Walk into any bookstore and you�ll see
entire sections devoted to the concept of discipleship. Churches offer courses on it and even
appoint specific ministers to the task. But when it comes down to it, is there really any significant
impact from all those programs and prescriptions for spiritual growth? Helping others develop
into mature Christians is a complex task. How can we attempt to influence people who care little
about religion, let alone their personal spiritual growth? Perhaps it is time to set our agenda aside
and focus instead on where others are. Join Jim Petersen as he reexamines our assumptions about
discipleship against the Scriptures in light of our world today.
"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 worldview. 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. Petersen
says,"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. This means we need to be able to serve them
according to their ability, not according to our agenda."
The 3rd 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.
New edition now includes a study and training guide!
CONTENTS:
1. Discipleship & Our Contemporary Culture
2. Insiders
3. Things That are Timeless: The Goals of Spiritual Growth
4. Spiritual Parents & Growing Children
5. New Creations in Christ
6. True Spiritual Transformation
7. Change - How Hard It Is!
8. Seven Elements of Spiritual Transformation
9. When Bad Things Happen: Understanding Suffering & Adversity
10. Dealing With Suffering & Adversity
11. Competence as Insiders
12. God's Purposes And You
13. The Time War: Creating Margin