Growing True Disciples

Why are Churches and other Christian Ministries not making healthy disciples who have a passion for God and who are then making healthy disciples?

Many have observed that churches and other Christian groups that are functioning today are not consistently making healthy disciple who are then making healthy disciples on their own. I want to start an ongoing discussion and evaluation of this issue and recommend resources that will help us solve this dangerous situation within the body of Christ.

If we do not obey the commands of Jesus to "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations..." We must ask ourselves if we will hear Him say "Well done you good and faithful servant..."Or "go away from me, I never knew you." Making disciples who are healthy and who are passionate about God and who will in turn make healthy disciples must be a part of our DNA and our daily lives or we will have failed 'to do the things that Jesus did as he has promised we would.'

To start our discussion and evaluation I recommend reading 'Growing True Disciples' by George Barna. When we study we must always be like the people of Berea.
Acts 17:11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. NASU
The summary below of 'Growing True Disciples' by George Barna is from the Barna Group web site and used with their permission.
Success in God's kingdom is not based on earthly fame, degrees earned, material wealth, or popularity; it hinges on obedience to God's commands. As followers of Christ we are to be known for the authenticity and depth of our relationship with God, genuine love of people, and the spiritual fruit we produce. We call being molded into Christ-likeness by the Spirit the discipleship process. How are we doing in discipleship today? In this analysis of American Christians and Protestant churches in relation to discipleship, you will discover many insights into what we're doing, how we're doing, where we're going, and what new directions we might take to enhance the disciple-making ministry of the Church. Barna provides an objective statistical assessment of the spiritual profile of born again Christians. Just as importantly, he identifies various discipling models that are working well in churches - approaches to the equipping and sending of the saints that are easily adaptable to any church's ministry context.

"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations..."Read this book to find out how well we are carrying out Jesus' great commission to us, and how we might improve our discipling efforts in the days to come. I look forward to our interaction on this important issue. The table of contents and an excerpt is available at. http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Resource&ResourceID=55

You may also buy this book from Amazon.com If you click on this book on the lower right side of this page and purchase it from Amazon I will make a little money in the process.