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The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus's Essential Teachings on Discipleship
Jesus's Last Command—Ignored!
The last command Jesus gave the church before he ascended to heaven was the Great Commission, the call for Christians to "make disciples of all the nations." But Christians have responded by making "Christians," not "disciples." This, according to brilliant scholar and renowned Christian thinker Dallas Willard, has been the church's Great Omission.
The last command Jesus gave the church before he ascended to heaven was the Great Commission, the call for Christians to "make disciples of all the nations." But Christians have responded by making "Christians," not "disciples." This, according to brilliant scholar and renowned Christian thinker Dallas Willard, has been the church's Great Omission.
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 13, 2006
616 people are currently reading
4099 people want to read
About the author
Dallas Willard
118 books1,129 followersDallas Willard was a widely respected American philosopher and Christian thinker, best known for his work on spiritual formation and his expertise in phenomenology, particularly the philosophy of Edmund Husserl. He taught philosophy at the University of Southern California from 1965 until his death in 2013, where he also served as department chair in the early 1980s. Willard held degrees in psychology, philosophy, and religion, earning his PhD in philosophy from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a focus on the history of science. He was recognized as a leading translator and interpreter of Husserl's thought, making foundational texts available in English and contributing significantly to the fields of epistemology, philosophy of mind, and logic.
Though a serious academic, Willard became even more widely known for his books on Christian living, including The Divine Conspiracy and Renovation of the Heart, both of which earned major awards and helped shape the modern spiritual formation movement. He believed that discipleship to Jesus was an intentional process involving not only belief but transformation through spiritual disciplines like prayer, study, solitude, and service. For Willard, spiritual growth was not about earning God’s favor but about participating in the divine life through active cooperation with grace.
His teachings emphasized the concept of apprenticeship to Jesus—being with him, learning to be like him—and his influence extended to ministries such as Renovaré, the Apprentice Institute, and the Dallas Willard Center for Spiritual Formation. He served on the boards of organizations like the C.S. Lewis Foundation and Biola University, and his intellectual and spiritual legacy continues through Dallas Willard Ministries and academic institutions inspired by his work.
Willard was also a deeply personal writer who shared candidly about the challenges of balancing academic life with family. Despite his own admitted shortcomings, those closest to him regarded him as a man of deep love, humility, and grace. His enduring impact can be seen in the lives and works of many contemporary Christian thinkers and writers, including Richard J. Foster, James Bryan Smith, and John Mark Comer. As both philosopher and pastor to the mind, Dallas Willard remains a towering figure in the dialogue between rigorous thought and transformative Christian practice.
Though a serious academic, Willard became even more widely known for his books on Christian living, including The Divine Conspiracy and Renovation of the Heart, both of which earned major awards and helped shape the modern spiritual formation movement. He believed that discipleship to Jesus was an intentional process involving not only belief but transformation through spiritual disciplines like prayer, study, solitude, and service. For Willard, spiritual growth was not about earning God’s favor but about participating in the divine life through active cooperation with grace.
His teachings emphasized the concept of apprenticeship to Jesus—being with him, learning to be like him—and his influence extended to ministries such as Renovaré, the Apprentice Institute, and the Dallas Willard Center for Spiritual Formation. He served on the boards of organizations like the C.S. Lewis Foundation and Biola University, and his intellectual and spiritual legacy continues through Dallas Willard Ministries and academic institutions inspired by his work.
Willard was also a deeply personal writer who shared candidly about the challenges of balancing academic life with family. Despite his own admitted shortcomings, those closest to him regarded him as a man of deep love, humility, and grace. His enduring impact can be seen in the lives and works of many contemporary Christian thinkers and writers, including Richard J. Foster, James Bryan Smith, and John Mark Comer. As both philosopher and pastor to the mind, Dallas Willard remains a towering figure in the dialogue between rigorous thought and transformative Christian practice.
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February 16, 2017
This book is the compilation of a series of essays and other works from Willard. The overall theme that holds all works together is that there has been a great omission from the great commission. The Great Commission comes at the end of Matthew’s gospel where Jesus commands his followers to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching them to obey all Jesus commanded. Willard sees a contemporary Christianity that has failed to “make disciples”. This is not just about obedience to rules, it is more akin to apprenticeship to Jesus.
The positive of this book is that since it is a compilation of many points, the most important points of Willard’s thoughts are repeated throughout. For that reason, I almost think this would be the best book to suggest to someone who has never read Willard but wants to. It is not as heady a read as Knowing Christ Today or The Divine Conspiracy. Willard often goes back to the importance of spiritual disciplines here, emphasizing that God’s grace is not opposed to effort but to earning. This is one of the clearest lessons to come through my reading of Willard. The Protestant Reformation did right in returning the Church to the truth of God’s grace, that nothing we do can earn God’s love. But over the years this has grown into an almost knee-jerk reaction against any sort of effort. It is as if the idea of training yourself in your faith by certain disciplines is seen as working to earn God’s love. Willard identifies this as the reason why so few Christians mature in faith. We expect God to just zap us and automatically change us and it does not work that way. Like anything else we must train ourselves, never forgetting that in this we are not earning God’s love for we are already loved.
The positive of this book is that since it is a compilation of many points, the most important points of Willard’s thoughts are repeated throughout. For that reason, I almost think this would be the best book to suggest to someone who has never read Willard but wants to. It is not as heady a read as Knowing Christ Today or The Divine Conspiracy. Willard often goes back to the importance of spiritual disciplines here, emphasizing that God’s grace is not opposed to effort but to earning. This is one of the clearest lessons to come through my reading of Willard. The Protestant Reformation did right in returning the Church to the truth of God’s grace, that nothing we do can earn God’s love. But over the years this has grown into an almost knee-jerk reaction against any sort of effort. It is as if the idea of training yourself in your faith by certain disciplines is seen as working to earn God’s love. Willard identifies this as the reason why so few Christians mature in faith. We expect God to just zap us and automatically change us and it does not work that way. Like anything else we must train ourselves, never forgetting that in this we are not earning God’s love for we are already loved.
October 26, 2021
Now that I've read just about everything Eugene Peterson has written I've been looking for a replacement as my go-to author on the Bible. This was probably not the best book to try out Dallas Willard as it's not really a book so much as it's a collection of Willard's writings on discipleship.
This makes the book kind of a mess, a mess that would have been cleaned up with even just a little bit of context for each chapter. Apparently some of these are speeches, but we never find out when or who they were to. Sometimes he refers to a person or situation and we never find out who or what. Sometimes the chapters are interviews but we don't always find out who the interview is with.
But ... still a great book! Willard, like Peterson, opens the door on scripture to give you a peek inside at what it's saying and how to make it applicable. His explanation on what went wrong with the disciples at the Garden of Gethsemane throws a light on what the Bible is trying to show us about "walking with Jesus." His explanation of James 1:2-3 has had me thinking about it every day since I read it. There are a lot of things like that spread out through the book.
I've made a note to myself in my phone to go back and reread chapters 9 and 11 in a year. They were very convicting and eye-opening as someone who works in a church.
This makes the book kind of a mess, a mess that would have been cleaned up with even just a little bit of context for each chapter. Apparently some of these are speeches, but we never find out when or who they were to. Sometimes he refers to a person or situation and we never find out who or what. Sometimes the chapters are interviews but we don't always find out who the interview is with.
But ... still a great book! Willard, like Peterson, opens the door on scripture to give you a peek inside at what it's saying and how to make it applicable. His explanation on what went wrong with the disciples at the Garden of Gethsemane throws a light on what the Bible is trying to show us about "walking with Jesus." His explanation of James 1:2-3 has had me thinking about it every day since I read it. There are a lot of things like that spread out through the book.
I've made a note to myself in my phone to go back and reread chapters 9 and 11 in a year. They were very convicting and eye-opening as someone who works in a church.
May 31, 2023
I’ve been reading this book on and off this month. It made some great points, but was very repetitive because it was poorly edited. It’s a compilation of different talks that Willard gave.
The main takeaway from this book is one of my favourite Willard sayings: “Grace is opposed to earning, not effort.”
The main takeaway from this book is one of my favourite Willard sayings: “Grace is opposed to earning, not effort.”
March 9, 2015
Spiritual Disciplines
He has a beautiful chapter on “solitude” and “silence.” My only concern is that it is completely unworkable to anyone who has kids, a job with pressing demands, or both. This leads to the uncomfortable conclusion that there is “okay” spirituality, which is the basic stuff someone like you does every day (read the bible, pray, etc), and then there is “next level” spirituality for those unhampered by kids or work. Of course, this sounds exactly like monasticism. To be fair, Willard is not arguing for this point, but this is precisely the direction the early church took it.
Towards a Christian Anthropology
In technical language, Willard is a soul-substance dualist, which is generally the Christian position. “The soul is a substance in that it is an individual entity that has properties and dispositions natural to it, endures through time and change, and receives and exercises causal influence on other things” (Willard 139).
“We have knowledge of a subject matter when we are able to represent it as it in fact is, on an appropriate basis of thought and experience” (140)
It is the source of life (143).
The spirit is a central part of the soul, the part of determination (is this what Dabney called connative powers?). It is the heart or will. This isn’t trichotomism, though. Trichotomism sees the spirit as a separate entity. This view sees it as a subdivision of the soul.
The Good in the book
Logic as a spiritual discipline. This was a wonderful chapter, “Jesus the Logician.”
It requires the will to be logical (182).
freedom from distraction
willingness to follow truth wherever it takes
Committed to logic as a “fundamental value” (183). Jesus uses enthymemes. He understates logical points which require the hearer to draw the conclusion--psychologically, this was a very effective move.
As noted previously, his take on anthropology and its suggestions for a Christian psychology was wonderful. And despite his weak soteriology, he upheld the law-gospel distinction (162).
Criticisms
Dangerous models:
Per Laubach: language of ascent to God (200). This is chain-of-being ontology. Note how the Christian “logic” works. We do not ascend to God. Christ descends to us. I understand that “inner” language has Augustinian precedents.
This theme is heavier in Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle. The “rooms” are ways of living in relation to God. Interestingly, Willard notes that this book has become an interfaith manual. Ironically, or perhaps precisely because when the spiritual life becomes “mystical absorption into the One,” then why does it really matter which “One” it is?
And this problem surfaces in many of Willard’s works. He tries to “mix and match” spiritualities, but spirituality cannot be isolated from a larger theology. There is much that is valuable, even outstanding in this work. There is also much that is dangerous.
The biggest problem, though, is Willard’s ambiguity regarding soteriology. Granted, he is responding to the happy-clappy, let go and let God Christian, it remains that he is not always clear on the relation between justification and sanctification.
He has a beautiful chapter on “solitude” and “silence.” My only concern is that it is completely unworkable to anyone who has kids, a job with pressing demands, or both. This leads to the uncomfortable conclusion that there is “okay” spirituality, which is the basic stuff someone like you does every day (read the bible, pray, etc), and then there is “next level” spirituality for those unhampered by kids or work. Of course, this sounds exactly like monasticism. To be fair, Willard is not arguing for this point, but this is precisely the direction the early church took it.
Towards a Christian Anthropology
In technical language, Willard is a soul-substance dualist, which is generally the Christian position. “The soul is a substance in that it is an individual entity that has properties and dispositions natural to it, endures through time and change, and receives and exercises causal influence on other things” (Willard 139).
“We have knowledge of a subject matter when we are able to represent it as it in fact is, on an appropriate basis of thought and experience” (140)
It is the source of life (143).
The spirit is a central part of the soul, the part of determination (is this what Dabney called connative powers?). It is the heart or will. This isn’t trichotomism, though. Trichotomism sees the spirit as a separate entity. This view sees it as a subdivision of the soul.
The Good in the book
Logic as a spiritual discipline. This was a wonderful chapter, “Jesus the Logician.”
It requires the will to be logical (182).
freedom from distraction
willingness to follow truth wherever it takes
Committed to logic as a “fundamental value” (183). Jesus uses enthymemes. He understates logical points which require the hearer to draw the conclusion--psychologically, this was a very effective move.
As noted previously, his take on anthropology and its suggestions for a Christian psychology was wonderful. And despite his weak soteriology, he upheld the law-gospel distinction (162).
Criticisms
Dangerous models:
Per Laubach: language of ascent to God (200). This is chain-of-being ontology. Note how the Christian “logic” works. We do not ascend to God. Christ descends to us. I understand that “inner” language has Augustinian precedents.
This theme is heavier in Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle. The “rooms” are ways of living in relation to God. Interestingly, Willard notes that this book has become an interfaith manual. Ironically, or perhaps precisely because when the spiritual life becomes “mystical absorption into the One,” then why does it really matter which “One” it is?
And this problem surfaces in many of Willard’s works. He tries to “mix and match” spiritualities, but spirituality cannot be isolated from a larger theology. There is much that is valuable, even outstanding in this work. There is also much that is dangerous.
The biggest problem, though, is Willard’s ambiguity regarding soteriology. Granted, he is responding to the happy-clappy, let go and let God Christian, it remains that he is not always clear on the relation between justification and sanctification.
March 2, 2017
This is a book that never gets to its point. Its main flaw is that it's a collection of lectures given to different audiences about the same topic. Each chapter, then, repeats what all the chapters before it say. Over and over and over again.
It's also evident this book was not edited. There are many places where the writer (really, speaker) mentions some article or other supporting source that must have been apparent to his original audience, but go unexplained and unreferenced in the context of this book.
Pulled together as an unmindful afterthought, The Great Omission lives up to its name by its own substance.
It's also evident this book was not edited. There are many places where the writer (really, speaker) mentions some article or other supporting source that must have been apparent to his original audience, but go unexplained and unreferenced in the context of this book.
Pulled together as an unmindful afterthought, The Great Omission lives up to its name by its own substance.
January 12, 2021
Willard’s insight has changed my life and I find myself absolutely captivated by every single one of his books. This one was everything I expected and more, and further developed how I see my life of discipleship to Jesus and what it actually means to lead others into the eternal, Kingdom kind of life of apprenticeship to Jesus. I’m so thankful for this man, and I love Jesus more because of Him.
August 4, 2025
3.5 rounded up to 4. This book had so much good content, but suffered SO MUCH from the way it was structured. He has a note about this in the introduction. This book is basically a collection of Dallas Willard’s articles, sermons, and teachings on discipleship, so it ends up being pretty choppy and feeling a tad incoherent, which was frustrating. I wish he had just sat and written a coherent book on this topic lol.
Other than that, I liked it for the most part. Again, because of the way it was written, it felt like a lot of the same information was rehashed in each chapter. And it felt like he would only scratch the surface of some of his ideas around the spiritual disciplines, which I realize he has another book about, so that may be worth reading. I appreciate his boldness to call out the problem of people identifying as Christians, but failing to be disciples. I also appreciate his charge at the end of the book. I think that was the strongest part—urging Christians not to try to change the world or change the church, but to simply focus on changing themselves, and allowing God to accomplish the rest. Not in an idle way, but in a spirit that doesn’t try to make oneself the hero of the story.
Other than that, I liked it for the most part. Again, because of the way it was written, it felt like a lot of the same information was rehashed in each chapter. And it felt like he would only scratch the surface of some of his ideas around the spiritual disciplines, which I realize he has another book about, so that may be worth reading. I appreciate his boldness to call out the problem of people identifying as Christians, but failing to be disciples. I also appreciate his charge at the end of the book. I think that was the strongest part—urging Christians not to try to change the world or change the church, but to simply focus on changing themselves, and allowing God to accomplish the rest. Not in an idle way, but in a spirit that doesn’t try to make oneself the hero of the story.
May 22, 2022
Discipleship is the new buzzword. There are countless books being written, each one with a new strategy on how to become more like Christ. This book stands out among them because Willard doesn’t give a strategy, but gives the reason why a strategy is necessary.
I know that may seem like a few steps back, but the desire to enter into spiritual formation will dissipate unless we all have a clear understanding of why it is essential to the call of Christ.
“As I often point out to folks, today we are not only saved by grace, we are paralyzed by it.” After pointing out how we got into this mess, Willard provides a pathway that combines grace and effort, leading to being conformed into the image of Jesus.
Be warned: this is not a book with one coherent thought being traced from beginning to end. It’s a collection of works Willard has done throughout his life, developing the idea that discipleship has been neglected and what must be done to take Jesus call’ seriously. This means many ideas, phrases, and suggestions will be repeated in various chapters. But, as my preaching professor would say, repetition is the mother of retention.
I know that may seem like a few steps back, but the desire to enter into spiritual formation will dissipate unless we all have a clear understanding of why it is essential to the call of Christ.
“As I often point out to folks, today we are not only saved by grace, we are paralyzed by it.” After pointing out how we got into this mess, Willard provides a pathway that combines grace and effort, leading to being conformed into the image of Jesus.
Be warned: this is not a book with one coherent thought being traced from beginning to end. It’s a collection of works Willard has done throughout his life, developing the idea that discipleship has been neglected and what must be done to take Jesus call’ seriously. This means many ideas, phrases, and suggestions will be repeated in various chapters. But, as my preaching professor would say, repetition is the mother of retention.
April 25, 2025
Actual unique material in this book could have been covered in an article. Too many chapters had a weak connection to the main theme. It led to good discussions in our book study, due to the interesting original premise/despite the general drag of the book’s meandering composition. Where is a capable editor when you need one? 😒
August 4, 2025
Every book I read by Dallas Willard quickly becomes one of my “must read” recommendations. His books always make me want to get in the Word and know God on a deeper level.
“All it (the gospel) needs to fulfill Christ’s purposes on earth is the quality of life he makes real in the life of his disciples.”
“All it (the gospel) needs to fulfill Christ’s purposes on earth is the quality of life he makes real in the life of his disciples.”
April 6, 2025
LOVED the overall point of this book! Really convicting in so many areas but also encouraging! The parts on grace for oneself and each other stuck out to me because doesn’t it always come back to that? While yes we can make all the effort in the world to continue being a disciple of Jesus, it’s only through grace that we can.
October 23, 2025
Solid and insightful but for me it was a bit of a slog.
February 11, 2025
I’ve not written that many quotes from a single book… well, probably ever! So many incredible nuggets!
But it legit took me six months to read. This isn’t one to inhale, but rather sip slowly.
But it legit took me six months to read. This isn’t one to inhale, but rather sip slowly.
February 28, 2021
“The Great Omission” was a phenomenal book, and Willard’s wisdom and insights into the lack of genuine discipleship to Jesus that is usually pursued in discussions surrounding the Great Commission was deeply challenging to me. While I admit this book isn’t for everyone, it’s one I’d definitely recommend for those interested in reclaiming Jesus’s essential teachings on discipleship.
March 19, 2008
Most people today agree something is seriously wrong with the church, because people in it seem little different than people outside the church. Christiandom today has some pretty major flaws. People have been leaving local churches in droves, and Christian leaders have struggled to know what to do about it. I'm oversimplifying quite a bit, of course, but I think you have an idea of what I'm getting at.
The Great Omission is not only the easiest of Willard's books I have ever read, but I believe one of his most important. That's hard to say, because all of his have been very important. But to me this book, actually a collection of lectures, gets at the heart of Willard's contribution.
He addresses what is wrong with our current understanding and practice of the Gospel, and particularly of Jesus' great commission to make disciples. I think he gives a powerful post-mortem of Christian discipleship, showing we have actually omitted the heart of that, and yet presenting a clarity that should, if we follow it, bring true Christian discipleship back to life.
I think Willard presents some of the clearest teaching on discipleship, what it is, and what it isn't, that I've ever found. I will put it alongside Coleman's Master Plan of Evangelism as my top two books on practical ministry, and see how it holds up. Of course, being written by a philosopher, it's not exactly brimming with practicals. But he lays out the principles so clearly that I would say it's chock full of pointers with very practical implications.
I would love to hear what others of you think of this book. For now, it's going in my top 5 recent books. I think predict it will stay there for a long time...
The Great Omission is not only the easiest of Willard's books I have ever read, but I believe one of his most important. That's hard to say, because all of his have been very important. But to me this book, actually a collection of lectures, gets at the heart of Willard's contribution.
He addresses what is wrong with our current understanding and practice of the Gospel, and particularly of Jesus' great commission to make disciples. I think he gives a powerful post-mortem of Christian discipleship, showing we have actually omitted the heart of that, and yet presenting a clarity that should, if we follow it, bring true Christian discipleship back to life.
I think Willard presents some of the clearest teaching on discipleship, what it is, and what it isn't, that I've ever found. I will put it alongside Coleman's Master Plan of Evangelism as my top two books on practical ministry, and see how it holds up. Of course, being written by a philosopher, it's not exactly brimming with practicals. But he lays out the principles so clearly that I would say it's chock full of pointers with very practical implications.
I would love to hear what others of you think of this book. For now, it's going in my top 5 recent books. I think predict it will stay there for a long time...
July 11, 2024
Willard’s manifesto on what it means to be a disciple and the gap between today’s “christian” and an apprentice to Jesus.
“Grace is opposed to earning, not effort”
“Grace is opposed to earning, not effort”
December 16, 2022
Dallas does the best job I’ve ever encountered of offering practical steps to take as a disciple of Jesus while living a life completely upheld by grace. The tension in my life has always been, I know I am saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, and I also know I can’t just sit here and just wait for heaven. There’s a whole life to live and Scripture says we have a role to play here and now, so what the heck can I do if it’s really all the Spirit? If questions like this are on your mind, this is the book for you. Underling the entire idea of discipleship and committing to a plan of spiritual disciplines, which is basically the argument the book is making, is the fundamental fact that these disciplines are not righteousness of themselves: they do not save me. Rather, they are, to quote the book, “activities in our power that we engage in to enable us to do what we cannot do by direct effort,” namely to be like Jesus from our hearts. And supporting this idea of disciplines is the oft repeated refrain of the book: “Grace is opposed to earning, not to effort. Earning is an attitude, effort is an action.” Because of grace I do not have to earn salvation; but, grace does not excuse me from sitting on my butt, twiddling my thumbs until Christ comes.
I love the content of this book so much, but I’m giving it four stars because of its structure. It doesn’t need to be twenty chapters. Some chapters are repeats, some ramble, some seem out of place of what seemed to be outline for where Dallas was going with each chapter and each section of chapters. Some just seemed to come out of nowhere, although I will say one of these chapters (which discussed Jesus as the greatest thinker to ever have lived, dissected the logic he uses in his discourses throughout his ministry, and points to this to say Jesus actually can be found in whatever field of work we do, not just ministry, because he is the master of all things and the ultimate expert in every field), blew me away.
All in all, I’d call it a must read for anyone seeking to be a disciple of Jesus, even if it’s not always the most pleasant of reads.
Edit: I just read another review that says it was a complication of essays and other works from Dallas. So much makes sense now. The more you know
I love the content of this book so much, but I’m giving it four stars because of its structure. It doesn’t need to be twenty chapters. Some chapters are repeats, some ramble, some seem out of place of what seemed to be outline for where Dallas was going with each chapter and each section of chapters. Some just seemed to come out of nowhere, although I will say one of these chapters (which discussed Jesus as the greatest thinker to ever have lived, dissected the logic he uses in his discourses throughout his ministry, and points to this to say Jesus actually can be found in whatever field of work we do, not just ministry, because he is the master of all things and the ultimate expert in every field), blew me away.
All in all, I’d call it a must read for anyone seeking to be a disciple of Jesus, even if it’s not always the most pleasant of reads.
Edit: I just read another review that says it was a complication of essays and other works from Dallas. So much makes sense now. The more you know
September 17, 2024
Actual Rating: 3.75 Stars
The Great:
I'm really into reading to learn and reflect right now, and this book checked both of those boxes. Willard gave me a lot to chew on. There were things I agreed with, things that I didn't, and plenty that I hadn't thought of.
I also appreciated that he suggested further reading at the end of some of his essays/in book reviews included at the end of the collection. I wasn't sure about the book reviews at first but... I wish more non-fiction authors would do it, honestly! Tell me about what helped shaped you/your writing!! I'll probably want to read those works, too.
The Omission:
Because it's a collection of essays Willard had previously published individually, there was some repetition and redundancy, which I found to just help information and ideas stick for the most part. However, I'd be lying if I didn't say that it was teetering on the edge of "okay I get it can we talk about something else now??"
The writing is more academic in nature. Not unreadably so, but enough to make the reading experience less pleasant. I wasn't eager to pick this up every day like I have been with other books in this genre; in fact, some days I just...didn't. (And also, I really hate "In this essay I will" and adjacent kind of writing...and this was indeed that in many places.)
All that aside, I do think it's worth reading if you have any interest in faith deconstruction or discipleship. I can almost guarantee that you'll leave with a new or refreshed perspective and maybe some ideas and energy, which is always good. I'll likely read more Dallas Willard in the future. (And definitely not only because I have more in my house, thanks mom.)
The Great:
I'm really into reading to learn and reflect right now, and this book checked both of those boxes. Willard gave me a lot to chew on. There were things I agreed with, things that I didn't, and plenty that I hadn't thought of.
I also appreciated that he suggested further reading at the end of some of his essays/in book reviews included at the end of the collection. I wasn't sure about the book reviews at first but... I wish more non-fiction authors would do it, honestly! Tell me about what helped shaped you/your writing!! I'll probably want to read those works, too.
The Omission:
Because it's a collection of essays Willard had previously published individually, there was some repetition and redundancy, which I found to just help information and ideas stick for the most part. However, I'd be lying if I didn't say that it was teetering on the edge of "okay I get it can we talk about something else now??"
The writing is more academic in nature. Not unreadably so, but enough to make the reading experience less pleasant. I wasn't eager to pick this up every day like I have been with other books in this genre; in fact, some days I just...didn't. (And also, I really hate "In this essay I will" and adjacent kind of writing...and this was indeed that in many places.)
All that aside, I do think it's worth reading if you have any interest in faith deconstruction or discipleship. I can almost guarantee that you'll leave with a new or refreshed perspective and maybe some ideas and energy, which is always good. I'll likely read more Dallas Willard in the future. (And definitely not only because I have more in my house, thanks mom.)
February 5, 2023
Willard was a reformer. In this book, he asks why the church has abandoned something so vital as the great commission: sure, we are happy to evangelize-- to make converts. But we were specifically told to make disciples. What is a disciple? What is discipleship? We use these terms all the time, yet we seem to prefer vague connotations to definitions. We protestants are happy to talk of discipleship, but bristle or furrow our brows when we hear of spiritual discipline. And yet, discipleship is discipline.
Willard bases his argument off the premise that grace is not opposed to effort, but to earning. Should our spiritual life involve work and effort? Yes, he says. Protestants who worry that this doctrine is in conflict with the reformation doctrine of grace alone must look beyond salvation. Sinners are saved by grace (from sin, but for? We do not often talk about the 'for'.) We have been paralyzed by grace. Yet, the gospel does not end with salvation; it begins with it. We are called to increase in holiness, to become Christ-like. In this book, Willard provides examples of Christians from various denominations who have answered this call to discipleship. Even so, he identifies discipleship as an internal discipline, often difficult to identify from the outside. Solitude, silence, scripture memorization, and fasting are a few disciplines that Willard identifies. Ultimately, he argues that a well-discipled church will still be imperfect, but it will overcome many of the issues today's church is dealing with.
Willard bases his argument off the premise that grace is not opposed to effort, but to earning. Should our spiritual life involve work and effort? Yes, he says. Protestants who worry that this doctrine is in conflict with the reformation doctrine of grace alone must look beyond salvation. Sinners are saved by grace (from sin, but for? We do not often talk about the 'for'.) We have been paralyzed by grace. Yet, the gospel does not end with salvation; it begins with it. We are called to increase in holiness, to become Christ-like. In this book, Willard provides examples of Christians from various denominations who have answered this call to discipleship. Even so, he identifies discipleship as an internal discipline, often difficult to identify from the outside. Solitude, silence, scripture memorization, and fasting are a few disciplines that Willard identifies. Ultimately, he argues that a well-discipled church will still be imperfect, but it will overcome many of the issues today's church is dealing with.
January 20, 2025
The purpose of this book was to be a collection of Willard’s thoughts on discipleship. The positive of the book being a collection of sorts allows for the reader to read each chapter as they please, not needing to read in order. However, while some key points deserve repetition (“Grace is opposed to earning, not effort”), some chapters and thoughts did not connect to the main point laid out for the purpose of the book. The tail end of the book proposed more philosophical questions of the soul and reflections on other books that discuss the soul, but did not give much practical application on discipleship and what it means to be a disciple. I agree with the emphasis on the spiritual disciplines as a way of following God’s invitation to follow him, but certainly there is more to being a disciple than solitude and silence. I would have liked to read more on how being a disciple of Jesus connects with evangelism, building relationships, hospitality, and missions rather than a philosophical take of the soul and spiritual disciplines. To be fair, I stopped reading around chapter 11 as I found myself not connecting with the book or retaining the philosophies Willard proposes. I did appreciate Willard’s definition of discipleship, as well as his definition of spiritual formation.
February 20, 2025
This is a compilation of past writings focused on the Bible's teachings on discipleship, and felt to me like a collection of fine gems! Each chapter represented what Dallas Willard said or wrote to a unique group in a unique context, and reading through it felt like being on a personal tour with Dallas as he shared his heart in one venue after another regarding what it means to be in continual companionship with Jesus. It's true that a compilation like this will result in some statements being repeated, but I just appreciated how the occasional repetition served to reinforce valuable insights. As a pastor, several chapters hit me right between the eyes as I considered both my personal life and church ministry.
Dallas Willard considered "discipleship" The Great Omission in the North American Church. My attempt to summarize the heart of what he meant by "discipleship" would be that it's about growing in character as we live in constant reliance on Jesus, experiencing his love and grace through ongoing practices of grace as we continually seek him, and never "Allowing service for Christ to steal our devotion to him" (p.130).
Dallas Willard considered "discipleship" The Great Omission in the North American Church. My attempt to summarize the heart of what he meant by "discipleship" would be that it's about growing in character as we live in constant reliance on Jesus, experiencing his love and grace through ongoing practices of grace as we continually seek him, and never "Allowing service for Christ to steal our devotion to him" (p.130).
May 24, 2019
An encouraging and positively challenging book. As a compilation of essays and lectures on discipleship and spiritual formation, it gets a bit repetitive, but when you’re trying to soak up Willard’s wisdom and brilliance, repetition isn’t such a bad thing.
Some of the most key ideas:
- The church’s “great omission” is a deficient understanding of discipleship and transformation of character. We don’t have a compelling enough vision of apprenticeship to Jesus.
- Apprenticeship isn’t so much learning to “live like Jesus.” It’s learning from Jesus how he would live my life if he were I.
- Grace is not opposed to *effort*; it’s opposed to *earning*. Spiritual practices and disciplines are an essential part of growing in grace.
- Of all the spiritual disciplines, Willard finds Scripture memorization most valuable.
- I need to read Thomas a Kempis and more John Wesley.
Some of the most key ideas:
- The church’s “great omission” is a deficient understanding of discipleship and transformation of character. We don’t have a compelling enough vision of apprenticeship to Jesus.
- Apprenticeship isn’t so much learning to “live like Jesus.” It’s learning from Jesus how he would live my life if he were I.
- Grace is not opposed to *effort*; it’s opposed to *earning*. Spiritual practices and disciplines are an essential part of growing in grace.
- Of all the spiritual disciplines, Willard finds Scripture memorization most valuable.
- I need to read Thomas a Kempis and more John Wesley.
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March 1, 2023Mm yes. Convicting, edifying, good, etc. Evangelicals better listen up to Willard’s wisdom 🫣
I have some minor gripes and will refrain from applying a rating as such since the content of each “chapter” is informed by rich theological truth on its own. (For context, this book is an edited collection of Willard’s talks, essays, interviews, and reviews on the subject of discipleship.) My grumbling mostly has to do with the choice to gather these sundry pieces into a book. Helpful resource, for sure, to have them all in one place, and I’ll be coming back to much of this in the future. But it made for a painfully repetitive and at times discombobulating read, seeing as the tone, audience, and purpose of each piece could vary widely.
I have some minor gripes and will refrain from applying a rating as such since the content of each “chapter” is informed by rich theological truth on its own. (For context, this book is an edited collection of Willard’s talks, essays, interviews, and reviews on the subject of discipleship.) My grumbling mostly has to do with the choice to gather these sundry pieces into a book. Helpful resource, for sure, to have them all in one place, and I’ll be coming back to much of this in the future. But it made for a painfully repetitive and at times discombobulating read, seeing as the tone, audience, and purpose of each piece could vary widely.
June 17, 2025
I loved this book when I first read it. But this time I almost did not like this book. No offense to Willard. He can just be incredibly repetitive at times (I don’t think it helped it was a collection of essays). But even with the repetitiveness the things he says in here are classic Willard, calling the church to more. You can tell, epically in the last the last sixty pages or so which I would say is worth the repetitiveness of other sections, that he cares deeply for the church and the people in it. This book is a rousing call on us to not just make Christians, but actually make disciples of Jesus. Is there a lot of practicality/ application? No. But I think that’s totally ok. Great book. Sad to see the things he critiques still run rampant throughout the church. Hopefully but the time I have kids, that will finally start to change.
November 24, 2020
Chapters in any given section of this book are pretty repetitive since this is a collection of Willard's work from different sources (articles, Q & A's, etc.). However, I think this a great overview of Willard's work and teaching and would benefit you greatly if you had never read any of his things (which can be very heavy philosophically).
I was most benefitted by his final 5 chapters where he writes about influential "Books on Spiritual Living" that he had read. I had acquired 5 new book recommendations that I am very excited to read.
I was most benefitted by his final 5 chapters where he writes about influential "Books on Spiritual Living" that he had read. I had acquired 5 new book recommendations that I am very excited to read.
July 11, 2021
Dallas Willard’s The Great Omission is an excellent single book synopsis of his larger, all encompassing views on discipleship and apprenticeship in following the Way of Jesus.
It’s an excellent read, maybe even life changing and trajectory renewing.
For anyone coming off the back of his trilogy, this lesser known compilation of his teachings and sermons, redacted into print form, will no doubt be a major blessing to your soul, discipleship and life with Jesus.
Happy readings!
Peace to you.
It’s an excellent read, maybe even life changing and trajectory renewing.
For anyone coming off the back of his trilogy, this lesser known compilation of his teachings and sermons, redacted into print form, will no doubt be a major blessing to your soul, discipleship and life with Jesus.
Happy readings!
Peace to you.
January 26, 2021
This book was transformational for me in this season of life. Great insights and content by Willard. Helped me set new perspective on spiritual discipline and made me reset my own expectations of my own disicipline just somehow happening to me. BUT, this was never writren as a book, so there's a lot of overlap and repetition from his lectures.Fjnal chapter in logic is of great value, but somhow feels disjointed from the rest of the book so far.
February 24, 2025
Wonderful book, one which I hope to return to often. I’ve often read other authors (most notably, John Mark Comer) who cite Willard as instrumental in their theological development. Now, I understand why. Great writer – and, more importantly, a great man of God. We would all benefit from practicing his way of following Jesus’ teachings.
My only regret in reading this book is that I didn’t read it slower. Five stars.
My only regret in reading this book is that I didn’t read it slower. Five stars.
November 20, 2019
A bit repetitive but that is because this is a collection of talks, interviews, and essays, rather than a single project.
Willard is wonderful. This would be a good introduction to his main themes before diving into The Divine Conspiracy, which is longer and a bit less accessible.
Willard is wonderful. This would be a good introduction to his main themes before diving into The Divine Conspiracy, which is longer and a bit less accessible.
May 17, 2024
Without a doubt, the most formational and foundational spiritual writing I've read next to scripture itself.
Dallas helps us to re:define discipleship--apprenticeship--to Jesus in our time. He states clearly the missing piece of our call as followers of Jesus--to be a disciple and make disciples--and does so in grace, class, and urgency.
Dallas helps us to re:define discipleship--apprenticeship--to Jesus in our time. He states clearly the missing piece of our call as followers of Jesus--to be a disciple and make disciples--and does so in grace, class, and urgency.
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