The Complete Book of Discipleship

by Hull, Bill

• ISBN13: 9781576838976
• ISBN10: 1576838978
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-10-25
• Publisher: INGRAM

Summary

Well-organized and readily accessible, The Complete Book of Discipleship pulls together into one convenient, comprehensive volume relevant topics to discipleship such as: spiritual growth transformation spiritual disciplines discipleship in the local church and beyond Indexed for easy reference

Author Biography

Bill Hull’s efforts as a pastor and writer has been focused on being a disciple and making disciples. He has written several groundbreaking books for leaders and churches. Bill and his wife, Jane, have been married since 1969 and are the parents of two grown sons.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION
The Merger	18
Classic Discipleship	18
Spiritual Formation	18
Environmental Discipleship	20
A New Monasticism: Nothing Like the Old	20
CHAPTER 1: BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS OF DISCIPLESHIP
Discipleship: God's Very Best for His People	24
Discipleship: God's Primary Work	25
Jesus Said So	25
God Gave His All to This Mission	26
A Transformed Person Can Change the World	27
A Company of the Committed	28
Learning to Obey	30
Defining Terms	32
Disciple	32
Disciple-Making	34
Discipleship	35
Spiritual Formation	35
What Discipleship Is Not	35
Not a Program	36
Not a Production Line	36
Not Just for Beginners	37
Not Just for Leaders	38
Not Just for the Highly Literate	39
Not Just for People Who Like Structure	40
The Creation of a Non-Discipleship Christianity	41
Does Non-Discipleship Christianity Make Disciples?	41
Exploring a Faith That Embraces Discipleship	44
The Great Cloud of Witnesses	45
Characteristics of a Faith That Embraces Discipleship	46
The Kind of Person the Gospel Can Create	47
Personal Characteristics of Disciples	47
Personal Competencies of Disciples	47
CHAPTER 2: ORIGINS OF DISCIPLESHIP
Pre-Christian Examples of Discipleship	52
The Greco-Roman World	53
The Semitic World of the Hebrews	55
The Prophets	57
Wise Men and Scribes	58
Discipleship During the Time of Christ	59
The Pharisees	59
Disciples of John the Baptist	60
The Separatist Disciples	60
The Zealots	61
Characteristics of the Rabbinical Tradition	62
First-Century Discipleship	62
The Uniqueness of Jesus' Discipleship	65
Unique in Whom He Chose	65
Uniquely Based on Friendship and Common Respect	66
Unique Because It Redefined Disciple	67
Unique in How We Should Apply It Now	68
Is This Kind of Discipleship Common Today?	69
A Disciple Submits to a Teacher	70
A Disciple Finds and Teaches Other Disciples	71
CHAPTER 3: THE STORY OF DISCIPLESHIP
Bishops as Spiritual Guides	74
Clement of Rome	75
Ignatius of Antioch: The Bishop of Bishops	76
Polycarp of Smyrna	78
When We Were All Catholics	80
Monks and Mavericks	81
Characteristics of Monks	82
God in the Ordinary: Benedict and the Benedictines	83
Live Like Christ and Love the Poor: Francis of Assisi and the Franciscans	84
Intellectual Life: Dominic and the Dominicans	85
The Middle Years	88
The Eucharist	89
Community Worship	90
Art	91
The Reformation: New Life	95
Courage: Martin Luther	96
Spiritual Basics: John Calvin	97
Personal Devotions for Every Person: Thomas Cranmer	98
Disciplines of the Inner Life: Philip Jacob Spener	99
Community: Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf	101
Discipleship Done Right: John Wesley	102
A Gospel That Embraces Discipleship: Dietrich Bonhoeffer	104
CHAPTER 4: THE DISTINGUISHING MARKS OF A DISCIPLE
The Imitation of Christ	114
"Imitate Me"	114
Why Imitate Christ?	115
The Call to Discipleship	116
The Urge to Follow Jesus	117
The Call to the Life	117
Anyone Can and Should	119
Self-Denial Is Essential	121
Take Up Your Mission	124
The Torment of the Daily	127
Gaining Your Soul	127
The Six-Fold Definition of Being Conformed to Christ's Image	130
1. Transformed Mind: Believe What Jesus Believed	130
2. Transformed Character: Live the Way Jesus Lived	135
3. Transformed Relationships: Love as Jesus Loved	139
4. Transformed Habits: Train as Jesus Trained	142
5. Transformed Service: Minister as Jesus Ministered	144
6. Transformed Influence: Lead the Way Jesus Led	149
CHAPTER 5: THE DISCIPLE-MAKING ENVIRONMENT: WHAT MAKES THINGS GROW
How Environment Affects Growth	154
Too Close and Too Demanding: The Parable of the Turtle	154
Necessary Ingredients for a Healthy Environment	155
Trust	156
Grace	157
Humility	158
Submission	158
Affirmation	159
CHAPTER 6: THE STAGES OF DISCIPLESHIP
Maturity: A Community Project	164
Phases, Stages, and Steps of Spiritual Development	165
Eight Steps for Training Disciples	166
The Diamond of Discipleship	168
Sequential and Segmented	169
Jesus' Model for Developing Followers	169
Come and See	170
Come and Follow Me	175
Come and Be with Me	178
Remain in Me	181
CHAPTER 7: CHRISTIAN SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION
The Transformational Triangle	188
Community	188
The Holy Spirit and Scripture	190
Training and Pattern of Life	190
Events and Circumstances	191
Mission	191
The Whole Triangle	192
The Role of Spiritual Disciplines in Transformation	193
Why Practice Spiritual Disciplines?	194
Principle 1: Training Leads to Godliness	197
Principle 2: Practice Creates the Trained State	199
Principle 3: Perseverance Makes Transformation a Reality	203
CHAPTER 8: PERSONAL APPROACHES TO DISCIPLE-MAKING
The Personal Dimension	210
Coaching: Skills and Task	210
A Coaching Primer	211
The Coach's Function	212
The Ten Commandments of Coaching	213
Mentoring: Becoming a Person	214
Mentored to Be a New Person in Christ	216
Mentored by God's Word	217
Mentored for Worship in Community	218
Spiritual Direction: Specific Soul Care	221
Characteristics of a Spiritual Director	222
Distinctives of Spiritual Direction	222
Choosing a Spiritual Director	223
CHAPTER 9: THE ROLE OF SMALL GROUPS IN DISCIPLESHIP
Principles for Starting Groups	229
Establish a Beachhead	229
Orientation	229
The Prototype	230
Customize the Group	230
Types of Small Groups	230
Covenant Groups	231
Support Groups	231
Basic Accountability Groups	231
Ongoing Accountability Groups	232
Open and Closed Groups	232
Basic Principles for Every Group	234
Be Intentional	234
Provide Structure	235
Strive for Intimacy	235
Insist on Outreach	235
Commit to Reproduce	236
Personal Preparation for Starting Groups	237
Various Start-Up Methods	238
Develop a Master Group	238
Use the Quick-Start Approach	239
Inspire and Hand Out Materials	239
Communicate the Reason for Small-Group Ministry	240
A Sample Approach	240
Selecting Leaders	242
Character	242
Suitability	242
Availability	243
Faithfulness	243
Training Leaders	244
Establish a Covenant Relationship	244
Hold Regular Leader Meetings	244
Hold One-on-One Meetings	245
Encourage Playtime	245
Provide Continuing Education	245
Management of Commitments	246
Establish Accountability and Support	246
Set a Structure	246
Work Out Problems	247
CHAPTER 10: CONGREGATIONS, PASTORS, AND DISCIPLESHIP
Is Bigger Better?	252
Quality over Quantity	254
How Local Congregations Differ from Other Ministries	254
Church Is Ordinary	254
Church Is a Product of the Consumer Culture	255
Different Levels of Spiritual Maturity	256
The Seeker	256
The Starter	257
The Struggler	257
The Stagnant	259
The Stable	260
Training and Organizing the Congregation	260
Start at the Beginning	261
Realize That Some Will Always Be Spectators	262
Use a Development System	262
Use Careful Management	262
Advice to Church Leaders	263
Give Up the Gods	264
Develop Your Inner Life	269
Give Yourself to the Principle of Discipleship	270
Give Yourself to Others	273
CHAPTER 11. SPIRITUAL GENERATIONS
The Responsibility to Reproduce: A Sacred Trust	281
Needed: Both a Paul and a Timothy	282
Reproduction Requires Intentional Repeated Action	283
The Qualities of Reproduction and Multiplication	284
Proper Selection of Personnel	284
Several Passes on the Sacred Deposit	284
Passing on to the Right People	285
Imitation, Not Impersonation	286
What Can Be Passed On	287
CHAPTER 12. THE FUTURE OF DISCIPLESHIP: LIVING THE JESUS WAY
A Challenge and a Worry	290
The Right Thing in the Wrong Way	292
Two Philosophies	292
The Jesus Way or the Consumer Way?	294
1. Competence Before Prayer	294
2. Individualism Instead of Congregation	295
3. Impatience Rather Than Endurance	296
4. Celebrity Over Humility	298
Choosing the Jesus Way	299
APPENDIX A: FIVE MODELS OF EFFECTIVE DISCIPLESHIP
The Competencies Model: Pantego Bible Church, Dallas	303
The Missional Model: Fellowship Bible Church of Little Rock, Arkansas	304
The Neighborhood Model: Perimeter Church, Atlanta	305
The Worldview Model: Fellowship Bible Church North, Plano, Texas	306
The Lecture-Lab Model: North Coast Church, Vista, California	307
A "Best of" Model	307
APPENDIX B: RESEARCH FOR EVALUATING CONGREGATIONS
Why Congregations Do Poorly	309
What Makes Churches Effective at Disciple-Making	310
Notes	313
Index	329
Author	347

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