BOOK REVIEW: Disciple Making Is...: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and Confidence, by Dave Early and Rod Dempsey

There are a lot of books on Christian discipleship... A WHOLE LOT OF BOOKS!  The challenge is knowing which ones are worth the investment of money, minutes, and mental stamina.  I have read several on this particular topic over the past year.  Some have contained a few nuggets worth highlighting or underlining. Others have had some re-readable sections or chapters.  This book alone, however, immediately grabbed me and kept me for nearly 300 pages.  Following are a list of reasons why anyone interested in fulfilling the mission given to us by our Lord ought to read Disciple Making Is...

First, it is Bible-driven.  Part 1 addresses biblical and theological foundations for disciple-making. Furthermore, the Scripture Index is seven pages long, practically (and strangely) unheard of for books on discipleship. Some books on the subject do not even include a Scripture Index.  There seems to be only two reasons why this would be lacking:  (1) the author/s rarely referred to Scripture or (2) the author's and/or editor/s saw no benefit to including the Scripture Index.  Neither reason is acceptable.  We simply cannot know what we need to know about making disciples of Jesus Christ without the disciple making manual, the Scriptures.  Early and Dempsey throughout assert that God's Word is the driving force behind the mission.

Second, it is task-focused.  Part 2 focuses on being a disciple, while Part 3 looks at making a disciple.  In a way, these two parts are the heart and soul of the book.  Again, the title says it all:  Disciple Making Is...  The thing I found to be most beneficial was the "three stages of discipleship" concept first introduced by A.B. Bruce and expanded upon here by Early and Dempsey.  All three stages are invitations to relationship, each building upon the other.  This concept has helped clarify in my own mind the discipleship process.

Third, it is God-honoring.  Although I believe Part 4 to be the weakest of the four parts, the passion of each disciple making model presented by the authors is to honor the Lord Jesus by faithfully doing what He calls the church to do, though each seeks to get there by somewhat different means.  Regardless of which model is adopted, those spearheading the effort to make disciples who make disciples must ensure that they are accomplishing God's mission God's way and for God's glory.

Readers will gain invaluable insights into the disciple making process by reading this book.  On a personal note, I will implement many of the truths contained in this book in my own ministry context.

NOTE:  I received this book for free from Broadman & Holman Publishing in exchange for a review.  I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review and the thoughts and words expressed are my own.