Lifestyle Discipleship: The Challenge of Following Jesus in Today's World Book

"OUR CHURCH IS FILLED WITH NEW BELIEVERS NEEDING SPIRITUAL DIRECTION, YET FEW OF THEM SHOW ANY INTEREST AT ALL IN OUR EXISTING DISCIPLESHIP PROGRAMS."-a pastor commenting on the growing problem of spiritual immaturity among his congregations In spite of all the discipleship programs going on in churches around the country today, a diminishing number of new believers are being brought to maturity in Christ. Why is that? "Much of what we think of as discipleship tends to focus on behavior," writes Jim Petersen in Lifestyle Discipleship. "Do have a quiet time, do attend church, don't be immoral. But behavior is not the bottom line when it comes to internal change. Behavior begins with values, and values stem from a person's world-view. Until discipleship speaks to people at that level, there will be very little spiritual growth to speak of." Drawing from his 30 years of working with the unchurched, Petersen uses the pages of this book to present a case for lifestyle discipleship-a process that makes room for the growing number of people who, for whatever reason, don't fit into any existing patterns of discipleship. Instead of focusing on measurable criteria and outward performance, Lifestyle Discipleship examines ways in which discipleship can produce truly mature followers of Christ. "People who do not have the advantage of a Christian heritage must begin their journey from wherever they happen to be when Christ calls them," Petersen says. "This means we need to be able to serve them according to their ability, not according to our agenda." The third book on the theme of who we are as God's people (following Living Proof and Church Without Walls), Lifestyle Discipleship will show you how to disciple others effectively regardless of where they're coming from or what their interest in the process may be.Read More