TRANSFORMATIONAL DISCIPLESHIP: A REVIEW

In June 2010 I wrote a review of Transformational Church which may interest readers. The follow-up book, Transformational Discipleship was recently released with great fanfare and high hopes, two years after its forerunner.  People interested in church leadership and discipleship will want to read Transformational Discipleship. The three authors, Eric Geiger, Michael Kelley, and Phillip Nation traded off writing throughout the book with seamless expertise. As with many books on discipleship, the authors layout their convincing case of why churches are ineffective at making disciples.  They aptly point out that “not all discipleship is transformational” (Kindle Location 159).  They further pointed out that transformational discipleship is the primary job of the church and to be deficient in making disciples means that the church is deficient in her “reason for existence (Kindle Location 173). They stated more clearly and succinctly that discipleship is not disseminating information nor is it behavioral modification (Kindle Location 290).

THE MIND-SET OF DISCIPLESHIP

Transformational Discipleship advances the subject on several points and one is particularly notable. What is the frame of mind or attitude by which many churches are doing discipleship? Is the church on offense or defense? Offensive discipleship equips believers with a strong faith with which to overcome the challenges they will face in the world (Kindle Location 515). On the other hand, most churches are doing defensive discipleship which focuses on protecting Christians from the threats they might face in the world. The difference is stark! Offensive discipleship builds Christian character and prepares Christians to face the inevitable faith challenges while defensive discipleship tends to hope and assume Christians will never face those faith challenges. Churches must adopt an attack discipleship mind-set.

Offensive discipleship builds Christian character and prepares Christians to face the inevitable faith challenges while defensive discipleship tends to hope and assume Christians will never face those faith challenges.

The authors seemed to agree that there is a need for some degree of accountability. They wrote, “Offensive discipleship includes insisting people accept full responsibility for their sin by, as an act of grace, refusing to accept foolish excuses” (Kindle Locations 630-631). They stated that the ultimate result of genuine discipleship must be “a transformed heart (and transformed affections)” (Kindle Location 462). Perhaps accountability may be found in defining whether one has been transformed.

A TRANSFORMATIONAL FRAMEWORK

Transformational Discipleship offers a “transformational framework” that includes three intersecting circles labeled truth, posture, and leaders. The area within the intersection of the three circles is called the “transformational sweet spot” (TSS) suggesting that a church within this cultural point of church health will be effective at making disciples. They wrote, “The TSS occurs when healthy leaders give truth to a disciple who is in a vulnerable posture” (Kindle Locations 950-951). The writers claim they are not offering a model to be followed. In fact they devoted almost a whole page encouraging leaders to avoid seeing the transformational framework as a model to be replicated (Kindle Location 924).

“Please do not view this as a model. Let us say that again: please do not view this as a model. This is not a model. The transformational framework should not become your new mission statement,…” (Kindle Locations 921-923, 926, 938)

TRANSFORMATIONAL DISCIPLESHIP IMPRESSIONS

OVERALL RATING: Four-Stars-      I truly wanted to give a five-star award to Transformational Discipleship as I highly respect the authors and agree with virtually everything stated in the book. That being said, for discipleship ministries I look for practicality and application. The book has some of the same issues I raised in the review ofTransformational Church. Both books expound on the lack of healthy churches and transformational discipleship respectively while falling short of offering immediate solutions for church leaders. In fact I found both books to be “wonkish” meaning that two weeks after reading the material, leaders would not likely remember the specifics of the models—I mean frameworks offered. Granted, these issues are complex and require more than a simple model as assessments and remedies are offered at additional costs. As one pastor said, “We don’t need more books that simply restate the problems; what leaders need are usable solutions.” Perhaps it’s an oversimplification to expect a process out of a book that may be applied by local church leaders. Again, it is interesting that the authors of Transformational Discipleship went out of their way to dissuade people from adopting their framework as a model. If Transformational Discipleship is found to be transformational it will become a model. The fact is that regardless of the desires of the authors, the readers will decide whether Transformational Discipleship is used as a model.

If Transformational Discipleship is found to be transformational it will become a model.

_________________

Using my book review process, the title certainly passed the “stickiness factor” in that it draws readers to initially order or open the book. Transformational Discipleship gets a “FOUR-STAR” review. The only reason it gets a four-star instead of a five-star review is the “practicality” factor. The reading is engaging even as the authors get into their model– (Excuse me! I mean “framework). However with the …framework the connection to the reader may begin to break down as the leader reader is looking for the practical application. Suddenly the book ends with the expectations of the reader being somewhat let down as they are still looking for the practical points that they may use in their own ministries. Even so, it is worth the read if you are interested in church health and discipleship.

OVERALL RATING—        

1. Introduction:       5-Stars
2. Content:                   5-Stars
3. Connection:          4-Stars
4. Practicality:           3-Stars
5. Conclusion:           2-Stars

 

Some people may think that book reviews are purely subjective and arbitrary but there are specific criteria. While subjectivity cannot be removed, this writer makes an attempt to grade each book equally on its own merits.

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Questions:

1.     Do you agree or disagree with the review of Transformational Discipleship?

2.     If you have read TD, do you feel it offers solutions to the problems the authors identify?

3.     What “star-rating” would you give Transformational Discipleship?

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Dr. Tom Cocklereece is CEO of RENOVA Coaching and Consulting, LLC. He is a pastor, author, professional coach, leadership specialist, and is a Certified Coach/Teacher/Speaker for the John Maxwell Team

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FIVE ELEMENTS OF A BOOK REVIEW

As an author of a book and the writer of book reviews on the Simple Discipleship blog, some may wonder what are the criteria of a five-star rating? Traditional reviewers may have their own criteria that are consistent with the scholastic environment, while the focus of the writer for this blog includes scholarship, simplicity and practicality are equally important. “Simplicity” does not mean simple-minded but relates to the content, which is one element of a review that is discussed herein. Reviews are graded using the following criteria:

1. Introduction: To what degree does the introduction motivate the reader to want to read the whole book? Students have to read books on their syllabus but pastors and ministry leaders are not required to read any book other than the Bible (and some may not even do that). A director of missions recently told me, “Pastors in my association don’t like to read books very much.” His comment was sad and perplexing but probably included some truth.
2. Content: Does the book have substance? Does it move or challenge the status quo of the subject or discipline? Also, to what degree does the content have the following characteristics? Indeed, one might note that the four characteristics are the same that are listed in the book Simple Church but they work well for coaching (Simple Life) and for writing book reviews
   • Clarity- Is the content written clearly with a low fog index?
   • Movement- Does the writer’s concepts flow smoothly?
   • Alignment- Are the writer’s concepts aligned and logical?
   • Focus- Is there a focal point of the whole work?
3. Connection: As a minor contributor to John Maxwell’s book, Everyone Communicates, Few Connect, it is important to me that the book being reviewed connects to the target audience. Otherwise the author has missed his or her objective.
4. Practicality: Does the book include concrete action steps that readers may apply? Some theological and ministry books do well at providing information and identifying problems but they may be short on offering solutions that pastors may readily apply. Does the book offer practical or even challenging solutions to the problems and not just a restatement of the problems? Someone has said, “We are drowning in information and starving for wisdom.” Authors, give us some wisdom!
5. Conclusion: Does the conclusion work with what precedes it? Some television shows build up the viewer for fifty minutes and then seem to wrap up all the complexities in two to five minutes. Some book authors are similar in that they seem to move from the final concrete point and then write a one paragraph conclusion that seems non sequitur or awkward.

Some people may think that book reviews are purely subjective and arbitrary but there are specific criteria. While subjectivity cannot be removed, this writer makes an attempt to grade each book equally on its own merits.

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Questions:

1. If you were writing a book review, what criteria would you use?
2. What do you think of the criteria offered in this article?
3. What is your opinion of non-fiction books that are long on their discussion of problems in Christian ministry and short on offering solutions?

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Dr. Tom Cocklereece is CEO of RENOVA Coaching and Consulting, LLC. He is a pastor, author, professional coach, leadership specialist, and is a member Coach/Teacher/Speaker for the John Maxwell Team

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SUNDAY SCHOOL THAT REALLY RESPONDS by Steve Parr: AN UNSOLICITED REVIEW

Parr, Steve R. (2011), Sunday School that Really Responds: Wisdom for Confronting 24 Common Sunday School Emergencies. Grand Rapids, MI: Kreger Publications. 256 pp., ISBN: 978-0-8254-4064-9 (sc). $14.99.

After I finished high school and after several uninteresting jobs, I befriended the director of the local emergency medical service (EMS). Time was that emergency medical services were new and challenging the status quo of the time when funeral home hearses doubled as ambulances. In the early 1970s emergency medicine had made strides such that a major trauma or heart attack did not automatically precede a trip to the funeral home. We began to see ambulances owned by funeral homes as a conflict of interest. …but that is another story. Soon I found myself attending school to become a certified Emergency Medical Technician and worked in emergency medicine for several years. I became proficient at emergent care in the medical profession as well as the spiritual. In fact, I find myself to be a better crisis leader than for long term maintenance. Familiarity with emergent care helped me to find Steve Parr’s book, Sunday School that Really Responds, very interesting.

The author looks at the health of a church’s Sunday school through the motif of a patient who may be at any of several crisis points. Thus, the subtitle of the book is fitting—Wisdom for Confronting 24 Common Sunday School Emergencies. The book is neatly divided into two parts with the first listed as “Common Organizational Emergencies” and part two as “Common Class/Group Emergencies.” There are twelve organizational emergencies addressed:

1. OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL IS DYING
2.  WE ARE GOING THROUGH A SLUMP
3. OUR TEACHERS ARE NOT COMMITTED (AND OFTEN ARRIVE LATE)
4. OUR TEACHERS WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN TRAINING
5. WE DO NOT HAVE (M)ANY YOUNG PEOPLE
6. WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH LEADERS
7. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE ON OUR ROLLS THAT DO NOT ATTEND
8. OUR WORSHIP ATTENDANCE IS MUCH LARGER THAN OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
9. WE HAVE A TEACHER THAT NEEDS TO STEP DOWN
10. OUR TEACHERS ARE BORING
11. WE ARE COMPLETELY OUT OF SPACE
12. WE HAVE A CLASS THAT WILL NOT COOPERATE

Steve Parr correctly understands that organizational crises can cripple a Sunday school as quickly as a theological challenge which is in fact rare. Church Sunday school or small group crises usually revolve around 1) relational issues, 2) organizational issues, and/or 3) group dynamics. Parr focuses on the organizational issues and group dynamics in this book. Again, theological conflict is often blamed but is actually quite rare. When people won’t get along or if the organization is unhealthy, it is easy to blame some theological issue.

Part 2: Common Class/Group Emergencies includes the following chapters:

1. THEY WANT TO SPLIT (OR CHANGE) MY CLASS
2. WE NEVER HAVE ANY GUESTS
3. OUR GUESTS NEVER RETURN
4. NO ONE WANTS TO HELP WITH OUTREACH
5. I CANNOT GET ANYONE INVOLVED IN DISCUSSION
6. MY CLASS HAS NO LIFE (OR LACKS MORALE)
7. MY CLASS IS NOT GROWING
8. I DO NOT LIKE THE CURRICULUM
9. I DO NOT HAVE TIME TO LEAD MY CLASS (TO DO ALL THAT IS NEEDED)
10. I CANNOT GET ANYONE TO HELP ME
11. OUR LEADERS EXPECT TOO MUCH OF THE TEACHERS
12. I WANT TO QUIT

The author effectively includes stories that connect the reader to the concept being discussed. The book is well planned, simple, as well as practical for pastors and ministry staff and volunteers. Each of the 24 chapters includes crisis levels with diagnostic questions so readers may determine the condition of their Sunday school and small groups. The condition levels are the emergency, triage, prescription, first aid, and rehab.

This is an excellent book to which this writer gives a five star rating primarily because it connects to the target audience with practical helps. As a discipleship specialist, Parr’s book may easily assist leaders in improving the disciple-making effectiveness of the Bible study units of the church. While the traditional main objective of Sunday school is “reaching people” with the gospel of Christ, the goal is to make disciples and not just converts. It is imperative that the triage questions be used for determining the effectiveness of disciple-making. Parr lists ten overall principles by which to guide leaders. The ten principles may easily apply to the overall mission of the church—to make disciple-makers. (For the principles—read the book.) Unfortunately, the book is not yet available in electronic format. This book is highly recommended to leaders looking for practical answers to the Sunday school/small group problems.

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Questions:

1. Consider two churches where one uses Sunday school and the other uses small groups. Do the crisis problems and solutions apply to both?
2. What are the differences organizationally and relationally from Sunday school to small groups?
3. What is the condition of your Sunday school/small groups?
4. Do you agree that the principles of this book apply to discipleship as well?
5. Do you agree that most Sunday school/small group problems are relational?

 

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Dr. Tom Cocklereece is CEO of RENOVA Coaching and Consulting, LLC. He is a pastor, author, professional coach, leadership specialist, and is a member Coach/Teacher/Speaker for the John Maxwell Team

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BREAKING THE EVANGELISM CODE by Victor H. Benavides

I met Victor Benevides when we attended doctoral seminars together at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He has a contagious spirit for sharing Christ. I love being with him in public places just to see how easily he engages in sharing Christ with others in authentic yet inventive ways. While sharing my faith does not come so easily as it does for Victor, as I observe him, I do not feel inadequate. Rather, I feel inspired as I realize, “I could do that too!” or “Why didn’t I think of saying that?” Victor makes evangelism look easy without being pretentious. I have read many books on the subject of evangelism and Victor’s book is among the best and most practical book on the subject. Buy it, read it, apply it!                  …Tom Cocklereece

 

Learn How to “Break the Evangelism Code”

Have you wondered if evangelism still works? Why does it seem that so many people are down on doing what Jesus Christ commanded His followers to do, “Go make disciples” ? Since surrendering my life to Jesus, I have had a desire and passion to share Christ. I began with my co-worker. I shared the best way I knew how to express what God had done in my life.

Not having been trained I shared with friends and family. When I heard that my church was offering evangelism training I signed up for a 13 week class. It was tough but I managed to learn because I wanted to be obedient to Jesus command to go.

Over the years I have been shocked to hear church staff members and ministers make the statement that they were not sure if evangelism worked anymore. Denominational leaders have gone as far as discouraging the pastors and churches which they served that evangelism did not work in their state. Other leaders have written books dispelling the methods some used in the Bible as being ineffective. God forbid that His Word and commands not be effective and we disobey the Great Commission of making disciples.

“Over the years I have been shocked to hear church staff members and ministers make the statement that they were not sure if evangelism worked anymore.”

I became frustrated after attending meeting with denominational leaders and some pastors and hearing them exclaim that evangelism did not work in their state or city. I knew that these leaders were, mislead, not taking the correct approach, or tried once and failed, so they gave up. In some cases I had just led a team of missionary evangelists for a week and we had seen over two hundred people saved in their state or in a metropolitan center. I knew that evangelism worked. Evangelism is hard work. We must ask ourselves “How much effort did Jesus exert to pay for our sin, to the point of death?” Evangelism is hard work.

“Breaking the Evangelism Code” will encourage the reader to obey Jesus command to go witness. You can witness. You can go share your faith. You can obey Jesus’ command and go evangelize lost people and see people born into God’s kingdom.

“Evangelism is hard work. We must ask ourselves “How much effort did Jesus exert to pay for our sin, to the point of death?””

If you are looking for a book that will encourage and give you hope to fulfill the Great Commission, then get a copy of “Breaking the Evangelism Code.”

Buy the book: Breaking the Evangelism Code

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Dr. Tom Cocklereece is CEO of RENOVA Coaching and Consulting, LLC. He is a pastor, author, professional coach, leadership specialist, and is a member Coach/Teacher/Speaker for the John Maxwell Team

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ARE WE “SLAVES” OR “SERVANTS” OF CHRIST? A DISCUSSION ABOUT BIBLE TRANSLATION AND THE HCSB

Holman Christian Standard Bible

ABSTRACT: The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) offers an excellent contemporary translation alternative. However, the HCSB may present a potential unnecessary offense to some black readers by translating the Greek word “doulos” as “slave” in most occurrences regardless of context. This comes at a time when the Southern Baptist Convention is making good faith reconciliatory efforts toward the black community. The article is intended to spark reasoned discussion and not meant to be critical or divisive.

INTRODUCTION

About 2004 I purchased a leather-bound Holman Christian Standard Bible New Testament (HCSB). I heard that the HCSB was being produced by the Holman Bible Publishing Company so that Lifeway could include readings from the new version in Sunday school material as a contemporary translation of the Bible. Like many Southern Baptist church pastors, I began trying out the HSCB for teaching and preaching and at the outset a challenge was presented. In a Bible study of Philippians 1:1 a young black woman I had baptized raised some concern over a word in the verse. Here is the verse:

Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus: including the overseers and deacons. Philippians 1:1 (HCSB)

The word in question was “slaves.” Her comment was, “What does it mean to be a slave of Christ? One becomes a “slave” by force but one becomes a “servant” or “bond servant” by choice as other Bible versions translate the word. She said the verse created a troubling image in her mind as a new Christian. She could not envision Jesus forcing her to believe with a whip in hand. She had come to know Jesus by his love. Her question was thoughtful and one that other Christians of color are asking.

I began trying out the HSCB for teaching and preaching and at the outset a challenge was presented. In a Bible study of Philippians 1:1 a young black woman I had baptized raised some concern over the word “douloi” translated “slaves.” …She said the verse created a troubling image in her mind as a new Christian. She could not envision Jesus forcing her to believe with a whip in hand. She had come to know Jesus by his love.

I raise the issue herein respectfully not as a biblical language translator, though my seminary education included biblical languages. I am certainly not a biblical languages expert. However, the issue is important as my church is becoming a truly multicultural church. Have other church leaders heard comments or a rejection of the HCSB over the same issue? Why would the HCSB translators choose to translate the word “doulos” as “slave” in almost every case? Other options such as “servant” or “bond-servant” were available that would 1) make the proper translation equally well, and 2) avoid offending American blacks who have been deeply affected by slavery and the civil rights movement. It is interesting that some have started calling the HCSB the “Hard Core Southern Baptist” Bible. Will the HCSB receive broad use and perhaps cross denominational lines? Only time will tell but it will certainly be interesting to see whether the HCSB receives acceptance in the African-American community and culture.

Few non-blacks can comprehend how the issue of slavery continues to hurt and affect people. Just a few days ago a black leader in the church told a story of how his great grandfather was “lynched” for taking his own pig that had escaped to the neighboring farm that belonged to white people. He spoke of the disturbing event as if it happened recently. There should be greater sensitivity regarding the issue.

COMPARATIVE TRANSLATION OF THE WORD “doulos”

A comparison of how various Bible versions translate the Greek term “doulos” indicates that two popular contemporary versions translate it to “slave.”

1. KJV= servant
2. NKJV= bondservant
3. NIV= servant
4. ESV= servant
5. NLT= slave
6. HCSB= slave
7. NASB= bond-servant
8. Amplified= bond servant

Which is most correct based on definition in the original language AND the context of biblical usage, AND how the reader will likely understand in the receptor language?

Holman Christian Standard Bibles

To be fair and accurate, the NKJV has 20 occurrences of “doulos”  translated as “slave” due to context and 81 occurrences of the same word translated as “servant.” The HCSB has 72 occurrences of “doulos” translated as “slave” or “slaves” and 3 occurrences of the word translated as “servant” or “servants.” Please realize that there are a few other Greek words that may be translated as servant or slave often indicating a child. However, it is clear that the HCSB translators made a choice to translate most occurrences of “doulos” as “slave” even when another choice was available. A small and insignificant point? Let the reader decide. I would love to hear the opinions of African-American Christians on this point.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

• To what degree is the receptor language of Bible translation important to translators?
• To what biases are the translators susceptible?
• Does the translation committee reflect racial diversity and sensitivity?
• What is reflected in the “proceedings” regarding the translation of words in question?
• To what degree is the committee aware that they are reaching beyond several demographics of social strata?

INSENSITIVITY, COMMITMENT TO ACCURACY, OR A MISTAKE?

It is true that the Greek word “doulos”  may infer voluntary or involuntary servitude so why raise the question? I pastor a church that has made a commitment to be a multicultural disciple-making church. We are one church with two congregations with the active church membership being about 50% white and 50% black. As the reader can imagine, merging a largely black congregation into a white congregation presents more than several challenges. The leaders are always on guard for issues of insensitivity and misunderstanding between the two cultures of the church. As a result, I do not use the HCSB because the translators were slavish regarding the translation of the term “doulos” as “slave.” I believe the Greek word could be translated as “servant” or “bondservant” and avoid the potential problem.

Christians in America will cross oceans to reach races of other nations with the Gospel but we must learn to cross the street.

Is this an example of insensitivity, a commitment to accuracy, or a simple mistake? Cultivating relationships in a multicultural church has required me to immerse myself into the culture of black Americans. It is unlikely that the translation committee for the HCSB considered the issues discussed herein. It is ironic that the release of the HCSB with the identified issue, comes at a time when the SBC is trying to be inclusive to black churches and leaders. It may indicate a lack of missionary prowess on the part of the coordinating leaders and agencies of the SBC.

QUESTIONS:

1. Is this discussion much ado about nothing or is it meaningful?
2. Do you understand the cultural barriers between Christians of differing races?
3. Do you think the HCSB publishers should consider the issue discussed herein in a future revision?

SD Blessings,

Dr. Tom Cocklereece

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Dr. Tom Cocklereece is CEO of RENOVA Coaching and Consulting, LLC
He is a pastor, author, professional coach, leadership specialist, and is a member Coach/Teacher/Speaker for the John Maxwell Team

Email | LinkedIn | Twitter | Web | Blog | Book | Coaching

SIMPLE DISCIPLESHIP SYNOPSIS

A SIMPLE CHURCH DISCIPLESHIP PROCESS

Simple Discipleship (SD) is a process for leading and motivating Christians to greater spiritual maturity and participation. It is a return to biblical and organic transformational discipleship. SD reflects Jesus’ model of discipleship, providing adequate instruction and emphasizing practical hands-on experience. Only in this manner do the essential values of the Christian faith become core values of followers of Christ. Simple Discipleship is not a program added on to others. Instead, it should serve as a framework for all of a church’s ministries. It is a non-denominational missional church ministry process that empowers the church membership, creating synergy and growth at three levels—individual, Sunday school/small group, and congregational.

INCLUDES A CONGREGATIONAL BALANCED SCORECARD

Simple Discipleship was the first (November 2009) to provide a functional reproducible balanced scorecard for church leaders. Using the 360 Survey (Spiritual Vitality Assessment), leaders may assess the spiritual vitality of their church and measure the church’s Community Missional Footprint. Simple Discipleship provides measurements of attendance and participation across four essential ministry values or dimensions—Worship (connect), Word (grow), Ministry (serve), and Missions (go). The four primary values are built around a visual of the cross with each “quadrant” representing one of the four primary dimensions of ministry. Each primary value domain includes embedded biblical expectations or behaviors of true growing disciples of Christ. Simple Discipleship functions as a framework for the ministries of the local church and provides as much or as little structure as the leadership may desire.

PART 1 EXPLAINS THE SIMPLE DISCIPLESHIP PROCESS

Part 1 explains the various elements of Simple Discipleship and their relationships to one another. Chapters 2 and 3 present a description of the SD components, while chapter 4 provides the biblical foundation for the process and associated expectations. Chapter 5 discusses a self evaluation survey that provides measurements for the SD process. Chapter 5 provides ideas for SD for family and children’s ministry. Chapter 7 is a discipleship innovation for SD as principles of coaching for transformational change are integrated into evangelism, new Christian spiritual formation, life coaching, and leadership training. Chapter 8 includes visual models that will help readers more easily grasp the new way of thinking about discipleship and how the process is related to values, coaching, strategy, and change management. The chapter on visual models also serves as a bridge from what SD is to how to apply SD.

PART 2 PROVIDES A STEP BY STEP STARTUP GUIDE

Part 2 is comprised of chapters 9 through 13, which serve as a systematic implementation guide for SD, but these chapters also incorporate principles of change management that are essential to success. SD graphics, forms, reports, and other items are provided in the appendix and on the resource CD which is included in the back of the book.

Simple Discipleship: How to Make Disciples in the 21^st Century will change how your church makes disciples and will provide the needed tools to redesign your detached programs into an effective disciple-making process.

Use The Disciple-Maker’s Toolkit for to drive the disciple-making DNA into the church culture. The Toolkit is available in a Leader Edition for Christian discipleship coaches, Sunday school leaders, and small group leaders. The Learner Edition is available for laymen.

Other Information

Publisher: ChurchSmart Resources, 3830 Ohio Ave., Saint Charles, IL 60174

Pages: 235 paperback

• ISBN-10: 1889638870
• ISBN-13: 978-1889638874

Release Date: November 2009

For further information contact: Tom Cocklereece at 404-229-3383 or drthomreece@bellsouth.net

Order Information:

Simple Discipleship website:         http://www.simplediscipleship.com

Church Smart Resources (publisher)    http://www.churchsmart.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SD

Amazon.com  http://www.amazon.com/dp/1889638870

THE WHOLE LIFE OFFERING: CHRISTIANITY AS PHILANTHROPY—BOOK REVIEW

Eric Foley’s book The Whole Life Offering is one of those rare books that will surprise because the concepts challenge core faith values of the reader. Most people do not consider themselves to be philanthropists, a designation usually reserved for wealthy people who give money to support worthy causes. However, Foley aptly identifies a growing disciple of Jesus to be just that—a philanthropist. He defines philanthropy as based on Titus 3:4: But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, (NKJV) The Greek word for the English word “love” in the Titus 3:4 passage is literally (philanthropia) transliterated to philanthropia. The Greek word means “friendship love toward man.”

More completely, it is a comprehensive attitude and pattern of direct contact, warm relationship, and unfailing and unwarranted beneficence on the part of the divine toward his human creation. Introduction, 1.

The author builds his case for philanthropy as a definition of discipleship throughout the book and around a visual that represents ten domains of life:

1. Reigning
2. Doing Good
3. Sharing Your Bread
4. Opening Your Home
5. Visiting and Remembering
6. Helping and Comforting
7. Proclaiming the Gospel
8. Forgiving and Reconciling
9. Making Disciples
10. Ransoming the Captive

He discusses how a genuine disciple may reflect God’s philanthropy or love toward mankind in each of the ten domains based on one’s attitude and actions together as expressed through:

• Searching the Scriptures
• Learning
• Worshipping
• Praying
• Self-Denial
• Serving
• Giving

The vehicle of expressing one’s love is through the fruit of the Spirit.

WHAT DOES THE WHOLE LIFE OFFERING LOOK LIKE?

Many readers may struggle through the ~300 pages, but it will change one’s perspective of discipleship, serving, and how the church should do ministry. Many churches have ministries through which food is provided to the homeless and indigent. Typically, the people appear at the doorstep between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM and are handed a sack lunch that may include a Bible or salvation tract. In many cases a person from the church prays with and for them before sending them on their way. Foley suggests that while this may soothe the conscience of the Christians from the churches providing such a ministry, it is a poor example of Christ’s vision of reflecting his love toward people. The point is that when Jesus and his disciples fed the >5,000 the fish and bread, they sat down with the people and they all ate and shared themselves as well, suggesting that it really was not about the physical food but about discipleship.

“We must sit with them at the table, as Christ did.” Lisa Carlson

Lisa Carlson is correct! Biblical discipleship as portrayed correctly by The Whole Life Offering is the opposite of the elitism that colors many church efforts today. This may upset some servants in the church who are genuinely helping the poor but here is a convicting point: Christians in the church often feed the poor a can of beanie weenies and then go out for steak. Jesus came to tear down elitism  such as this. If church ministries are going to provide the usual inexpensive food through the year since something is better than nothing, at least invite the poor and indigent to eat with the church on special days when celebrating a holiday meal. Make a Holy Day an occasion to treat the needy by serving and eating the same food WITH them. Invite them to eat the same delicacies the members of the church enjoy. You might call it a potluck.

AN APPLICATION OF THE WHOLE LIFE OFFERING

Gretta

Meet Gretta. No, Gretta is not a person but is a twelve-string guitar and it is through Gretta that one church came to understand perceptions of the needy in the community. While it is a story of a small church, in the eyes of the needy of the community, this particular church is important. She is a mega-church because of what the people do rather than because of the number of people who attend. First, we must understand that the true reputation of a church (Christian community) is not always found among the well-to-do families, but among the outcasts, homeless, and indigent of the same community.

Gretta is the affectionate name given to his guitar by a Christian who plays music during children’s church. The church had two worship services in two different buildings each Sunday. One particular Sunday a door was accidentally left unlocked and a homeless person entered and subsequently stole the guitar. The owner of Gretta was heartbroken and the church people were upset. The staff had no hard evidence of the theft but deduced what probably occurred. For several days we told the story of the probable theft to the homeless to whom we served lunches and had invited to eat with the church anytime there was a fellowship meal (BBQ, fish fry, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc). One staff member went to a local shelter and talked with several of the homeless about the guitar. The word got out that no one wanted to press charges if indeed Gretta was stolen, but we wanted the guitar returned.

A local homeless man we affectionately knew as Cowboy informed us that he had seen a new homeless man carrying a guitar and had heard that he tried to sell it at a local pawn shop. As it turned out, the owner of Gretta had left song sheets in the case that had the name of the church clearly printed on them. The owner of the pawn shop refused to buy the guitar and told the man that he should return it to the church. As other homeless people met the man and learned of the story, they also encouraged the man to return the guitar. Their comments were supportive of the church as they said.

“Shady Grove always helps people like us on the street. They invite us for meals and give us all the food we want. They sit down with us and eat, so they are not ashamed of us. They even provide clothes and other things when we need them. How could you take that guitar from that church? Take it back!”

Only after about two weeks following her unexpected departure, Gretta returned. One morning as I drove up to the church, I noticed something unusual on the front steps. There was Gretta inside the guitar case and protected by two large plastic garbage bags in case of rain. Several of us and especially the owner of Gretta cried with humility as we learned the whole story of Gretta as we talked with several of our regular homeless people over the following days. Gretta once again graces the children and the whole church family with beautiful music. Perhaps her music is better because of trial and tribulation and having shown us the real meaning of Christian philanthropy.

While we did not realize it at the time, Gretta is the story of how The Whole Life Offering is applied and worked out in the life of Christians and the church. Eric Foley’s book and teachings on discipleship are consistent with those of Simple Discipleship and I heartily recommend it as your church develops authentic missional ministries.

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QUESTIONS:

1. What is the reputation of your church in the community among the outcasts of society?
2. Does it matter to the church leaders what the homeless and indigent think about your church?
3. How does the story of Gretta the guitar reflect The Whole Life Offering?
4. Do the people of your church sit down with the most needy of your community or are they people to be avoided?

SD Blessings,

Dr. Tom Cocklereece, The Disciplist

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Dr. Tom Cocklereece is CEO of RENOVA Coaching and Consulting, LLC
Author “Simple Discipleship,” contributing writer L2L Blogazine
He is a pastor, an author, professional coach, and leadership specialist
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CHURCH PLANTING WITH SIMPLE DISCIPLESHIP IN NEW YORK

For some time I have wanted to see church planters use Simple Discipleship to implant disciple-making DNA into the church at the beginning. It is much easier to accomplish this at the time of the church’s birth than later. Stagnate or declining churches must often remove obstacles before launching a new initiative like Simple Discipleship. Michael Kenney is a church planting pastor in Rochester, New York of Bridge Community Church. I loved the passion I heard in his voice as I talked with him and I am excited for the Bridge Community Church family.

Pastor Kenney is methodically and prayerfully building a transformational discipleship process for the Bridge Community Church that will endure for some time and get the church growing and going. As you read his comments below, note how he read the book, Simple Discipleship, got his church planting leadership team to read the book, and now they are contextualizing the process to fit their ministry. Here are his comments in the form of a brief book review:

Michael Kenney

I have been church planting for nine years in Western NY. My passion has always been reaching the lost and making disciples. After years of having some good, some bad results I was frustrated. I looked at what we were using to disciple people and found it lacking. It was great in regards to the disciple RECEIVING but not in the area of REPRODUCING. What I saw were several people that became receivers only. I began to pray and look for other ideas to make disciples. I came upon Dr. Tom Cocklereece’s website and immediately read all I could about Simple Discipleship. I spoke with Dr. Tom and picked his brain then ordered the book.

This book was the answer to a structure of discipleship I was looking for. The four areas that are in the model for SD help the disciple to be well rounded from day 1. They learn, they serve, they worship, and they are missional. I purchased the books for our leadership and they are all equally as excited about SD. Our church will implement this in Summer 2011.

One last comment that is a wonderful addition to SD is the ability to measure progress. This is so vital to be sure our churches are doing all we can to honor our Lord Jesus in the command He gave to make disciples of all nations. I would highly recommend this model to any and all churches for disciple making! Thank you Dr. Tom for your labor in the disciple making ministry!

Michael Kenney,

Church Planter/Pastor

Bridge Community Church

Rochester, NY

http://thebridge.squarespace.com/

Simple Discipleship Seminar

I am praying for more opportunities to lead Simple Discipleship training seminars for groups of church planters, church launchers, and pastors. These may be done in one-day workshops or even better is a once a month workshop for at least four meetings. This format supports better learning as old paradigms are replaced over time, discussion, prayer, and interaction with the group. It is a major readjustment for church leaders to realize that effective discipleship is the future evangelism bank of the church. Evangelism without effective discipleship leads to shallow under-nourished Christians who do not share Christ. I have found that “the lights come on” in the minds of pastors and church planters after the second or third meeting. That is when they really become transformational church disciple-makers.

It is a major readjustment for church leaders to realize that effective discipleship is the future evangelism bank of the church. Evangelism without effective discipleship leads to shallow under-nourished Christians who do not share Christ. 

Make disciples!

Dr. Tom Cocklereece, The Disciplist

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Simple Discipleship: How to Make Disciples in the 21^st Century was published by Church Smart Resources. To learn more about Simple Discipleship and to order the book, follow the link below:

http://www.simplediscipleship.com

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Dr. Tom Cocklereece is Author of “Simple Discipleship,” and a contributing writer for www.Linked2Leadership.com Blogazine. He is a pastor, leadership coach, and ministry development specialist.

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A REVIEW OF “GROWING MISSIONAL LEADERS” by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Growing Missional Leaders

BOOK REVIEW: GROWING MISSIONAL LEADERS

Imagine how fast God’s kingdom would grow if people in every church, regardless of denomination, determined to accomplish the Great Commission in their community in their lifetime. This is not a proposal to take away from missionary endeavors around the world but it is a plan to increase local missional ministry understanding that it is an investment into the overall missionary effort. In other words, by being missional locally churches will become more evangelistic and soon able to do more in missions further away. The purpose of Dr. Matthew Lee Smith’s book is to motivate leaders to do just that.

Dr. Smith and this author agree that Jesus “wanted fishers of men” and not “students in classrooms” (page 1, Introduction). This is indeed a troubling and certainly an unintended development in Christendom where more than half of Christians who attend worship and Bible study (students in classrooms) rarely actively do missional ministry outside the church. He reminds us that the ministry and leadership of Jesus involve washing the feet of our enemies, ministry partners, and others to whom we are witnessing (18). Doing something of need to serve others that shows genuine humility may win the opportunity to share the message of Christ. By serving in humbling ways we become like Christ and so opens the heart of those receiving ministry.

While Dr. Smith and I agree on all points of developing missional leaders and leading churches to be missional, I found one point intriguing that he made on page 43. There he made the point that Charles Adam separated disciple-making into two parts: evangelism and discipleship. While it is difficult to narrow this tragic event to one Christian leader or movement, it is certain that churches, Bible colleges, and seminaries continue to perpetuate this silo model of ministry and discipleship. Indeed, when some leaders suggest establishing discipleship as an ubiquitous and all encompassing ministry that includes both evangelism and teaching, some evangelism specialists raise concern. What Dr. Smith and others are trying to say is that if we will put proper effort into discipleship and hands on local missional ministry experience, it will ignite a fervor of evangelistic and missionary activity based on thousands of equipped disciple-making disciples. Compare these thoughts to the old adage…give a man a fish and he is fed for a day, but teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime. Growing Missional Leaders seeks to not just making disciples but making disciple-making disciples which is the real intent of Jesus’ Great Commission.

I found Dr. Smith’s book an easy read and to be something that might motivate leaders to take a new look at this recent buzz word among Christian leaders—missional. It simply means that the church becomes actively involved in community mission projects thus making every Christian a missionary. Is that not what Christ has called us to become? One statement made in the book that I particularly likes is, “There is no success without a successor. In other words you succeed when you have trained your replacement.”(82) Not many Christians, elders, deacons, teachers, or for that matter pastors can claim success on those terms. We have much work to do and as one more book by a leader with a servant’s heart I highly recommend Growing Missional Leaders. Applying Dr. Smith’s principles will help church leaders cultivate a disciple making missional culture in the church so that disciples get out of the church to make more disciples.

About the Book

• Growing Missional Leaders is a practical, passionate, Biblical mentoring journey for individuals, small groups, leadership teams and congregations who desire to win their world for Christ.
• Readers will appreciate the enthusiastic and Spirit-filled hope God provides as Matthew:
  • Tells stories – of lost opportunities and successes with friends – that give powerful, encouragement of personal and corporate outreach;
  • Opens Bible passages – again and again – showing God’s heart is to bring his lost children home; and
  • Provides stimulating discussion questions – at the end of each chapter –providing the stepping stones to launching fresh ministry into your community.
• Believers hungering to reach their world for Christ will be energized by this passionate call to fulfill Christ’s Gospel and the invigorating manner in which their thought processes will be stretched to God-sized proportions.
• Growing Missional Leaders presents twenty-four Biblical strategies to invigorate and facilitate Christianity’s marching orders – the Great Commission – in your community.
• Each chapter is short, yet packed with the real-life issues of creating a missional heart in the leader.
• Designed for personal growth, small groups and leadership development , Growing Missional Leaders focuses the read on key internal areas such as …
  • Returning our focus on the Great Commission
  • Trusting our God for the impossible by looking beyond our limits and dreaming big dreams
  • Dealing with internal issues such as humility and forgiveness
  • Providing a model for missional ministry and turning our gaze outward toward those in need of Christ
  • Asking hard questions such as, “How do we build a missional church?” and “What does missional success look like?”
  • Outlining key leadership issues including how missional leaders work, lead, think, pray and build ministry
  • Dealing with missional priorities and how they relate to faith, results, prominence and attitudes

About the Author

• Matthew Smith has been pastor of multi-ethnic and multi-generational churches in urban, suburban and rural communities from Miami to Los Angeles.
• As a pastor, university professor, leadership consultant and author, I have been dedicated for over three decades to proclaiming the gospel and Encouraging Achievement in Godly Leaders by Emphasizing Servanthood (EAGLES).
• As founder and executive director of Eagles In Leadership, I have taught leaders and followers of Christ across North America and Israel, as well as touching lives around the globe through blogs, interviews and the Transformed! podcast, hosted by Farpoint Media.
• He loves good books, Starbucks coffee, cooking, and walking through live with ‘the joy of my eyes,’ Melodee Joy, his wife.

WHERE TO PURCHASE GROWING MISSIONAL LEADERS

• For more information, contact Eagles In Leadership at admin@eaglesinleadership.org.

• Growing Missional Leaders is available on Amazon.com and on our website EaglesInLeadership.org.

Make disciples!

Dr. Tom Cocklereece, The Disciplist

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Simple Discipleship: How to Make Disciples in the 21^st Century was published by Church Smart Resources. To learn more about Simple Discipleship and to order the book, follow the link below:

http://www.simplediscipleship.com

——————–

Dr. Tom Cocklereece is Author of “Simple Discipleship,” and a contributing writer forwww.Linked2Leadership.com Blogazine. He is a pastor, leadership coach, and ministry development specialist.

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