Discover the Eight Traits That Will Revolutionize Your Christian Life and Leadership. The word Christian, once a powerful descriptor of a peculiar people, has become meaningless. It no longer identifies those who have aligned themselves with the person of Jesus Christ. Imagine a world in which Christians again looked like Jesus. Where spiritual leaders made disciples Where churches were groups of people with an insatiable desire to follow their Saviour Where those who identified themselves with Jesus accurately represented his character It's time to: Simplify, clarify and focus your spiritual life Raise up Christian leaders who make disciples Help churches rediscover their reason for existence Honestly ask Am I identifiable as a follower of Jesus Christ?

Perhaps Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s most radical book, this reading of the Sermon on the Mount has influenced many Christians throughout the world over the last 50 years.

Christ’s command to the church is clear: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations...” It is in building disciples--helping others to embrace Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, mature in him, and then lead others to do the same--that the Kingdom grows. And when the Kingdom grows, churches do, too. In Growing True Disciples, respected author and researcher George Barna helps pastors and leaders assess how their churches are doing in fulfilling their role as disciplemakers. And he reveals models and examples that will equip churches to dramatically increase their effectiveness. As a result, your church can begin to see more involved members who want to live out their faith in submission to God, and joyfully share their resources to fulfill Christ’s commission.

"The title Are You a Christian or a Disciple? boldly addresses a question that has ultimate implications for every Christ Follower, and which God seems to be pushing into the center of today's global "Christian" conversation. Well researched and presented, this book is going to challenge thinking about what it means to be a disciple-- nothing less than a fully devoted follower of Jesus! Ed Gross has given the church a very timely, provocative, and practical resource!" Jerry Trousdale - author of the best-selling book: Miraculous Movements: How Hundreds of Thousands of Muslims are Falling in Love with Jesus "With an authentic love for the church and a rigorous commitment to Biblical study, Ed takes on the task of showing us how we have lost the true meaning of discipleship, replacing it with a comfortable-living brand of Christianity that ignores how Jesus taught his disciples to be and to make disciples. This book may challenge long held notions of effective evangelism, missions, ministry, and discipleship. I've seen, in several places around the world, the 1st century brand of explosive disciple-making that Ed talks about. Can it happen here? That may depend on how we respond to the question, Are You a Christian or a Disciple?" - Dr. Dave Hunt - VP Disciple Making Movements in the Americas - CityTeam International "When Ed preaches, he preaches even to the point of tears. In this book Dr. Gross passionately pleads that you, I, the whole church will take the Word of God at face value, particularly Jesus' command to make disciples." Dr. Robert Styer, Professor of Mathematics and Statistics, Director of the Comprehensive Science Program, Villanova University Edward N Gross (DMis-Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is Coordinator of Strategic Alliances with CityNet Ministries in Philadelphia, PA. He has served in missions, church planting, pastoral ministry and theological education in the USA and abroad. He teaches at Back to the Bible Training College in South Africa. Ed has been married to his wife Debby for 37 years.

If the Christian experience is dull, unfulfilling, or boring, then it's time to examine the statements of Jesus concerning discipleship. What the world needs more of today is Christians who are full of joy and completely fearless. That's a snapshot of a real disciple.

Not a Fan has already called more than one million readers to consider the demands and rewards of being a true disciple--moving from fan to follower in their relationship with Jesus. After years of serving God, pastor and bestselling author Kyle Idleman had a startling revelation: for too long, he had been living as a fan of Jesus; someone who tried to make Christianity seem as appealing, comfortable, and convenient as he possibly could to others. Idleman decided something had to change--he needed to embark on the journey of becoming a completely committed follower of God, not just a fan. Fans want to be close enough to Jesus to get all the benefits, but not so close that it requires sacrifice, while followers are all in and completely committed to Christ. Not a Fan gives you the tools you need to determine exactly where you stand when it comes to your relationship with Jesus. No matter where you are in your walk with Christ, Not a Fan calls you to consider the demands and rewards of being a true disciple. With frankness and a touch of humor, Idleman invites you to: Examine your relationship with God Determine if you're following Jesus or just following the rules Pray the way Jesus prayed Start truly living for the one who gave his all for you This expanded and updated version of Not a Fan also includes a new introduction and an entirely new chapter about how to practically live out the book's core message. Join Idleman as he challenges you to take an honest look at your relationship with Jesus and discover what it really means to be a follower.

Question: What is the God-given purpose of the local church? Answer: Relational discipleship. DiscipleShift walks you through five key "shifts" that churches must make to refocus on the fundamental biblical mission of discipleship. These intentional changes will attract the world and empower your church members to be salt and light in their communities. Over the last thirty years, many influential church leaders and church planters in America have adopted various models for reaching unchurched people. While many of these approaches have merit, something is still missing, something even more fundamental to the mission of the church: discipleship. Making disciples—helping people to trust and follow Jesus—is the church's God-given mandate. Devoted disciples attract people outside the church because of the change others see in their Christ-like lives. And discipleship empowers Christians to be more like Christ as they intentionally develop relationships with non-believers. Through biblical and professional insights, Jim Putman and Bobby Harrington discuss the transformational effectiveness of making disciples and just how to do so, in practical terms. You’ll learn: The specific roles of a disciple-making pastor. The components of person-to-person discipleship. How each ministry in your church leads to discipleship. How to implement discipleship in your church. Disciple-making leaders will not produce perfect churches, but they will create effective churches.

The bestselling author of Misquoting Jesus, one of the most renowned and controversial Bible scholars in the world today examines oral tradition and its role in shaping the stories about Jesus we encounter in the New Testament—and ultimately in our understanding of Christianity. Throughout much of human history, our most important stories were passed down orally—including the stories about Jesus before they became written down in the Gospels. In this fascinating and deeply researched work, leading Bible scholar Bart D. Ehrman investigates the role oral history has played in the New Testament—how the telling of these stories not only spread Jesus’ message but helped shape it. A master explainer of Christian history, texts, and traditions, Ehrman draws on a range of disciplines, including psychology and anthropology, to examine the role of memory in the creation of the Gospels. Explaining how oral tradition evolves based on the latest scientific research, he demonstrates how the act of telling and retelling impacts the story, the storyteller, and the listener—crucial insights that challenge our typical historical understanding of the silent period between when Jesus lived and died and when his stories began to be written down. As he did in his previous books on religious scholarship, debates on New Testament authorship, and the existence of Jesus of Nazareth, Ehrman combines his deep knowledge and meticulous scholarship in a compelling and eye-opening narrative that will change the way we read and think about these sacred texts.

In this examination of leadership and followership, Sweet proposes an intentional shift from leadership cults to followership cultures. He critiques the issue of leadership obsession but focuses on reigniting a passion for the "follow me" theme found throughout the gospels and the entire New Testament.