Too many of today’s pastors and leaders mistakenly think that thriving programs, lively worship services, and relevant preaching are adequate for developing people into the spiritual dynamos God desires. In many churches, the primary objective of the church---discipleship of people into mature followers of Jesus---has been “outsourced” to programs and large-scale efforts to train and teach. But is that happening? Are people growing in spiritual depth and missional determination?
Randy Pope writes for church leaders who recognize the value of discipleship and need practical ideas for reorienting church ministries around personal discipleship. Readers will be encouraged that a wide scale personal discipleship program is attainable for any church.
And with our church looking toward the future and where we want to go, I thought this would be a great book to read right now. Little did I know that it would help me in my family and my ministry as well as be a great read that I want to hand off to the committee in charge of the next step in our church's plans.Randy Pope discusses the need to set a goal because you will always hit a target when you don't have a goal, but will you hit the target that you were aiming for. He shares how you need to enter wholeheartedly (like many of the books I've been reading lately...hmmm) in order to get all that God has planned for you. He discusses the value of a model and how they are the "ultimate servant".
Randy Pope goes into how their church leads through small groups; training them up through modeling and bonding/trust. He shows how they use The Lord's Prayer and Ken Blanchard's business model. He discusses how "if we don't define the course of the race, people will naturally slow down or wander off track." I'm sure you have all seen this or experienced it yourself.
I loved his idea of doing old things with new people. So many people are afraid of falling into the "old way" of living. I think they have so many inspiring ways of doing things that we could bring into the modern world. He states "because this pathway to spiritual maturity begins and ends with Jesus". If "old" Christians were having success, why won't it work for us "new" Christians?
I'll leave you with my favorite quote, "If we are change in His pocket, then God can spend us whenever, wherever, and however he wishes. Think about that this week."
Wow. How has God spent you this week? Or are you still rattling around in his pocket trying to avoid his grip?
Go grab yourself a copy of this inspiring book. Become the leader that God intended you to be in the way God intended you to live.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
