The Disciple Maker's Handbook: Seven Elements of a Discipleship Lifestyle

Description

Many people believe that discipleship is important, but they need help. In fact, the vast majority of Christians report that they have never been personally discipled by a more mature follower of Jesus. Is it any wonder that they have a difficult time knowing how to disciple others? If making disciples of Jesus is the greatest cause on earth, how should we equip people to do it? This handbook is a practical guide for how to embrace the discipleship lifestyle - being a disciple of Jesus and how to make other disciples of Jesus. With contributions from pastors and teachers like Francis Chan, Jeff Vanderstelt, Bill Hull, Jim Putman, KP Yohannan, and Robert Coleman, the authors present seven elements that are necessary for disciple making to occur: * Jesus-the original disciple maker and centerpiece of discipleship. * Holy Spirit-fuels the disciple-making process. * Intentionality-making disciples utilizing a strategy and a roadmap. * Relationships-creating a loving, genuine connection with others who trust and follow Jesus. * Bible-using the Word of God as the manual for making disciples. * Journey-forging a traceable growth story from a new birth to spiritual parenthood. * Multiply-reproducing the discipleship process so that the disciple becomes a disciple maker. Whether you are a parent who wants to disciple your children, a small group leader who wants to disciple those in your group, or a church leader who wants to disciple future leaders, the seven key elements in this handbook form a framework for understanding discipleship that can be applied in countless situations. In addition, there are questions provided in each section to help you think through how to apply the material to your disciple making efforts.

Bobby Harrington is the co-founder of discipleship.org and the founding and lead pastor of Harpeth Christian Church (19 years). He is the chairman of the board for the Relational Discipleship Network and the co-author of DiscipleShift, Dedicated: Training Your Children to Trust and Follow Jesus, and Discipleship that Fits. He has been married to Cindy for over 35 years and they have two adult children who are disciples of Jesus.

"The Disciple Maker's Handbook will show you the foundational principles you need to know in order to be unleashed as a disciple maker right where you are." * Kyle Idleman, Author of Not a Fan and Teaching Minister at Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, KY * "I love what Bobby and Josh have done. The Disciple Maker's Handbook will help any believer live out their God-given destiny and fulfill God's purposes on earth." * Doug Nuenke, US President of the Navigators * "Bobby and Josh take the principles from DiscipleShift and describe how everyday Christians can live them out. I recommend almost any book Bobby writes or helps write." * Jim Putman, Pastor and coauthor of DiscipleShift (with Bobby Harrington and Robert Coleman) * "I really like this book. It is so easy to use, to get through, to find what you want. Bobby and Josh have done a great job of presenting a clear and compelling case for making disciples." * Bill Hull, Leader and Cofounder of The Bonhoeffer Project, author of Conversion & Discipleship and The Christian Leader * "This book is a beautiful guide for making disciple makers. It is simple, practical, down-to-earth, and Christ-centered. I commend it to everyone." * Robert Coleman, Author of The Master Plan of Evangelism, Distinguished Senior Professor of Discipleship and Evangelism, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and founding member of the Lausanne Committee on World Evangelization * "You can't go wrong if you help people become more like Jesus. Here disciple makers Bobby Harrington and Josh Patrick help us find our way back to a more authentic following of our Lord." * Alan Hirsch, Award-winning author on missional movements, leadership, and discipleship. www.alanhirsch.org * "Bobby and Josh have provided a great tool in The Disciple Maker's Handbook that I believe will move us from merely studying and talking about discipleship to becoming disciple makers." * Jeff Vanderstelt, Author of Saturate and Gospel Fluency; Visionary Leader of Saturate and the Soma Family of Churches; Lead Visionary Pastor of Doxa Church * "The Disciple Maker's Handbook is an important tool for doing the church's most important work!" * Dave Ferguson, Lead Pastor of Community Christian Church, lead visionary of NewThing * "The Disciple Maker's Handbook is a must read for all church planters and church multiplication leaders. This is not just another theoretical guide, but a vitally important practical framework for anyone seeking to be part of Jesus' Great Commission to make disciples!" * Todd Wilson, Founder and Director of the Exponential Church Planting Conference and Exponential Network * "The process of discipleship involves the whole of our lives, not just our theology. In The Disciple Maker's Handbook Harrington and Patrick have provided the body of Christ with a holistic and practical tool for discipleship. It's my prayer that we use it for the glory of God as we make disciples from every ethnicity." * D. A. Horton, Author and Pastor of Reach Fellowship in North Long Beach, CA, and Chief Evangelist for the Urban Youth Workers Institute * "Bobby Harrington and Josh Patrick have taken the guesswork out of beginning a disciple-making movement. The book is extremely practical because it's birthed out of years of investing in others." * Robby Gallaty, PhD, Senior Pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church and author of Growing Up, Rediscovering Discipleship, and The Forgotten Jesus * "The Disciple Maker's Handbook is a helpful and practical guide for those of us who want to actually leave behind a legacy of changed lives. I encourage you to read it carefully." * Larry Osborne, Pastor and author, North Coast Church, Vista, CA * "This is a practical and powerful resource for making students of Jesus." * Jonathan Storment, Patheos blogger and Preaching Minister at Highland Church of Christ * "In an age of religious boredom, church hopping, and spiritual consumerism. Bobby and Josh have written an outstanding resource for those who long for more. I can't recommend this book to you highly enough." * Scott Sauls, Senior Pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN, and author of Jesus Outside the Lines and Befriend * "If you are looking for a clear and compelling book on disciple making, then you have found it! I highly recommend this book!" * Craig Etheredge, Lead Pastor of First Colleyville Church, DiscipleFIRST ministries * "Filled with clear transferable principles, biblical wisdom, keen insight, and practical tools . . . you will find this an easy and enjoyable read. I highly commend it to you." * Dr. Dann Spader, Founder of Sonlife; President, Global Youth Initiative * "The challenge we face in our church today is that everyone wants to be a disciple, but not make disciples! The Disciple Maker's Handbook helps every follower of Jesus see not only the why, but the how to making disciples." * Shelly Juskiewicz, Pastor of Community Life & Leadership Development, Mariners Church, CA * "My friends, Bobby Harrington and Josh Patrick, have created a handy reference to equip pastors and their flocks to make disciple makers! The Disciple Maker's Handbook provides fresh insights and everyday applications." * Dave Buehring, Lionshare Founder and President * "Bobby and Josh have given us a helpful, inspiring framework for disciple making---so steal their hard work and jump-start your church's disciple-making system!" * Alex Absalom, Missional coach, author, and speaker-dandelionresourcing.com * "As a denominational leader I am always looking for just the right tool to put in the hands of large numbers of pastors and leaders. This handbook is the perfect resource to equip them for their ministry's most important work---disciple making!" * Larry Walkemeyer, Lead Pastor of Light and Life Christian Fellowship, Superintendent of FMCSC * "This book is a tool that really helps Christ-followers understand how and why we make disciples. I hope it inspires you as much as Bobby's life has inspired me!" * Dr. Kennon Vaughan, Senior Pastor of Harvest Church, President of Downline Ministries *