Disclaimer: I received this book as part of the Early Reviewer program on Librarything.com. The review copy was given to me for free, with the only stipulation being that I read the book and post a review online.
Statistics are frequently bandied about in conversation as though they represent some type of unassailable truth. "Statistics show Christianity is a dying religion." "This might be the last Christian generation, because teenagers are leaving the church at alarming rates." "Just look at the number of stories in the news and you'll see that Christians are nothing more than a bunch of hypocrites." Bradley R.E. Wright, in his work Christians are Hate-Filled Hypocrites...and Other Lies You've Been Told, takes a hard look at many of the popular conceptions about Christianity and holds them under the light of statistics collected over the past several decades. He concludes that many of the statistics used to paint a negative picture of Christianity are ultimately unsupported by more in-depth research. A sociology professor at the University of Connecticut, Wright offers a comprehensive analysis of Christianity today that dispels many myths about the church today, i.e. the divorce rate among Christians is lower than the society at large, in spite of popular misconception. While Wright's writing style can be somewhat stiff at times, Christians are Hate-Filled Hypocrites...and Other Lies You've Been Told is a thought-provoking read worth the effort for anyone involved in the current and future state of the church.
10 September 2010
Review: Life to Life Discipleship by Kevin Greer
~A brief word is necessary before launching into the review. As you might be able to tell, this review is about a month late in its posting. I've come to the realization that, with the busy schedule of a full-time seminary student, a full-time senior minister, and a full-time newlywed, my original goal of reading and reviewing a book a week was perhaps a little overly ambitious. To reflect the growing time obligations as well as the requisite time needed to read and properly reflect on the material included in these books, I've adjusted the review schedule to post every two weeks. As way of penance, I have two reviews to go up today, Life to Life Discipleship by Kevin Greer and Christians are Hate-Filled Hypocrites...and Other Lies You've Been Told by Bradley R.E. Wright (an Early Reviewer copy I received from LibraryThing), which should be up later this afternoon.~
Kevin Greer's Life to Life Discipleship is an excellent introduction for any youth leader looking to help guide students into a deeper relationship with Christ. Writing from a heart for teens and a lifetime of investing in their growth, Greer demonstrates a rich understanding of the principles behind a successful discipleship/accountability program. He offers several hints for those looking to start a discipleship group in their own youth ministry, including tools for recruiting and equipping both leaders and students, sample lesson plans from Greer's own experience, and tips for building accountability and mentorship into your program.
One of the best passages for those in ministry is Greer's use of Paul, Timothy and Barnabas as an example of the types of relationships every Christian should have in their lives. Everyone needs a Paul, a mentor who will invest in their lives and offer guidance and support through the highs and lows of daily life. Secondly, we need a Timothy, someone we ourselves can mentor just as we are being mentored. Third, we need a Barnabas, someone who will come alongside us and offer much-needed encouragement. Too often in ministry, we focus so much on finding Timothys, those people we can help grow deeper in their relationship with Christ, that we fail to be mentored ourselves, and the lack of encouragement is often the death of ministers. To be healthy, we need to develop all three kinds of relationships.
Overall, Life to Life Discipleship is an excellent introduction to mentorship and accountability groups. Although some materials included at times are somewhat dated (it was written in 2000, as evidenced by some of the illustrations included in the appendix), Greer's work remains powerfully relevant because the underlying principles have not changed. If you are looking to start a discipleship/accountability program, this book is the place to start!
Kevin Greer's Life to Life Discipleship is an excellent introduction for any youth leader looking to help guide students into a deeper relationship with Christ. Writing from a heart for teens and a lifetime of investing in their growth, Greer demonstrates a rich understanding of the principles behind a successful discipleship/accountability program. He offers several hints for those looking to start a discipleship group in their own youth ministry, including tools for recruiting and equipping both leaders and students, sample lesson plans from Greer's own experience, and tips for building accountability and mentorship into your program.
One of the best passages for those in ministry is Greer's use of Paul, Timothy and Barnabas as an example of the types of relationships every Christian should have in their lives. Everyone needs a Paul, a mentor who will invest in their lives and offer guidance and support through the highs and lows of daily life. Secondly, we need a Timothy, someone we ourselves can mentor just as we are being mentored. Third, we need a Barnabas, someone who will come alongside us and offer much-needed encouragement. Too often in ministry, we focus so much on finding Timothys, those people we can help grow deeper in their relationship with Christ, that we fail to be mentored ourselves, and the lack of encouragement is often the death of ministers. To be healthy, we need to develop all three kinds of relationships.
Overall, Life to Life Discipleship is an excellent introduction to mentorship and accountability groups. Although some materials included at times are somewhat dated (it was written in 2000, as evidenced by some of the illustrations included in the appendix), Greer's work remains powerfully relevant because the underlying principles have not changed. If you are looking to start a discipleship/accountability program, this book is the place to start!
Location:The Coffee Company, Elizabethton, TN
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)