When you consider your spiritual growth, which places, people or ministries come to mind as significant for you?
Maybe it was the youth group you attended, the pastor who spoke messages of encouragement and truth, the camp ministry you served at, or the Bible study where you learned to study God’s Word for the first time.
These places and people stick in our minds as landmarks along our spiritual journey.
How about lately? Have you been finding the same opportunities or activities that propel you toward deeper faith?
JT English has written, “Deep Discipleship: How the Church Can Make Whole Disciples of Christ” addressing the topic of discipleship within the local church, providing us with a context, purpose and practical tips, to equip ministry leaders toward “a philosophy of ministry that will grow and mature deep and holistic disciples.”
He writes, “when we think about discipleship, we are thinking about our ability to be reoriented to God, and we begin to see that God initiates discipleship, that God is the source of discipleship, and that God is the goal of discipleship.”
Deep Discipleship | Book Review
Content
Content
Purpose of the Book
From the publisher: "Everyone is being discipled. The question is: what is discipling us?
The majority of Christians today are being discipled by popular media, flashy events, and folk theology because churches have neglected their responsibility to make disciples. But the church is not a secondary platform in the mission of God; it is the primary platform God uses to grow people into the image of Jesus. Therefore, as church leaders, it is our primary responsibility to establish environments and relationships where people can be trained, grow, and be sent as disciples."
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION: Diagnosing the Discipleship Disease
CHAPTER 1: A God Centered Vision for Discipleship
CHAPTER 2: The Church: Where Whole Disciples Are Formed
CHAPTER 3: Space: Where Does Discipleship Happen in the Church?
CHAPTER 4: Scope: What Do Disciples Need?
CHAPTER 5: Sequence: How Do Disciples Grow?
CHAPTER 6: Send: Where Do Disciples Go?
CHAPTER 7: Strategy: Adopting a Holistic Approach to Discipleship
Epilogue
My Take
The first question to address is: Why
Why is discipleship important in the life of the church?
He writes,“success in ministry is not found in building programs but in building disciples – disciples who love God with all of their heart, soul, strength, and mind (Luke 10:27). Christ is the goal, not better or more impressive ministries. He is what we want.” The heart of faith is Jesus, knowing, loving and serving Him more.
Our local churches are the venue through which we equip the believer in knowledge and growth. It can be so easy to point our young people in the direction of bible schools or discipleship programs, but the challenge remains for churches to be this place for both young and old.
Reminding us that “community is indispensable to discipleship, but community is not discipleship” he presents the need for church ministries to be intentional in providing Christian education. Discipleship is learning the way of Jesus, because we are always learners before the Lord.
He points out that, “Jesus is always teaching his disciples that all of life is centered on growing in our love and knowledge of God.” This is meant to create active disciples, not passive ones. The intention isn’t to make us smarter, but holier.
The second question is: What.
What do we do in discipleship?
He presents three comprehensive areas for discipleship:
1. Scripture
2. Doctrine
3. Spiritual habits
This is where we center our teaching and our time, that we become followers of Christ who are not just hear-ers of the Word, but do-ers. We study the Word, we learn core beliefs of Christianity, and we practice habits that put our faith into action.
In the church, we will always have different levels of maturity, and as we learn and grow, we pay attention to each person’s journey and provide opportunities for all. If you want to start exercising, you don’t begin your first day with a 5K run, you start smaller, with intervals of walking and running. Discipleship works the same way. One next step, one piece of learning built upon another, which continues throughout our whole life, as we gain greater understanding and develop new habits in our lives.
The next question is: Where.
Where do we send disciples?
“Christian maturity does not hinder mission; it fuels mission” whether this is within the local church, in community outreach, or global missions, the goal of discipleship is to equip disciple-makers.
The body of Christ has been endowed with gifts and talents, and as we grow as disciples, we learn how to use those gifts to encourage the church.
“When you give people the tools for deep discipleship, they will begin discipling others”
The last question is: How
How do you develop a strategy for making disciples?
The author provides an acronym SPAACE for guiding principles toward deep discipleship.
Structure – have learning goals, communicate clear expectations.
Predictability – if you want people to be involved, it needs to have rhythm and routine.
Accountability – don’t lower expectations, create active learning environments.
Accessibility – discipleship is for everyone, remove obstacles to participation.
Community – there’s are no lone ranger disciples, we learn and grow together.
Excellence – pursue excellence in what we do for the glory of God.
He believes that “the greatest opportunity for the contemporary church is to recapture a radically God-centered vision for discipleship.” We are a part of that, as believers pursuing deeper growth and as local churches, who live and participate in faith communities. Building each other up, spurring each other on, and celebrating the “depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God” (Rom 11:33).
“True discipleship is not more than Jesus, but more of Jesus”
May He give us a hunger for more of Him today.
How have you found yourself growing in Scripture, doctrine and spiritual habits?
My Recommendation
While the target audience seems to be primarily for leaders, I also found it applicable for the regular believer who wants to understand more about the purpose of discipleship and consider areas for their own spiritual growth.
I'd say this is a super important resource for the Christian leader as they seek to faithfully disciple those in their sphere of influence. This can be those who lead small groups, bible study, and pastors.
Quick Stats
# of Pages: 226
Level of Difficulty: Easy
My Rating: 5 stars
From the Author
On his heart for developing disciples in the local church.
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Scriptures About Discipleship
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:18-20)
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (Jn. 8:31-32)
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. (1 Cor. 11:1)
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2:42)
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. (1 Pet. 2:21)
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*thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review!
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