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Becoming a Disciple-Making Church: A Proven Method for Growing Spiritually Mature Christians
Proven Methods for Turning Believers into Disciples
What does it mean to grow a "convert" into a "disciple"? And how do we help our people get there? Neil Anderson's Freedom in Christ ministry has been walking individuals through these steps for over a quarter century. Now he turns his attention to pastors and church leaders, teaching them how to help their people resolve personal and spiritual conflicts, including everything from difficult marriages to unrepentant sin to church disputes.
Before someone can mature spiritually, they must be established alive and free in Christ through genuine repentance and faith in God. This means churches must resolve their people's conflicts as the first step to discipleship, rather than referring them to professional counselors. We as believers have the answers for mental and emotional problems, and through this ministry of reconciliation true discipleship happens.
What does it mean to grow a "convert" into a "disciple"? And how do we help our people get there? Neil Anderson's Freedom in Christ ministry has been walking individuals through these steps for over a quarter century. Now he turns his attention to pastors and church leaders, teaching them how to help their people resolve personal and spiritual conflicts, including everything from difficult marriages to unrepentant sin to church disputes.
Before someone can mature spiritually, they must be established alive and free in Christ through genuine repentance and faith in God. This means churches must resolve their people's conflicts as the first step to discipleship, rather than referring them to professional counselors. We as believers have the answers for mental and emotional problems, and through this ministry of reconciliation true discipleship happens.
- GenresNonfictionDiscipleship
240 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 2016
17 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Neil T. Anderson
286 books290 followersNEIL T. ANDERSON is founder and president of Freedom in Christ Ministries. He was formerly the chairman of the Practical Theology Department at Talbot School of Theology. He holds five degrees from Talbot, Pepperdine University and Arizona State University and Arizona State University and has authored several bestselling books on spiritual freedom, including Victory Over the Darkness and The Bondage Breaker.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 4, 2021
Detta är en av de bästa böckerna om ledarskap i frivilligorganisationer jag har läst. Den fokuserar på det viktiga, kommer med konkreta råd, och bygger hela tiden in kontroller mot dömande attityder och ledarskapsövergrepp.
I linje med dess råd måste jag dock uttala: den är också en bok som fördömer homosexualitet på ett orättfärdigt sätt. Återigen: om det finns en plan, och vi ser homosexualitet i olika arter, går det inte som kristen att fördöma den i människan - oavsett personlig åsikt. Hatet jag såg mot homosexualitet i de kristna grupper som inte var doktrinärt slapphänta, var en av de saker som drev mig från kristendomen under en lång period. Denna bok har inget hat, men den jämställer homosexualitet med alkoholism eller porrmissbruk, som ett tröstebeteende som har gått för långt. Det är orimligt.
Detta sagt: de konkreta råd som beskrivs för att hantera ångest, och för att hjälpa organisationsutveckling, är en av de bästa synteser jag har läst så långt, mellan psykologi, organisationsteori, bondförnuft och människokärlek; en syntes nådd genom att bryta samman informationen genom gamla testamentets exempel (främst 1a mosebok). Jag rekommenderar därför boken ur djupet av mitt hjärta, för alla som har hand om eller deltar i stärkandet av förutsättningarna för andras andliga hälsa.
I linje med dess råd måste jag dock uttala: den är också en bok som fördömer homosexualitet på ett orättfärdigt sätt. Återigen: om det finns en plan, och vi ser homosexualitet i olika arter, går det inte som kristen att fördöma den i människan - oavsett personlig åsikt. Hatet jag såg mot homosexualitet i de kristna grupper som inte var doktrinärt slapphänta, var en av de saker som drev mig från kristendomen under en lång period. Denna bok har inget hat, men den jämställer homosexualitet med alkoholism eller porrmissbruk, som ett tröstebeteende som har gått för långt. Det är orimligt.
Detta sagt: de konkreta råd som beskrivs för att hantera ångest, och för att hjälpa organisationsutveckling, är en av de bästa synteser jag har läst så långt, mellan psykologi, organisationsteori, bondförnuft och människokärlek; en syntes nådd genom att bryta samman informationen genom gamla testamentets exempel (främst 1a mosebok). Jag rekommenderar därför boken ur djupet av mitt hjärta, för alla som har hand om eller deltar i stärkandet av förutsättningarna för andras andliga hälsa.
October 14, 2021
There was sure a lot here that was truthful and helpful for building a church looking to deeply make disciples through the bondage breaking work of the Holy Spirit. The book just was a bit jumbled and all over the place because of it being some of the highlight chapters of Neil Anderson's other books. Very applicable and helpful with specific areas that people struggle with that hinder their acceptance and growth in the Gospel. It was worth a read, but not highly recommended.
March 4, 2017
A best of Neil Andersons books
Anderson has written many helpful books. This compiles them in a helpful resourse to help disciples and leaders deal with the most obvious issues mast churches face.
Anderson has written many helpful books. This compiles them in a helpful resourse to help disciples and leaders deal with the most obvious issues mast churches face.
March 13, 2016
This book is a wake up call to those involved in church discipleship. Anderson is straight forward. Discipleship is growing spiritually mature Christians. Discipleship is helping people resolve personal and spiritual conflicts through repentance and faith. Every believer can be involved in discipleship since every believer has the power and authority to do so based on our identity and position in Christ.
If that doesn't describe your discipleship ministry, I recommend you read this book. Anderson firmly believes that every spiritual and personal conflict can be dealt with by repentance and faith. It is the only means that brings lasting results. A good discipler is a good counselor but that does not require a degree in psychology. It does require an understanding of who we are in Christ and the whole gospel.
This book is so refreshing. Anderson really believes God is real and active and that we can and do have real God encounters. That's how people are helped, through the reality of God's power and presence. Anderson believes in the reality of spiritual warfare. We need to know how to engage the battle, how to renew our minds and break strongholds (mental habits).
This book is not a theoretical one. Anderson writes from years of experience and results from his conferences. He adds several testimonies of people set free through this method of discipleship and the information taught in the Freedom in Christ Ministries.
I really liked Anderson's discussion on cognitive behavioral therapy. Anderson has nothing against CBT when conducted by committed Christians using the truth of God's word. However, one important part is the presence of Christ. Without the life of Christ in the midst of the work, it is just trying to apply words and will not be effective. The other important requirement is recognizing the reality of the spiritual world, including the work of the Holy Spirit and deceiving spirits.
This would be an excellent book for any Christian, whether involved in discipleship ministries or not. There is loads of good material in this book that can help when working with others and when working on oneself.
I recommend this book to church leaders too. It is a call to return to helping others become mature Christians through the power and presence of God. I am convinced it is the only way transformation will truly occur.
Most of the material in this book is taken from previous books by Anderson. If you have read many of his books, you'll see information you (should) already know. Nonetheless, this book is a good reminder of the transforming nature of God's power and presence. It is also a good overview of all that Anderson proposes.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.
If that doesn't describe your discipleship ministry, I recommend you read this book. Anderson firmly believes that every spiritual and personal conflict can be dealt with by repentance and faith. It is the only means that brings lasting results. A good discipler is a good counselor but that does not require a degree in psychology. It does require an understanding of who we are in Christ and the whole gospel.
This book is so refreshing. Anderson really believes God is real and active and that we can and do have real God encounters. That's how people are helped, through the reality of God's power and presence. Anderson believes in the reality of spiritual warfare. We need to know how to engage the battle, how to renew our minds and break strongholds (mental habits).
This book is not a theoretical one. Anderson writes from years of experience and results from his conferences. He adds several testimonies of people set free through this method of discipleship and the information taught in the Freedom in Christ Ministries.
I really liked Anderson's discussion on cognitive behavioral therapy. Anderson has nothing against CBT when conducted by committed Christians using the truth of God's word. However, one important part is the presence of Christ. Without the life of Christ in the midst of the work, it is just trying to apply words and will not be effective. The other important requirement is recognizing the reality of the spiritual world, including the work of the Holy Spirit and deceiving spirits.
This would be an excellent book for any Christian, whether involved in discipleship ministries or not. There is loads of good material in this book that can help when working with others and when working on oneself.
I recommend this book to church leaders too. It is a call to return to helping others become mature Christians through the power and presence of God. I am convinced it is the only way transformation will truly occur.
Most of the material in this book is taken from previous books by Anderson. If you have read many of his books, you'll see information you (should) already know. Nonetheless, this book is a good reminder of the transforming nature of God's power and presence. It is also a good overview of all that Anderson proposes.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.
January 6, 2017
This book, written by Neil T. Anderson, asserts that it is the proven method on how to grow spiritually mature Christians. I am familiar with Neil’s works, and wanted to take a look and see what he had to say in this book. This book goes over victory of darkness, the battle for the mind, discipleship counseling, strategies for disciple-making, overcoming anger, overcoming anxiety disorders, overcoming depression, overcoming sexual strongholds, overcoming addictions, marriage, and the church. The concluding remarks include an appendix to help with practical application of the text.
To say this book is about discipleship seems both insufficient and repeated, but that really is the focus of the book, and in a manner that I personally did not expect when I first looked into this title. Anderson’s work is quite intense and is a great resource when considering discipleship and the church (in other words, all ministers should read this if they consider themselves a shepherd of any sort). The book isn’t just about discipleship, but about theology as well, as Anderson educates the reader on theology proper while discussing its role in discipleship today. Top marks.
Disclosure: I have received a reviewer copy and/or payment in exchange for an honest review of the product mentioned in this post.
To say this book is about discipleship seems both insufficient and repeated, but that really is the focus of the book, and in a manner that I personally did not expect when I first looked into this title. Anderson’s work is quite intense and is a great resource when considering discipleship and the church (in other words, all ministers should read this if they consider themselves a shepherd of any sort). The book isn’t just about discipleship, but about theology as well, as Anderson educates the reader on theology proper while discussing its role in discipleship today. Top marks.
Disclosure: I have received a reviewer copy and/or payment in exchange for an honest review of the product mentioned in this post.
May 2, 2017
Some good thoughts, but lots of infomercial for his other books
Neil has some very biblically grounded principles around basing one's identity in Christ. This is very helpful. Alternatively, I'm not sure I agree with the amount of credence he gives to Satan and his demons. I don't see in the Scriptures how demons have access to believers thoughts.
Also I could have done without the near-constant reference to his other books.
Finally I think his editor let him down as the logical flow of some of the early chapters was poor.
Neil has some very biblically grounded principles around basing one's identity in Christ. This is very helpful. Alternatively, I'm not sure I agree with the amount of credence he gives to Satan and his demons. I don't see in the Scriptures how demons have access to believers thoughts.
Also I could have done without the near-constant reference to his other books.
Finally I think his editor let him down as the logical flow of some of the early chapters was poor.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews