Intentional Disciplemaking: Cultivating Spiritual Maturity in the Local Church Book

There's a lot of talk about discipleship these days. There are magazines, books, Bible studies, and videos about discipleship. Many churches even have ministers of discipleship. But for all the information and programs about discipleship, how are we really doing at fulfilling Christ's Great Commission to "Go . . . make disciples"? Veteran disciplemaker Ron Bennett asks church ministries three questions to help them evaluate their progess: - What impact is your church having on the culture in which it lives? - How effective is your church in populating heaven? - Are the lives of believers radically changed as a result of their encounter with Christ and your church? A disciplemaking church significantly impacts its members and its environment. But how does a church make disciples? Disciples don't just happen. They're developed through intentional planning and the effort of a community of believers. And while many churches want to produce solid Christian disciples, they are not intentional about making it happen. They don't have a plan. For years, Ron Bennett has worked closely with churches that want to make disciples. He helps them understand what a biblical disciple of Christ looks like and works with them to create an environment geared specifically toward developing disciples. That includes developing a specific plan to bring believers to spiritual maturity-to discipleship. Bennett reminds readers that, "Disciples don't just happen. Weeds happen. Disciples are the result of an intentional plan and effort of a community of people." Intentional discipleship helps any church become a disciplemaking church. It doesn't just happen. Churches need a strategy. Bennett helps churches develop that plan and create the kind of environment necessary to cultivate spiritually mature believers-disciples of Jesus Christ.Read More