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Miraculous Movements: How Hundreds of Thousands of Muslims Are Falling in Love with Jesus
How do the people most resistant to the transformative power of the gospel come to be its most devoted followers? Miraculous Movement recounts an amazing change taking place within Muslim communities where the truth of Jesus Christ is turning around the lives of many thousands of Muslims from more than twenty people groups. Discover through the sometimes humorous, often sobering, but always enlightening and encouraging true stories how imams, sheikhs, and entire mosques are forsaking Islam and embracing Christ. This close look at what the Lord is doing to spread the gospel highlights the key scriptural principles that help Christians reach out in love to share the gospel in their own community. The authors outline the principle of service to others that open doors of opportunity to the work of the gospel. Author Jerry Trousdale works with CityTeam Ministries, an organization dedicated to helping disciples make disciples through CityTeam’s own ministry and through training other ministries in more than thirty countries. Features
208 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2012
154 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
February 23, 2023
I love the real life stories of how Muslims are coming to Christ. Great application and explanation of DMM.
October 2, 2012
Interesting for a couple of reasons. First, it's full of real-life stories of Muslims turning to Jesus and making disciples of people in their communities. The stories include a number of common themes as to how God seems to be working and drawing people to himself. Second, the book is an introduction to a strategy of church-planting based on Jesus' ministry and principles of simplicity and reproducibility. There is no seven step plan to seeing movements of disciples, but the book does introduce basic principles and practices that God is using around the world that ANY follower of Jesus can implement.
April 12, 2022
Loved the real life stories of these principles in action and also the emphasis on the most important aspects of the work - such as prayer, authentic relationships and marrying compassion and evangelism.
February 7, 2025
An encouraging read, worth knowing about the exciting things God is doing in the lives of Muslims (particularly in Africa).
In Trousdale’s words, « don’t start a program; develop a lifestyle of caring relationships ».
Would have loved to hear more about the « entire mosques coming to faith » that was mentioned a few times but never had any details. And also would have been cool to know which parts of the world it was happening in. Africa’s quite a big place !
In Trousdale’s words, « don’t start a program; develop a lifestyle of caring relationships ».
Would have loved to hear more about the « entire mosques coming to faith » that was mentioned a few times but never had any details. And also would have been cool to know which parts of the world it was happening in. Africa’s quite a big place !
July 5, 2017
This book is kind of deceptive. The title makes it seem like an exciting collection of accounts of Muslims becoming Christians. While those stories are part of the book and they're very good, the majority of the book consists of the author trying to convince you that his evangelism program (which he repeatedly assure you is not an evangelism program) is the only valid form of Christianity. The problem is that his stories make it appear hard to argue with him concerning his method's effectiveness. Yet that doesn't change the fact that his hermeneutics and theology are poor and perhaps even dangerous.
The book emphasizes that we need to use Jesus' so-called evangelism method. This is based off of Jesus' discipleship of the Twelve Apostles. However it is very selective and ignores that Jesus' primary purpose was not evangelism, that he actually instructed people not to tell others about him, and that Paul used a very different method then this one.
This book is also very anti-intellectual. Trousdale repeatedly instructs us to lead Discovery Bible Studies (all the brand-like capitalized names such as Discovery Bible Study and Discipleship Making Movement make me uncomfortable) instead of teaching our own interpretation of the Bible but he then proceeds to teach the reader his own interpretation of the Bible. I understand where this anti-intellectualism comes from but I think it's dangerous. Why ignore our rich history of interpretation to fall back into ancient mistakes and heresies? I also felt that their church model was surprisingly individualistic and self-centered with little room for worship or sacraments.
I feel unqualified to be so critical as I have not dedicated my life to evangelizing Muslims but I do think this book is based on a faulty interpretation of the Gospels. This book does have some good things to say and could be a source of great encouragement and I would even recommend it to people who have doubts concerning the ability of Muslims to become Christians but it should be read with caution and discernment especially regarding the very firm views on Jesus' "discipleship program."
The book emphasizes that we need to use Jesus' so-called evangelism method. This is based off of Jesus' discipleship of the Twelve Apostles. However it is very selective and ignores that Jesus' primary purpose was not evangelism, that he actually instructed people not to tell others about him, and that Paul used a very different method then this one.
This book is also very anti-intellectual. Trousdale repeatedly instructs us to lead Discovery Bible Studies (all the brand-like capitalized names such as Discovery Bible Study and Discipleship Making Movement make me uncomfortable) instead of teaching our own interpretation of the Bible but he then proceeds to teach the reader his own interpretation of the Bible. I understand where this anti-intellectualism comes from but I think it's dangerous. Why ignore our rich history of interpretation to fall back into ancient mistakes and heresies? I also felt that their church model was surprisingly individualistic and self-centered with little room for worship or sacraments.
I feel unqualified to be so critical as I have not dedicated my life to evangelizing Muslims but I do think this book is based on a faulty interpretation of the Gospels. This book does have some good things to say and could be a source of great encouragement and I would even recommend it to people who have doubts concerning the ability of Muslims to become Christians but it should be read with caution and discernment especially regarding the very firm views on Jesus' "discipleship program."
November 21, 2017
Excellent book showing the practical outworkings of the ideas contained in David Watson's
Contagious Disciple Making
, specifically as they're being carried out among Muslim communities in Africa.
September 25, 2022
absolutely amazing. story after story of redemption in muslim communities, all glory to God
December 17, 2021
It started off a little slow, but after the first few chapters it was amazing!!! It is a whole new way of thinking and I agreed with all the points presented in it. I especially loved how they analyzed Jesus' ministry to model their own. This is so important to today's church! I now want to buy this to add to my own collection.
September 18, 2014
It is an inspiring book but little insights of the theology and doctrines being used during their discipleship. Sounds phenomenon but I would rather be careful to have a little more understanding with such movement.
May 29, 2012
Fabulous book for anyone who wants to educate themselves about ministering to Muslims.
June 22, 2025
In the second chapter of this book, Trousdale describes the story of a man named “Thomas” (the book uses pen names to keep identities protected; it’s clear why they chose the name Thomas for this man). Thomas was an African church planter enrolled in a DMM seminar taught by David Watson (author: Contagious Disciple Making). He responds with doubt and opposition to the teaching and the DMM methods taught. But weeks later, after giving these methods a try, he was surprised to see in 3 months “15 new churches and 450 new believers.” Just like doubting Thomas touching Jesus’ wounds, the African church planter gives these strategies a try and has a DMM conversion experience leading him to become it's biggest advocate. As I read this story, I quickly realized—I am Thomas. But unfortunately, I am still in doubt, yet to encounter these principles in practice, and most troubling, yet to see a strong argument from scripture for these claims. To be fair, I understand that this book’s primary goal is not to defend DMM or systematically exposit scripture but rather to show the fruits of these methods in the Muslim world. The book takes the reader into stories of miraculous movements of God in the Middle East and restricted Muslim countries. It’s meant to be an encouraging read to Christians around the world, but also to challenge our historical understanding of missions. However, the book does also make assertions and applications based on the stories and experience. I supplemented my reading with other DMM resources from Watson and Trousdale. The following points are not the most concerning parts of DMM but just the ones I found most interesting to dive into. It's important to note that there is a wide spectrum of models within DMM, ranging from unbelievers leading discipleship on one end to more church centered missions on the other. The questions I found worth reflecting on were those in the middle of this spectrum...
My doubts and concerns with DMM:
1. ‘The Commissioning of the 72’ vs. ‘The Great Commission’
You will notice throughout this book and other DMM resources a long Scripture index list from the four Gospels and a much shorter one from Acts and the Epistles. Behind this, I believe, is a misinterpretation of context in Matthew 10, Mark 3, and Luke 10, as well as an overlooking of the model of the early church in Acts and the Epistles. The commissioning of the twelve is a description of a unique redemptive-historical mission to the people of Israel. Alex Kocman raises a fair question that derives from interpreting these passages as prescriptive principles for the Church: “Are modern Christians to ‘carry no money bag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road’ (Luke 10:4)? Since Jesus said, ‘Do not go from house to house,’ should we impose a moratorium on door-to-door evangelism?” To apply the same principles of interpretation used in DMM consistently results in confusing problems for modern missions. Rather, we should faithfully evaluate the differences and similarities between the commissioning of the 72 and the Great Commission of the Church.
2. Persons of Peace?
According to David and Paul Watson, “People of Peace have three primary characteristics: They are open to a relationship with you. They hunger for spiritual answers for their deepest questions. And they will share whatever they learn with others.” Trousdale says, “Share only when and where people are ready to hear.” My initial thought is: do these people exist? Do people truly desire the message of the Gospel before hearing the Gospel? Trousdale himself clearly knows this to at least somewhat be the case because he says in the next line, “The Muslim world is absolutely sure that it does not want to hear the Christian message.” In fact, he goes on to say this is true of most of the world.
But why? Why do people not want to hear the Christian message? Is there anyone who might want to hear the Christian message? Is it our job to decide who that is and who is not that person? I would argue the Bible says no. Paul references the Psalms in Romans 3 when he says,
“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10–12)
Our primary problem is not ignorance like the Qur’an establishes, but rather rebellion. We do not know God because we do not want to know God. God has clearly revealed Himself to all peoples—this is Paul's argument in Romans 1–2:
“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” (Romans 1:21–23)
So the unreached islander knows God. God has not failed to faithfully reveal Himself clearly in creation. His problem is not ignorance—it is rebellion. So what saves us from our own rebellion? God’s grace working through our faith (Ephesians 2:8–10). This is worked out in our calling upon Jesus and being saved, our hearts being brought from rebellion to reconciliation, from enemies of God (Romans 5:10) to sons of God.
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?’ So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:13–17)
If we understand salvation as Paul does, then we know that we are enemies of God, in rebellion against God, not seeking God, not desiring God apart from faith. To say otherwise would see faith as nonessential to salvation. But what Paul indicates in Romans 10 is that hearing the Gospel is essential for salvation. This raises a problem for the idea that we ought not share it with those who are not ready to hear. What Paul is saying in Romans is that what makes us those who desire God and the good news of Jesus is hearing of Jesus. So if we are waiting for someone to be ready to hear, they will perish without it. It’s like waiting for permission from an unconscious patient in cardiac arrest to shock them back to life. Man proclaims, God reveals, they desire. This is clearly the order throughout Acts.
That being said, I do not think Trousdale would disagree with what I said, and I think there is a principle for finding people of peace. There is a spiritual element of discerning who God would desire us to pursue with the Gospel and disciple. But realizing that it is a danger of becoming peace evaluators in people's lives rather than realizing many who come to know the Lord have no “peace,” yet desperately need to hear the Gospel to be saved. Even in the sending of the 72, Jesus says,
“If anyone does not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town.” (Matthew 10:14)
But what Jesus does not say is “do not go into that house” or “do not speak.” In fact, implied in this passage is that the disciples did attempt to enter and to speak.
Can we truly say someone is not a person of peace until we have attempted to share the Gospel with them? I see a danger of deciding for people—and for God—who may respond with faith and who may be hardened. But in both cases, the Word is not returning void; it is accomplishing its purpose (Isaiah 55:11). Paul does not seem to be as concerned with making this decision:
“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Corinthians 2:14–16)
Or:
“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)
Our role in missions and evangelism is to scatter seed and to spread the fragrance. We ought not get caught up in sampling the soil and selectively sharing. We should be praying for God to open doors (Colossians 4:3) with those whom He desires us to encounter, but indiscriminately preaching the Word to all.
3. Discovery & Obedience, Not Teaching & Knowledge?
[a] DMM creates a false dichotomy between knowledge and obedience. Between teaching and discovery. As highlighted by Paul in Romans 10: how will they discover unless they are taught? The Ethiopian eunuch begs the same question in Acts 8:
“How can I [understand], unless someone guides me?”
Then Philip sat him down and decided to do a Discovery Bible Study starting with the prophets asking the Holy Spirit to teach him. Nope. Instead:
“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.” (Acts 8:35)
Trousdale writes, “When working with lost people, we have to avoid falling into the role of explaining Scripture. If we do, we become the authority rather than allowing Scripture to be the authority.” Was Paul usurping the authority of Scripture in Thessalonica when:
“Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.’” (Acts 17:2–3)
Rather than undermining the authority of Scripture, biblical teaching exalts the authority of Scripture and displays it for all to see. (Acts 15:35, 11:4, 18:4, 18:11, 20:20). On top of this normative pattern in Acts, look at the way Paul instructs us throughout his letters (see Romans 15:14, 2 Timothy 3:16–17, Colossians 3:16, Titus 2:1, 2 Timothy 2:2, 1 Corinthians 4:17, 1 Timothy 6:2, 4:11). Paul clearly sees teaching as a primary responsibility and characteristic of the church as well as a spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11, Romans 12:6–8, 1 Peter 4:11).
The church is a collection of believers exercising their spiritual gifts to build up one another. But within a DBS ‘church’, pastors and teachers have no place. The book argues that the Holy Spirit takes the role of teacher in the DBS, but this creates a false dichotomy between the Holy Spirit as teacher (John 14:26) and man as teacher that does not exist in Scripture. The Holy Spirit is the one who teaches, but He often does this through the preaching of the Word. The Holy Spirit abides in and empowers each of us, so yes—preaching, teaching, explaining the Scripture is all done through the Spirit who illuminates and unveils as we teach (2 Corinthians 4:6). To put these things in contradiction is a complete misunderstanding of the Spirit’s power in our lives and through our gifts (Colossians 1:24–29).
[b] But what are we to teach? Knowledge or obedience?
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19–20)
Trousdale understands this to a degree when he writes, “Knowledge without obedience creates a spiritual dichotomy between knowledge and obedience.” I would agree, but then go one step further in saying obedience without knowledge also creates a spiritual dichotomy (Romans 10:2). We can “obey” and not know God (Matthew 7:21–23). There are ditches on both sides and the modern Western church has certainly fallen off on the side of knowledge without obedience. However, I would argue the solution is not reactively avoiding cheap grace on the one side only to find a church fallen back into the ditch of legalism on the other.
First, we must realize that God commanded us to obey, to understand, and to enjoy Him. Understanding (mind) and enjoyment (heart) are within the umbrella of obedience. Sanctification and an increase in obedience, according to Paul, is also an increase in knowledge and understanding (Colossians 1:8–10, Philippians 1:9, 1 Corinthians 15:34). However, knowledge in itself is of no value without love (1 Corinthians 13), and we know that some knowledge puffs up (1 Corinthians 8:1).
So understanding is commanded in Scripture. To obey, we must understand. But understanding in itself is not obedience. Understanding is not virtuous in itself. However, understanding is not disconnected from enjoyment and obedience. In fact, the way James speaks of wisdom indicates that any “wisdom”, “understanding”, or “knowledge” that does not lead to action is no wisdom at all but rather folly (James 3:13–18).
This is exactly Jonathan Edwards’ point in Religious Affections:
“Gracious affections do arise from the mind's being enlightened, richly and spiritually to understand or apprehend divine things. Holy affections are not heat without light; but evermore arise from the information of the understanding, some spiritual instruction that the mind receives, some light or actual knowledge.” (1 John 4:7, Philippians 1:9, Colossians 3:10, Psalm 43:3–4, John 6:45, Luke 11:52)
Piper says “the mind is the servant of the heart.” Our affections often flow out of our thoughts and our understanding of God. If my mind and my knowledge of God and of Scripture is not leading to delight in and worship of Him in my heart, then it has failed its role and that knowledge has become sin. Not delighting is not obeying His commands (Psalm 37:4, Philippians 4:4). But I think there is another form of obedience that will flow from this delight or love for God (John 14:15). This is the obedience described in this book—the external, visible obedience, Christlikeness that we are formed into.
This is primarily what this book and others like John Mark Comer’s Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did focus on. But rather than skipping over doctrine and delight, let us see that the fruits of these things are being like Jesus. Rather than creating a false dichotomy between obedience and knowledge, let us realize the role that knowledge plays in obedience.
What I’m proposing is neither knowledge-based discipleship nor obedience discipleship but heart-based discipleship. This is what I would argue Jesus pursues in the Gospels and Paul expounds on in the Epistles. This is the greatest commandment:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)
This is true obedience-based discipleship. Obedient disciples love God.
4. Radical Prayer
If there is one positive practice to take away from this book, it ought to be desperation and dependence on God in prayer. Throughout the book, intercessory prayer is emphasized as essential to the work that God is doing. Looking at Jesus’ model in Matthew 9, the first instinct of Christ when He sees His scattered sheep and is moved with compassion is not to plan and strategize, or preach and urge. He stops and commands us to pray.
Christians in these contexts understand that apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5) and are entirely dependent upon God to open hearts. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians is as relevant today as it has been through every age of the Church:
“And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:1–5)
No model, no movement, no miraculous method is the cause of the testimonies and stories in this book or in missions across the world—only one miraculous God.
My doubts and concerns with DMM:
1. ‘The Commissioning of the 72’ vs. ‘The Great Commission’
You will notice throughout this book and other DMM resources a long Scripture index list from the four Gospels and a much shorter one from Acts and the Epistles. Behind this, I believe, is a misinterpretation of context in Matthew 10, Mark 3, and Luke 10, as well as an overlooking of the model of the early church in Acts and the Epistles. The commissioning of the twelve is a description of a unique redemptive-historical mission to the people of Israel. Alex Kocman raises a fair question that derives from interpreting these passages as prescriptive principles for the Church: “Are modern Christians to ‘carry no money bag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road’ (Luke 10:4)? Since Jesus said, ‘Do not go from house to house,’ should we impose a moratorium on door-to-door evangelism?” To apply the same principles of interpretation used in DMM consistently results in confusing problems for modern missions. Rather, we should faithfully evaluate the differences and similarities between the commissioning of the 72 and the Great Commission of the Church.
2. Persons of Peace?
According to David and Paul Watson, “People of Peace have three primary characteristics: They are open to a relationship with you. They hunger for spiritual answers for their deepest questions. And they will share whatever they learn with others.” Trousdale says, “Share only when and where people are ready to hear.” My initial thought is: do these people exist? Do people truly desire the message of the Gospel before hearing the Gospel? Trousdale himself clearly knows this to at least somewhat be the case because he says in the next line, “The Muslim world is absolutely sure that it does not want to hear the Christian message.” In fact, he goes on to say this is true of most of the world.
But why? Why do people not want to hear the Christian message? Is there anyone who might want to hear the Christian message? Is it our job to decide who that is and who is not that person? I would argue the Bible says no. Paul references the Psalms in Romans 3 when he says,
“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10–12)
Our primary problem is not ignorance like the Qur’an establishes, but rather rebellion. We do not know God because we do not want to know God. God has clearly revealed Himself to all peoples—this is Paul's argument in Romans 1–2:
“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” (Romans 1:21–23)
So the unreached islander knows God. God has not failed to faithfully reveal Himself clearly in creation. His problem is not ignorance—it is rebellion. So what saves us from our own rebellion? God’s grace working through our faith (Ephesians 2:8–10). This is worked out in our calling upon Jesus and being saved, our hearts being brought from rebellion to reconciliation, from enemies of God (Romans 5:10) to sons of God.
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?’ So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:13–17)
If we understand salvation as Paul does, then we know that we are enemies of God, in rebellion against God, not seeking God, not desiring God apart from faith. To say otherwise would see faith as nonessential to salvation. But what Paul indicates in Romans 10 is that hearing the Gospel is essential for salvation. This raises a problem for the idea that we ought not share it with those who are not ready to hear. What Paul is saying in Romans is that what makes us those who desire God and the good news of Jesus is hearing of Jesus. So if we are waiting for someone to be ready to hear, they will perish without it. It’s like waiting for permission from an unconscious patient in cardiac arrest to shock them back to life. Man proclaims, God reveals, they desire. This is clearly the order throughout Acts.
That being said, I do not think Trousdale would disagree with what I said, and I think there is a principle for finding people of peace. There is a spiritual element of discerning who God would desire us to pursue with the Gospel and disciple. But realizing that it is a danger of becoming peace evaluators in people's lives rather than realizing many who come to know the Lord have no “peace,” yet desperately need to hear the Gospel to be saved. Even in the sending of the 72, Jesus says,
“If anyone does not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town.” (Matthew 10:14)
But what Jesus does not say is “do not go into that house” or “do not speak.” In fact, implied in this passage is that the disciples did attempt to enter and to speak.
Can we truly say someone is not a person of peace until we have attempted to share the Gospel with them? I see a danger of deciding for people—and for God—who may respond with faith and who may be hardened. But in both cases, the Word is not returning void; it is accomplishing its purpose (Isaiah 55:11). Paul does not seem to be as concerned with making this decision:
“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Corinthians 2:14–16)
Or:
“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)
Our role in missions and evangelism is to scatter seed and to spread the fragrance. We ought not get caught up in sampling the soil and selectively sharing. We should be praying for God to open doors (Colossians 4:3) with those whom He desires us to encounter, but indiscriminately preaching the Word to all.
3. Discovery & Obedience, Not Teaching & Knowledge?
[a] DMM creates a false dichotomy between knowledge and obedience. Between teaching and discovery. As highlighted by Paul in Romans 10: how will they discover unless they are taught? The Ethiopian eunuch begs the same question in Acts 8:
“How can I [understand], unless someone guides me?”
Then Philip sat him down and decided to do a Discovery Bible Study starting with the prophets asking the Holy Spirit to teach him. Nope. Instead:
“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.” (Acts 8:35)
Trousdale writes, “When working with lost people, we have to avoid falling into the role of explaining Scripture. If we do, we become the authority rather than allowing Scripture to be the authority.” Was Paul usurping the authority of Scripture in Thessalonica when:
“Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.’” (Acts 17:2–3)
Rather than undermining the authority of Scripture, biblical teaching exalts the authority of Scripture and displays it for all to see. (Acts 15:35, 11:4, 18:4, 18:11, 20:20). On top of this normative pattern in Acts, look at the way Paul instructs us throughout his letters (see Romans 15:14, 2 Timothy 3:16–17, Colossians 3:16, Titus 2:1, 2 Timothy 2:2, 1 Corinthians 4:17, 1 Timothy 6:2, 4:11). Paul clearly sees teaching as a primary responsibility and characteristic of the church as well as a spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11, Romans 12:6–8, 1 Peter 4:11).
The church is a collection of believers exercising their spiritual gifts to build up one another. But within a DBS ‘church’, pastors and teachers have no place. The book argues that the Holy Spirit takes the role of teacher in the DBS, but this creates a false dichotomy between the Holy Spirit as teacher (John 14:26) and man as teacher that does not exist in Scripture. The Holy Spirit is the one who teaches, but He often does this through the preaching of the Word. The Holy Spirit abides in and empowers each of us, so yes—preaching, teaching, explaining the Scripture is all done through the Spirit who illuminates and unveils as we teach (2 Corinthians 4:6). To put these things in contradiction is a complete misunderstanding of the Spirit’s power in our lives and through our gifts (Colossians 1:24–29).
[b] But what are we to teach? Knowledge or obedience?
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19–20)
Trousdale understands this to a degree when he writes, “Knowledge without obedience creates a spiritual dichotomy between knowledge and obedience.” I would agree, but then go one step further in saying obedience without knowledge also creates a spiritual dichotomy (Romans 10:2). We can “obey” and not know God (Matthew 7:21–23). There are ditches on both sides and the modern Western church has certainly fallen off on the side of knowledge without obedience. However, I would argue the solution is not reactively avoiding cheap grace on the one side only to find a church fallen back into the ditch of legalism on the other.
First, we must realize that God commanded us to obey, to understand, and to enjoy Him. Understanding (mind) and enjoyment (heart) are within the umbrella of obedience. Sanctification and an increase in obedience, according to Paul, is also an increase in knowledge and understanding (Colossians 1:8–10, Philippians 1:9, 1 Corinthians 15:34). However, knowledge in itself is of no value without love (1 Corinthians 13), and we know that some knowledge puffs up (1 Corinthians 8:1).
So understanding is commanded in Scripture. To obey, we must understand. But understanding in itself is not obedience. Understanding is not virtuous in itself. However, understanding is not disconnected from enjoyment and obedience. In fact, the way James speaks of wisdom indicates that any “wisdom”, “understanding”, or “knowledge” that does not lead to action is no wisdom at all but rather folly (James 3:13–18).
This is exactly Jonathan Edwards’ point in Religious Affections:
“Gracious affections do arise from the mind's being enlightened, richly and spiritually to understand or apprehend divine things. Holy affections are not heat without light; but evermore arise from the information of the understanding, some spiritual instruction that the mind receives, some light or actual knowledge.” (1 John 4:7, Philippians 1:9, Colossians 3:10, Psalm 43:3–4, John 6:45, Luke 11:52)
Piper says “the mind is the servant of the heart.” Our affections often flow out of our thoughts and our understanding of God. If my mind and my knowledge of God and of Scripture is not leading to delight in and worship of Him in my heart, then it has failed its role and that knowledge has become sin. Not delighting is not obeying His commands (Psalm 37:4, Philippians 4:4). But I think there is another form of obedience that will flow from this delight or love for God (John 14:15). This is the obedience described in this book—the external, visible obedience, Christlikeness that we are formed into.
This is primarily what this book and others like John Mark Comer’s Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did focus on. But rather than skipping over doctrine and delight, let us see that the fruits of these things are being like Jesus. Rather than creating a false dichotomy between obedience and knowledge, let us realize the role that knowledge plays in obedience.
What I’m proposing is neither knowledge-based discipleship nor obedience discipleship but heart-based discipleship. This is what I would argue Jesus pursues in the Gospels and Paul expounds on in the Epistles. This is the greatest commandment:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)
This is true obedience-based discipleship. Obedient disciples love God.
4. Radical Prayer
If there is one positive practice to take away from this book, it ought to be desperation and dependence on God in prayer. Throughout the book, intercessory prayer is emphasized as essential to the work that God is doing. Looking at Jesus’ model in Matthew 9, the first instinct of Christ when He sees His scattered sheep and is moved with compassion is not to plan and strategize, or preach and urge. He stops and commands us to pray.
Christians in these contexts understand that apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5) and are entirely dependent upon God to open hearts. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians is as relevant today as it has been through every age of the Church:
“And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:1–5)
No model, no movement, no miraculous method is the cause of the testimonies and stories in this book or in missions across the world—only one miraculous God.
January 11, 2024
Such an incredible, inspiring and motivating book. I recommend for EVERYONE not just those serving overseas. These stories and the hearts of those within those stories are beautiful and I’m thankful I was able to experienced it.
September 18, 2015
Many great stories of how God is using dreams, visions, and people among African Muslims and leading them to Christ. I liked how the author laid out some practical ways to help prod people into exploring and discovering faith in Christ on their own. These are some of the methods we ourselves use to introduce the Roma of Albania to Christ. But, the most profound thing I gleaned from this book was about the importance of intercessory prayer, perhaps something I myself lack. How prayer has opened opportunities to share the Gospel and see the most hardened people come to know the Lord. Prayer is indeed essential.
But, some of the content of this book I found a bit troubling. Such as the gross inflation of numbers. "Thousands were led to Christ", and "hundreds of new churches were planted in just a few months", and "hundreds were being baptized". I would be curious to find how the author defines what a church is and what a new believer is. For example, is a family of 4 going through a Discovery Bible Study a church? And does a person's mere mental assent to the existence of Christ make them a believer? Furthermore, as one other reviewer alluded to, it does seem the author is focused more on getting conversions rather than making disciples. Conversions from one religion to another.
Despite the few misgivings I have, this is indeed a good book. And, contrary to what proponents of missional movements or CPM would say, this IS just another method of evangelism, albeit certainly a biblical model indeed. As a missionary working in a Muslim context I have found some, not all, of these principals to be helpful in my own work in making disciples. But, as with anything in life, use discernment. As the author states, don't be confined to methods and programs, but instead yield to the Spirit as He works differently in all situations.
But, some of the content of this book I found a bit troubling. Such as the gross inflation of numbers. "Thousands were led to Christ", and "hundreds of new churches were planted in just a few months", and "hundreds were being baptized". I would be curious to find how the author defines what a church is and what a new believer is. For example, is a family of 4 going through a Discovery Bible Study a church? And does a person's mere mental assent to the existence of Christ make them a believer? Furthermore, as one other reviewer alluded to, it does seem the author is focused more on getting conversions rather than making disciples. Conversions from one religion to another.
Despite the few misgivings I have, this is indeed a good book. And, contrary to what proponents of missional movements or CPM would say, this IS just another method of evangelism, albeit certainly a biblical model indeed. As a missionary working in a Muslim context I have found some, not all, of these principals to be helpful in my own work in making disciples. But, as with anything in life, use discernment. As the author states, don't be confined to methods and programs, but instead yield to the Spirit as He works differently in all situations.
March 24, 2021
Confieso he tardado prácticamente un año para leer este libro, cosa que jamás me había pasado sin embargo por alguna extraña razón lo había pospuesto. Ahora bien dejando a un lado mis justificaciones debo decir que Miraculous Movements es una serie de testimonios que encienden una llama en tu vida para cumplir con la gran comisión de Jesús predicar el evangelio.
Estoy impresionada con lo que Dios esta haciendo en la vida de muchos Musulmanes y es que más que una obra misionera Dios esta usando gente común y la menos probable para expandir su reino, la forma en que muchos dentro de este libro narran su conversión me ha volado la cabeza, a muchos por medio de sueños, por sanidades pero lo más importante, el anhelo de saber y estar seguros de la vida eterna, es el conocimiento, el anhelo de saber y al momento de buscar encuentran.
Miraculous Movements es un libro capaz de instruirte con la formula de hacer discípulos además de recordarte lo que significa seguir a Cristo de la manera en que lo hizo la iglesia primitiva y debería seguir siendo en nuestros tiempos, en medio de una cultura de rechazo por la verdad y sobre todo en medio de persecución.
Recomiendo este libro para todos quienes tengan esa inquietud misionera y sobretodo quien desee poder salir de su zona de confort para ver la necesidad de Jesús en el exterior, y es que no solo es tan lejos donde Jesús nos llama, sino aun en nuestros círculos y comunidades, no intentando hacer del reino de Dios un plan de marketing sino formar en nosotros un corazón con el verdadero sentir del prójimo.
Aquí vas a encontrar en una narración fácil de leer, con historias de milagros sobrenaturales y la expiación del reino sobreabundantemente.
Estoy impresionada con lo que Dios esta haciendo en la vida de muchos Musulmanes y es que más que una obra misionera Dios esta usando gente común y la menos probable para expandir su reino, la forma en que muchos dentro de este libro narran su conversión me ha volado la cabeza, a muchos por medio de sueños, por sanidades pero lo más importante, el anhelo de saber y estar seguros de la vida eterna, es el conocimiento, el anhelo de saber y al momento de buscar encuentran.
Miraculous Movements es un libro capaz de instruirte con la formula de hacer discípulos además de recordarte lo que significa seguir a Cristo de la manera en que lo hizo la iglesia primitiva y debería seguir siendo en nuestros tiempos, en medio de una cultura de rechazo por la verdad y sobre todo en medio de persecución.
Recomiendo este libro para todos quienes tengan esa inquietud misionera y sobretodo quien desee poder salir de su zona de confort para ver la necesidad de Jesús en el exterior, y es que no solo es tan lejos donde Jesús nos llama, sino aun en nuestros círculos y comunidades, no intentando hacer del reino de Dios un plan de marketing sino formar en nosotros un corazón con el verdadero sentir del prójimo.
Aquí vas a encontrar en una narración fácil de leer, con historias de milagros sobrenaturales y la expiación del reino sobreabundantemente.
May 4, 2012
This is an incredible book. It will refresh your faith, encourage you, amaze you, inspire you, instruct you, and convict you. Most of all, it will cause you to realize anew that God is at work and transforming the hearts and lives of a people whom many Christians often have viewed as unreachable. Testimonies of former Muslims fill the pages as they tell of the spiritual emptiness and dissatisfaction that simmer beneath the surface of so many within the Muslim community, revealing their experiences, many of them miraculous and supernatural, of coming to Christ. More than just a collection of anecdotes, however, this book provides practical guidelines for effective evangelism and discipleship following the model set forth by Jesus as He invested in the disciples. I highly recommend it!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson & the Blythe Daniel Agency as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson & the Blythe Daniel Agency as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
May 7, 2021
Every follower of Jesus should read this book! God is working so powerfully in the hearts of Muslims in some of the hardest places in the world.
“Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.””
Matthew 9:35-38 NLT
https://www.bible.com/116/mat.9.35-38...
“Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.””
Matthew 9:35-38 NLT
https://www.bible.com/116/mat.9.35-38...
July 23, 2013
I don't think I can do justice with a summary or review of this stunning little book except to say that it certainly has challenged my thinking.
These sentences from Chapter 13 provide at least a glimpse of what "Miraculous Movement" has to tell us:
"Don't start a program; develop a lifestyle of caring relationships. When people are a target of your program or a trophy that you want to get, they will know it in your way of dealing with them. Genuine love and friendship are what touch the hearts of people."
These sentences from Chapter 13 provide at least a glimpse of what "Miraculous Movement" has to tell us:
"Don't start a program; develop a lifestyle of caring relationships. When people are a target of your program or a trophy that you want to get, they will know it in your way of dealing with them. Genuine love and friendship are what touch the hearts of people."
October 1, 2015
Very insightful on the disciple-making techniques employed by missionaries in Africa, the book demonstrates what is driving Muslims away from Islam and into Christianity; from the absence of a personal relationship with God, to a dark view of oneself, to the answering of needs by the Christian community as opposed to the Muslim one. The book shows what drives much of modern Islam and Christianity today, and thus should offers a good diagnosis, helpful for those wishing to fix the world around them.
January 3, 2014
Re-read this in one sitting, in preparation for attending a conference featuring the author. It's long, though. Impressed by the author's humble delight in the counter-intuitive things God has done not only through their ministry but others as well. A "sequel" of sorts is due out later this month, along with a new book by David Garrison, which I hope will address ways folks in his circle have adjusted since the sometimes-maligned "Church Planting Movements" was written some years ago.
December 17, 2014
We hear so many stories about Muslim people having dreams and visions of Jesus and then becoming followers. This book puts those stories in context because they come from authentic sources known to the author and his organization. What God is doing in many lives throughout the Muslim world is broader than spectacular individual conversions; He is raising up disciplers and leaders. New churches are being birthed and multiplication is happening. If you want the context, this book is a must.
March 22, 2013
I really enjoyed reading this. There were examples and testimonies of what God is doing in the hearts of Muslims and Christians. It also offers a very simple approach to starting a Bible study that not only instructs, but challenges one to step out in obedience to Christ.
October 12, 2012
An eyewitness account of what is happening and has happened in Africa. Very encouraging and inspirational.
April 3, 2013
This book moved me. It's a beautiful reminder of how much God truly loves and how much His Spirit can move through people.
September 30, 2013
Great story, really poorly written.
October 22, 2015
Absolutely love this book. Such an encouragement to my faith and increased my view of God!
March 19, 2019
This book inpires, motivates, and teaches every ‘nomal’ Christian to go and make disciples. It describes the rapid and huge growth of the Christian church in the muslim world. It adjusted my expectations!
The book describes how the gospel spread among even the most dangerous and resistant muslim communities by normal believers who simply obeyed and trusted the Lord. One of the key things in the approach is praying and searching for a person of peace: someone who has questions that islamic teachers are able or willing to answer and therefore is open to the gospel.
It surprised me to read that so many sheiks and imams are searching for certainty of salvation, and could not find it in islam. When such people went through a series of Discovery Bible studies and started leading Bible studies by themselves, rapid multiplication happened, even in areas that were very resistant. This is ome of the surprising aspects of this discipleship movement.
Another contributing factor is God’s hearing of prayer, e.g. in the form of healing. In such cases the gospel spread rapidly, entire communities turned to Christ after the leaders invited Christians to teach their people from the Bible. Wonderful!
CityTeam has seen 18,000 churches planted with 600,000 new Christians, ⅓ of which are muslims.
The book describes how to do Discovery Bible studies and which passages to read in order to lead people to Christ. One of the great features is that this can be done by anoyone, no degree or Bible school needed!
My church planting experience has been both positive and negative. I am at alow point now and received a well-needed this boost in confidence in the Lord!
This book is just what I needed: it inspired me to use this biblical method, to pray with great expectations for the harvest, and to get going according to Mt28 and also inspire others.
The book claims that the method it describes, is not limited to the muslim world. I am going to try it out!
The book describes how the gospel spread among even the most dangerous and resistant muslim communities by normal believers who simply obeyed and trusted the Lord. One of the key things in the approach is praying and searching for a person of peace: someone who has questions that islamic teachers are able or willing to answer and therefore is open to the gospel.
It surprised me to read that so many sheiks and imams are searching for certainty of salvation, and could not find it in islam. When such people went through a series of Discovery Bible studies and started leading Bible studies by themselves, rapid multiplication happened, even in areas that were very resistant. This is ome of the surprising aspects of this discipleship movement.
Another contributing factor is God’s hearing of prayer, e.g. in the form of healing. In such cases the gospel spread rapidly, entire communities turned to Christ after the leaders invited Christians to teach their people from the Bible. Wonderful!
CityTeam has seen 18,000 churches planted with 600,000 new Christians, ⅓ of which are muslims.
The book describes how to do Discovery Bible studies and which passages to read in order to lead people to Christ. One of the great features is that this can be done by anoyone, no degree or Bible school needed!
My church planting experience has been both positive and negative. I am at alow point now and received a well-needed this boost in confidence in the Lord!
This book is just what I needed: it inspired me to use this biblical method, to pray with great expectations for the harvest, and to get going according to Mt28 and also inspire others.
The book claims that the method it describes, is not limited to the muslim world. I am going to try it out!
January 2, 2023
I feel the same way about this as Contagious Disciple Making (see my review of it here).
The biggest issue is its Scriptural deficiency. There is a heavy dependence on the Gospels (and the book of Acts, to a lesser degree), while disregarding the rest of Scripture. And even when looking at the life and teaching of Jesus, the author picks and chooses which texts to apply, as is convenient for his methodology, which is mostly advocated for based on its results; in the case disciple making movements (DMMs) were not producing astronomical results (supposedly), I'm sure they'd find something else to start doing. This selectiveness/partiality leads to a deficient missiology, in my opinion. A model for missions is built from Jesus, while disregarding his disciples' work (e.g., Paul, Peter, etc.). Anyone's reading of this book would be well-served by reading more re: the debates on representational vs. incarnational missions over the past few decades.
Not to mention, in his emphasis on obedience (which, at times, he claims is a complement to knowledge), he actually disregards the role of belief/knowledge. There's a sequential nature to conversion and obedience. If our obedience isn't rooted in proper knowledge of God, it will fall short (eventually). See Zane Pratt's critique of obedience-based discipleship here.
Darren Carlson critiqued the book well in his review of the book here. His thoughts pretty much summarize my own.
The biggest issue is its Scriptural deficiency. There is a heavy dependence on the Gospels (and the book of Acts, to a lesser degree), while disregarding the rest of Scripture. And even when looking at the life and teaching of Jesus, the author picks and chooses which texts to apply, as is convenient for his methodology, which is mostly advocated for based on its results; in the case disciple making movements (DMMs) were not producing astronomical results (supposedly), I'm sure they'd find something else to start doing. This selectiveness/partiality leads to a deficient missiology, in my opinion. A model for missions is built from Jesus, while disregarding his disciples' work (e.g., Paul, Peter, etc.). Anyone's reading of this book would be well-served by reading more re: the debates on representational vs. incarnational missions over the past few decades.
Not to mention, in his emphasis on obedience (which, at times, he claims is a complement to knowledge), he actually disregards the role of belief/knowledge. There's a sequential nature to conversion and obedience. If our obedience isn't rooted in proper knowledge of God, it will fall short (eventually). See Zane Pratt's critique of obedience-based discipleship here.
Darren Carlson critiqued the book well in his review of the book here. His thoughts pretty much summarize my own.
September 18, 2024
While I don’t want to discount the testimonies within this book, I would caution against the hermeneutical approach through which they are coming to their conclusions. Though they claim DMM/CPM is the biblical approach and even what Christ commanded us to practice, they never exposit the passages they reference (Luke 10/Matthew 10) to defend this position. Instead, the book is purely based upon anecdotal evidence. The idea, “These amazing things happened, therefore…DMM.” is the argument throughout. I would have loved to see arguments grounded in the Word, but those simply were not present.
While I so appreciate their emphasis on prayer and need to rely on the Spirit, their neglect of other passages that either command or emphasize teaching (Matt. 28:20, 2 Tim 3:16, Titus 2, Acts 8:12, Col 1:28 etc) and passages that address our spiritual state before conversion (Eph 2:1-3, Rom 8:7-8, 2 Cor 4:3-4, Is 64:6, etc), for example, prove their hermeneutic is greatly lacking. Sadly, rapid growth for the sake of rapid growth without proper language, culture, and worldview acquisition—as has been the practice of many who have adhered to these methodologies—has often led to syncretism, a weak ecclesiology, and people groups inoculated to the Gospel.
I do not want to presume all DMM is practiced the same way, nor do I want to presume there have been no true believers whatsoever. The Lord is faithful and His Word does not return void. But we must be cautious and vigilant not to be swayed by pragmatism and “silver bullet” methodologies. Instead, we must keep our definitions and methodologies firmly grounded in the Word, speak intelligibly (1 Cor 14:9), and be willing to suffer for the sake of the gospel—even if our role is to plow and water faithfully without seeing fruit.
While I so appreciate their emphasis on prayer and need to rely on the Spirit, their neglect of other passages that either command or emphasize teaching (Matt. 28:20, 2 Tim 3:16, Titus 2, Acts 8:12, Col 1:28 etc) and passages that address our spiritual state before conversion (Eph 2:1-3, Rom 8:7-8, 2 Cor 4:3-4, Is 64:6, etc), for example, prove their hermeneutic is greatly lacking. Sadly, rapid growth for the sake of rapid growth without proper language, culture, and worldview acquisition—as has been the practice of many who have adhered to these methodologies—has often led to syncretism, a weak ecclesiology, and people groups inoculated to the Gospel.
I do not want to presume all DMM is practiced the same way, nor do I want to presume there have been no true believers whatsoever. The Lord is faithful and His Word does not return void. But we must be cautious and vigilant not to be swayed by pragmatism and “silver bullet” methodologies. Instead, we must keep our definitions and methodologies firmly grounded in the Word, speak intelligibly (1 Cor 14:9), and be willing to suffer for the sake of the gospel—even if our role is to plow and water faithfully without seeing fruit.
December 16, 2024
Not very helpful
This book was recommended by a missionary at our church. I believe they were implementing DMM methods with the people group they were serving?
I remember this book coming up in discussion as I was reading another book, and I would much rather recommend that book (No Shortcut to Success: A Manifesto of Modern Missions).
This book was more storytelling than anything else, so it definitely could’ve been shorter. There was much in it that was rightly critiqued by No Shortcut to Success. The biggest concern was the author downplaying the role of a church-planter/teacher when interacting with an unbeliever. A missionary ought to be a seasoned person in the faith, and they must be allowed to teach/preach.
One area that kept me from giving it a one-star rating was the author’s plea to Christians becoming more obedience-based with their discipleship. While the discussion is nuanced, Christians should be holding themselves accountable to each other as they both seek to follow Christ and his commands.
This book was recommended by a missionary at our church. I believe they were implementing DMM methods with the people group they were serving?
I remember this book coming up in discussion as I was reading another book, and I would much rather recommend that book (No Shortcut to Success: A Manifesto of Modern Missions).
This book was more storytelling than anything else, so it definitely could’ve been shorter. There was much in it that was rightly critiqued by No Shortcut to Success. The biggest concern was the author downplaying the role of a church-planter/teacher when interacting with an unbeliever. A missionary ought to be a seasoned person in the faith, and they must be allowed to teach/preach.
One area that kept me from giving it a one-star rating was the author’s plea to Christians becoming more obedience-based with their discipleship. While the discussion is nuanced, Christians should be holding themselves accountable to each other as they both seek to follow Christ and his commands.
September 2, 2025
This book was fascinating and inspiring! The subtitle is "How Hundreds of Thousands of Muslims are Falling in Love with Jesus". Obviously, the Lord is moving. But they've also stumbled upon a super effective church planting method, essentially applying the same strategies Paul uses in Acts. Some of their approaches are quite different compared to the traditional western way of approaching evangelism and discipleship. For one, they do Bible studies with non-believers expecting the non-believers to immediately obey what they're learning. I'd always thought one had to be a Christian in order to obey the Bible's commands. But I'm not sure where I got that idea. They’re method does seem to have Biblical support. For example, Nebuchadnezzar was expected to obey God. The frustrating part is figuring out what I should do with what I learned in the book. For starters, I’m gonna pray more. Also, when I teach my preschoolers at church, I’m gonna make more plugs for obedience…not in a wag your finger sort of way, but in a God created us and loves us way.
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