Bible-centered life, and a me-centered life. You look around at American society, and find out that it doesn't prove an effective life. So MacDonald calls us back- not to HIS kind of life, but to a Biblically-ordered life of a true disciple. It's hard to argue with his repeated appeals to Scripture, and his straighforward tone. I like this book an awful lot, and definitely encourage you to check it out.

This book has been written by someone who sincerely wants to spell out what Jesus meant when he said, "Unless . . . you cannot be a follower of mine" and "You cannot be be a follower of mine unless . . ." As such it is a profoundly disturbing read. In just a few pages (it is a short paperback), Macdonald makes it very clear as to what Jesus requires of a Christian, going on to give live examples of people who have taken Jesus at his word. This book shocked me out of complacency, and was the beginning of a serious seeking after what it means to follow Jesus. I unreservedly recommend it.

the Bible is filled with hard-hitting truth, but most of the time i choose to overlook, forget, or explain it away. this book brings them out front, points to them and says, "do it!" the call of Christ to discipleship is not easy, but it's the best life to live. i can't say that i've read every book there is on discipleship, there may be other good or better books, but God has used this one in my own life, and that's what i can tell u. i recall one chapter that says the church today is far from zealous; communists in the world today are more zealous for their cause than Christians are for Christ, this is a serious indictment. one line that will stick in my mind for some time is "faith that costs nothing is worth nothing." God desires our suffering and trials to produce a faith refined by fire, proven true with testing (1 peter 1:7). this book has challenged me tremendously, i would recommend this to anyone who wants to get out of complacency and apathy.

This book is very simple to read, and yet it captures the very heart of what Christ described to be His disciple.

Have you ever heard how the Bible can be read by the earliest of readers, and also by the most profound theologians? I believe that could also be very true of this book.

I highly recommend this book to the athiest who is curious in getting a true understanding of who Christ was, and why people follow him...

I would also recommend this book to the new Christian who needs to understand exactly what it takes to be a disciple of Christ.

Furthermore, I would recommend this book to the person who has been a Christian and follower of Christ for many years...

This is a great refreshing book that truly captures the heart of Christ!

Typically you'll find the first chapter of the book to merely introduce a character or idea, but in True Discipleship, Bill McDonald challenges you.

This book was not written for those who only desire to be Christian in name only or who merely attend church because they think it's good for them. True Discipleship goes through Biblical commands of Christ on how each one of us ought to live. These are not just ideas, but principles and commands from Christ himself!!

Somehow we've chosen to ignore many of these things here in America, but Christ commands transcend all culture.

A great book for those who want to be challenged and transformed for Christ.

I read this book many years ago and it continues to challenge me to live more like Jesus. Pay no attention to [A Customer]'s pathetic review. I had the privilege of knowing the author and right up until the day of his passing one day short of the age of 91, he strove to live what he taught. One aspect of the True Discipleship that William MacDonald taught and lived is that of humility. I suspect that the critical reviewer based his comments on the relatively uncomplicated nature of the text. The non-use of academic jargon was calculated and intentional. A former faculty member and president of Emmaus Bible College, William MacDonald (Bill as he liked to be called) could have easily thrown around a lot of Greek & Hebrew as well as academically impressive "big words" but he intentionally chose not to. He wrote his more than 80 books for the average Christian reader who wanted to worship and live for Christ. Like Jesus, MacDonald did not just want people to merely read or listen to his teaching but to DO something about it. Go read a book about the works of Plato if all you want is a dry dusty analysis of a dead text. Any supposed exegesis of the words of Jesus that does not challenge, revolutionize and perhaps even shock, is not a true reflection of His message.
If you love Jesus, you will love this book (even when it's message makes you feel uncomfortable).

Mr McDonald describes his conception of discipleship OK, but he doesn't do much in the way of exegesis of the biblical texts. I'd maybe knock it up half a star if I could. Doesn't compare well with Whitney, Foster, or Willard though. At least it is short.

That's probably one of the books strong points. There are better treatments as another review says. Not a lot of substance.