4 Chair Discipling By Dr. Dann Spader

4 Chair Discipling By Dr. Dann Spader

RATING:  9/10 Summary: In this book, Spader takes a look at Jesus’ life and ministry and pulls out principles for us to strive for as we seek to make disciples.  Each chair represents a stage in the growth process in the Christian life.  Spader identifies how Jesus’ method of teaching and ministry can be applied in our groups and churches.  He also explains the practical needs of people in each stage; seeker, new believers, worker, and disciple-maker. In addition to the helpful explanation of each stage, Spader sprinkles lots of very Biblical insights into his writing. The nuggets are the fruit of a lifetime of studying the life of Jesus.

The Rise of Christianity By Rodney Stark

The Rise of Christianity By Rodney Stark

RATING: 9/10 Summary: Ever wonder how the church grew so rapidly in the first few centuries? Despite facing intense persecution, Christians grew at an astounding rate. Though typically ascribed to miracles, Stark, a social scientist and historian presents a data based theory as to how it happened. This book is enlightening and a tremendous help to understanding those early centuries of Christianity.

Slow Church By C. Christopher Smith & John Pattison

Slow Church By C. Christopher Smith & John Pattison

RATING: 7.5/10Summary: Solid read on the impact of our culture on our faith. Organized around the concepts of ethics, ecology, and economy, the authors do a good job of looking at the presumptions that many Western Christians make with regard to stability, suffering, wholeness, work, Sabbath, gratitude, and hospitality among others. I thought it could have been condensed in places and likewise the writing wasn’t economical.

Dawson Trotman in His Own Words

Dawson Trotman in His Own Words

Rating:  7/10 Summary: I enjoyed this book, but would have enjoyed it more if it weren’t misnamed. The vast majority of the book (90+%) isn’t Dawson’s words, but devotionals that are born out of his words. That’s only a problem because I was expecting most of it to be Dawson’s words. The book is organized around the concepts of the Wheel... 

Disciples Are Made Not Born - by Walt Hendrichsen

Disciples Are Made Not Born - by Walt Hendrichsen

When Read: May 2017. My Rating: 8/10

My second read through this book. It’s incredibly solid. He does a good job of balancing vision, heart, and skill. He begins by setting vision for the kind of person God uses, then looks at Christ and what He did. Finally, he works through some practical elements on how to train a disciple.