Transforming Discipleship: Making Disciples a Few at a Time

This is an important, high quality, recent work on disciple making from a long-time practitioner who has served as a pastor and seminary teacher. Ogden surveys the low condition of discipleship in the modern church before analyzing Jesus' and Paul's approaches to making disciples. His analysis is rich in principles and useful insights. Then he provides a section on practical strategy for making disciples in the modern church. He correctly stresses the relational dimension of disciple making, and clearly explains why programs cannot deliver the real life transformation needed. Ogden advances a method based on triads, where three meet together. We have also seen good results with this approach, although we do okay with two-person meetings as well. Ogden includes a wonderful section on building slowly and solidly (127,128). I think leaders and pastors should all read this book, or anyone who wants to make a lasting difference for Christ. -Dennis McCallum, author Organic Disciplemaking: Mentoring Others Into Spiritual Maturity And Leadership

This is one of those books you will wish you had read years before. After discussing what discipleship is (helping people to live like Jesus), Ogden gives a detailed overview of the models Jesus and Paul used to disciple people. Jesus' model, very simply, was first to be an example to people. Secondly he would teach them to serve, teach and lead. Thirdly, Jesus became a coach, helping his disciples to actually step out and actively serve. Finally, Jesus delegated all responsibility to the Apostles to go out and carry on the work of the kingdom. This model is one that any servant of Christ today can use to duplicate his/her own faith and ministry in another willing person. The following statement from the book encapsulates the goal of duplication and discipleship for all Christian leaders : "The tragedy is that most Christian leaders have placed almost no priority on transitional leadership. It is generally fair to say that the effectiveness of one's ministry is to be measured by how well it flourishes after one's departure." (P.96) Public teaching and preaching will always have its place. But nothing can replace one-on-one teaching, modeling and training. I highly recommend this book.

I would highly recommend this book to pastors and leaders who are desperate to see lives transformed into the likeness of Christ. The book is an easy read and makes sense from beginning to end. It has answered many of my questions about small groups and discipleship and greatly encouraged me.

One of the most revealing books on the reasons we have so few transformed lives today. Read this book only if you are truly serious about being an effective discipler and concerned about helping Christians lead transformed lives. Biblically solid and tested methodology explained in a way that will help anyone be more effective in their discipling efforts. If you are looking for just another "program," look elsewhere.

This is an excellent book that points very clearly to how the Church has been distracted from effective disciple making. It shows the failings of the "mass production" approaches to discipleship and calls us back to invest the time in relationships. I highly recommend this book. I plan to lead a group through this material because I found it so valuable.