"Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ." - 1 Corinthians 11:1, NIVJesus walked the shores of Galilee and called ordinary fishermen to drop their nets to follow Him. "Follow me" wasn't a suggestion, but a summons from the very Son of God. In response, they left everything known and comfortable to live with Jesus, learn from Jesus be launched by Jesus to go and make disciples in His name. Their lives and this world has never been the same.Jesus still calls ordinary people by name to follow him. The problem is many churches today are filled with people who claim to believe in Jesus, but whose lives don't reflect his character and calling. Many fans. Few followers. Many believers. Few disciples. That needs to change. Which is why the leaders of Grace Church focused their efforts in 2010 to launch the Way of Discipleship to aggressively respond to the Great Commission to "go and make disciples of all nations." The Way of Discipleship is a time-bound, intentional relationship focused on learning and embracing 11 essential practices to following Jesus Christ. The Way of Discipleship is engages one person (a discipler) who invites another person (a disciple) to follow them as they follow Christ. The Way of Discipleship shapes our character (who we are) and our calling (what we do). Like a tree, the Way of Discipleship roots us in Christ, provides stability to weather the storms of life and branches out to bear fruit in our lives. This resource is a tool to facilitate this relationship over a period of one-to-three years to integrate these practices into one's life and prepare the disciple to replicate it into another relationship. It will be costly, but the cause is worth it more than anything else the world has to offer.

Vatican II’s famous declaration that "the church on earth is by its very nature missionary” has often been taken out of context and used to support all manner of church initiatives. But, the conclusion of the statement—"since . . . it has its origin in the mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit"—is of monumental importance. In The Way of Discipleship, theologian Anthony Gittins describes the eternal mission of the Trinity, historically brought "down to earth" in the ministry of Jesus, and then continued to the ends of the earth by those called and sent as disciples throughout future generations. Gittins explains that Christian discipleship must be the living out of Jesus' own example in many different times and places. He encourages people of all ages to follow the invitation of Jesus to be missionary disciples. The Way of Discipleship explores several New Testament examples of Jesus' call and commissioning, distills the principles involved, and then recontextualizes the stories so that they pose a direct challenge to disciples today. In this way, Gittins builds up a picture both of "the Way" of Jesus himself, and of the way in which today's disciples can loyally follow his call to mission.

This book explores in depth six Gospel scenes so as to discover in these the essential elements of Christian discipleship. It describes the basic requirements for receiving the Word of God effectively in our hearts: namely, that we "become wet clay in God's hands", so that God can impress upon us any form he chooses. It also contemplates the vital position of the Mother of the Lord in the life of his disciples. The author shows that the call to discipleship is above all an invitation to intimate companionship with Jesus, as we read in Mark: "Jesus called to him those whom he desired... in order that they might be with him" (3:14-15). What we normally call the "active apostolate" can never be an end in itself, but only the fruits of a life of prayer and adoration. These are what must be at the heart of a disciple's life, which can never be swept up by mere activism.

Examine five crucial elements of discipleship based on Jesus' ministry.

Begin and end each day focused on the presence of God. Whether starting out the day or winding down for the night, staying connected to the presence and work of God is the most important thing a believer can do. The Pathway to Discipleship is a perfect resource for men and women alike for daily devotions and prayer. It is the third book in the bestselling devotional prayer book series. After an introduction by Johnny Hunt (former Southern Baptist Convention president), each of the 51 contributing pastors and evangelists share a week’s worth of devotions and prayers, all centering around discipleship and the way an active and vibrant Christian is to live. Each week includes a prayer journal page with writing/prayer prompts. The handsome leatherflex design is beautiful for any desk or nightstand, keeping the precious time spent with the Savior as close as one’s fingertips.

A broadly experienced trio of rising church leaders share substantive research on churches and individuals that will help readers foster a culture wherein people intentionally grow in their Christian faith.

A Gospel-Rich, Reproducible Model for Making Disciples as Jesus Intended Biblical discipleship emphasizes encouragement, repentance, and spiritual growth—essential parts of the Christian life. However, well-meaning believers often struggle to follow Jesus, unaware their views are too legalistic, licentious, or individualistic. How can churches and Christians develop a healthy, successful path to disciple-making? In this second edition of Gospel-Centered Discipleship, Jonathan Dodson presents an effective, Spirit-led model for sanctification. Reminding readers that real discipleship is imperfect yet transformational, Dodson encourages Christians to engage more authentically with others as they grow in faith. Drawing from his own failures and successes while following Jesus, Dodson defines discipleship, describes the heart of a disciple, and gives practical guidance for mentor and peer-based discipleship as Jesus intended. Revised and Expanded: Includes three new chapters and new illustrations Applicable: Shows how discipleship can be practical and gospel-centered Theological: Addresses the Holy Spirit's involvement in discipleship Foreword by Matt Chandler: Author of The Explicit Gospel

Discover a way to authentic Christian spirituality in this sixth title in the Companions in Christ series. By shining the light of God's Word into the darkness of our lives, Hudson will lead you to a pathway of discovery and growth. Explore the markers of the journey: * Knowing Who You Are * Changing from the Inside * Listening to the Groans * Experiencing the God Who Heals * Discovering Community Together Join this journey to experience more deeply what it means to live as a follower of Christ. Understand the meaning of spiritual formation and how it leads to a spirituality that's authentic and grace-filled. Reflect on what your faith means in terms of who you are, how you must change, how you deal with pain, and how you relate to others. Be challenged to live the whole gospel by authentically connecting spirituality with discipleship.

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.

Jesus tells us that to be his disciple we must surrender everything and, with his grace, brave the path provided for us by God. Such a sojourn will surely be marked by joy, suffering, uncertainty, and—above all—adventure. Accordingly, The Adventure of Discipleship presents the Gospel through the lens of great adventure stories—from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia to popular adventure movies, comic book superheroes, and TV series. While these stories we create and read and retell are but reflections and refractions of the great adventure of discipleship, they provide us with genuine insight into life with Christ. Author Daniel Keating shows why we must respond to the call of discipleship with venturesome faith, as many great saints have before us. Along the way of discipleship, we come to understand the cost of following Jesus, the importance of hope in light of setbacks, and the gift of true friendship in this great adventure.