George Barna, Growing True Disciples: New Strategies for Producing Genuine Followers of Christ. Waterbrook Press, 2001.
Referenced in: Strategies for Church Renewal: Diagnostic/Prescriptive – Disciple-Making
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
This is a result of The Barna Research Group’s study of two dozen churches that have been effective in developing genuine followers of Christ. Several sections of the book offer great value. I will highlight two. First is the overall description of how today’s churches engage the discipling process. Second is the description of “Five Models of Effective Discipleship” in chapter seven. These five are: the competencies model, the missional model, the neighborhood model, the worldview model, and the lecture-lab model. Each features an actual congregation that embodies the model. This is an easy read. One could mine out the essential benefit in an afternoon session, and get an excellent overview that places the other resources of this genre in perspective.
From the Publisher
Christ’s command to the church is clear: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations…” It is in building disciples—helping others to embrace Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, mature in him, and then lead others to do the same—that the Kingdom grows. And when the Kingdom grows, churches do, too.
In Growing True Disciples, respected author and researcher George Barna helps pastors and leaders assess how their churches are doing in fulfilling their role as disciplemakers. And he reveals models and examples that will equip churches to dramatically increase their effectiveness. As a result, your church can begin to see more involved members who want to live out their faith in submission to God, and joyfully share their resources to fulfill Christ’s commission.
About the Author
George Barna is president of Barna Research Group, Ltd., a marketing research firm located in Ventura, California. He has conducted research for hundreds of churches and parachurch ministries as well as Fortune 500 companies and non-profit organizations. A best-selling author and frequent speaker at conferences around the world, Barna has taught at universities and seminaries and has served as a pastor at a large, multi-ethnic church.
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