Autobiographical Statement: Greg McCabe holds a Master of Divinity degree, and has been in ministry for 18 years serving as an evangelist to motorcyclists, missions pastor, associate pastor and senior pastor. His desire is to see churches make disciples not just converts.
Title: Real-Life Discipleship: Building Churches that Make Disciples
Author: Jim Putman
Publisher/Copyright: NavPress, 2010
About the Book:
Jim Putman writes this book as a guide for all those that would like to make their church a disciple-making church. In this book, Putman offers strategies and tools that have been proven over time to do just that. The book is broken down into three parts.
The first part is Setting the Stage for Discipleship. In this section of the book, Putman discusses why the church should make disciples and the effect that has on the church, the definition of a disciple, the five stages of a disciple’s growth and a strategic reproducible process. “A reproducible process enables the next generation of leaders to understand what to do and how to do it” (Chp 5).
Part 2 is Mastering the Discipleship Process. In this section (chs 6-13), Putman discusses what the disciple-maker’s role is and then explains the various stages of spiritual maturity, from the dead to the spiritual parent. At the end of this section, he gives the reader five warnings or pitfalls to watch for; he also offers curriculum ideas for small groups.
The last section of the book part deals with Letting Disciples Emerge as Leaders (chs. 14 & 15). Putman expresses how God knows that we need leaders in our church and He has placed them there; our job is to train them and let them emerge. “The Bible teaches that we are saved for good works which God planned for us to do” (Eph 2:10) (Chp 14). Putman gives a number of examples from his church, good and bad, throughout the book to encourage the reader.
Reviewer’s observations:
The great thing about this book is that all the tools and strategies mentioned can be used by any type of church. It is biblically based, so whether a church is large or small, rural or urban, it can be applied to make disciples. Jesus did not give us the command to make converts but to make disciples, and this book will help you do that.
Quotes from the Book:
“Whenever we stray from God’s Word, we will not have God’s blessing, and without that blessing, the forces of hell will prevail against the church” (Introduction).
“Our job is to pray that God will act and then to watch for Him to do so” (ch 6).
“All good disciple-makers don’t start out ready; we become ready as we start out” (ch 7).
“God’s leaders are supposed to seek God’s design for the church, and His design creates disciple no matter what style of music you sing or area you live in” (ch 15).
Recommended for: Pastors, Church leadership, small group, disciple-makers
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Looking at the review of this book has stimulated me to desire for the copy of that book. I am Emmanuel Lukabwe, a Ugandan, saved by God's grace in 1994. I am now 31 years and have just finished my Master of Divinity studies looking forward to graduate in July 2012. I will also be ordained a deacon in the Anglican Church of Uganda on 14th July 2012.
My greatest area of interest is making disciples and as a fresh graduate, I wish to read every good material about discipleship of which this reveiwed book should be my number one. How can I get this book. I wish to work with you people once I get posted in a particular church and I was very excited finding your site. It is only too much work I had to do to finish my course that had held me from responding to your messages. I am also writing My research on Discipleship and Spiritual nurture among Christians. I will even wish to have some of you join me here in Uganda and train us in disciple making. I am reaaly passionate and looking forward to begining ministry
God bless
Emmanuel
Lukabwe Emmanuel said:
Andre Anderson said: Congrats on your graduations. There are many great resources out there on discipleship. I would be happy to make some recommendations if you desire...