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No Silver Bullets: Five Small Shifts that will Transform Your Ministry
What if I told you that you were only one step away from unlocking new levels of maturity and growth in your church? The myth of the silver bullet still exists because we desperately want it to. We all prefer quick fixes and bandage solutions to the long, hard, slow work that produces real change. So the moment we learn about a new ministry or strategy and see its effect in another church, we run to implement it in our own. Unfortunately, this impulse is usually met by opposition, skepticism, and ultimately, rejection. What if the solution isn't a new model or a complicated strategy, but a shift in perspective? What if you could keep your church's current vision, values, and model, and simply make a few micro-shifts...leading to macro-changes? This book explores five micro-shifts that have the potential to produce macro-changes in your church. As you read, you will discover how to integrate these micro-shifts into the life of your church, starting with the way you disciple. You will finish by developing a plan to structure, communicate, and evaluate these changes to ensure that they take root and pave the way for lasting change and kingdom impact.
288 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2017
120 people are currently reading
251 people want to read
About the author
Thom S. Rainer
132 books139 followersThom S. Rainer is the founder and CEO of Church Answers and Executive Director of Revitalize Network. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama where he received his degree in business administration. He received both the master of divinity and the Ph.D. degrees from Southern Seminary.
Dr. Rainer has served as pastor of four churches. He is the former president of Rainer
Group consulting. He served for twelve years as dean at Southern Seminary and for thirteen years as the president and CEO of LifeWay Çhristian Resources.
Dr. Rainer has authored or co-authored 33 books. Among his greatest joys are his family: his wife Nellie Jo; three sons, Sam, Art, and Jess; and eleven grandchildren.
Dr. Rainer has served as pastor of four churches. He is the former president of Rainer
Group consulting. He served for twelve years as dean at Southern Seminary and for thirteen years as the president and CEO of LifeWay Çhristian Resources.
Dr. Rainer has authored or co-authored 33 books. Among his greatest joys are his family: his wife Nellie Jo; three sons, Sam, Art, and Jess; and eleven grandchildren.
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September 18, 2017
Discipleship books are a “dime a dozen” these days. The upswing in these books is both a blessing and a curse. Great blessing comes when one of these books draws readers to Scripture, captures their hearts with Christ-saturated truth, and presents biblical principles for growing in the Christian faith. However, the rapid rise in books devoted to discipleship is also a curse for many of these books are trite, simplistic, and quite frankly, miss the mark entirely. Daniel Im’s No Silver Bullets is numbered among the former.
The subtitle captures the essence of Im’s proposal: 5 Small Shifts That Will Transform Your Ministry. The author maintains, “The only way change happens – significant, long-lasting, macro-level change – is through a series of small decisions, steps, or micro-shifts, that are put into action and completed one at a time.” These shifts are set forth in Section One and include the following with brief summaries:
From Destination to Direction– Emphasizing disciples who are focused on a direction instead of merely completed a set of check-lists, which is so common in many churches. Such an approach is bound to lead to both spiritual growth and numerical growth. Maturity in this model is “a result of equipping your church members with the right tools at the right time, so that they can ‘run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith.’”
From Output to Input – At the heart of this shift is a re-examination of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Extensive research reveals that maturing disciples read the Bible on a regular basis, strive to obey God, deny self, serve God and others, share their faith, exercise their faith, seek God, build relationships, and strive for to live transparent lives. These markers are referred to throughout as “input goals” which serve as indicators of spiritual growth and maturity. Once again, the emphasis is that micro-changes in these areas lead to life change.
From Sage to Guide – This shift presents a fresh approach to theological education which places a premium upon application, a component that is missing in many church classrooms.
From Form to Function – Here a renewed emphasis is placed squarely on the kingdom of God. Indeed, as Im writes, “A healthy church that is making disciples of all nations is supposed to be a forecast of the kingdom of God.”
From Maturity to Missionary – The final shift focuses on the missional elements of the church. Mr. Im builds on the work of Timothy Keller who also emphasizes the missionary paradigm. Six specific components are presented: 1) The church must confront society’s idols, 2) The church must contextualize skillfully and communicate in the vernacular, 3) The church must equip people in mission in every area of their lives, 4) The church must be a counterculture for the common good, 5) The church must itself be contextualized, and 6) The church must practice unity.
These various shifts are explained comprehensively and linked to the Bible. Once again, readers are reminded that small shifts are preferable and will lead to lasting change in the lives of disciples and the corporate Body of Christ.
Section Two reveals the path of discipleship. This section unpacks the practical outworking of the material that Mr. Im presented in the first part of the book. Mr. Im suggests how to lead a church that needs to initiate strategic steps of change. But the author clearly communicates that change is never easy and requires courage.
An important step on the discipleship path involves vision, strategy, and values. Examples are offered and exercises are included to help pastors and leaders in this area.
Daniel Im’s presentation is biblical from start to finish. The principles are attainable in the local church setting and many practical suggestions are included that will help move churches forward on the path to discipleship. The emphasis on making “small shifts” is sure to be a hit with pastors and Christian leaders who are bombarded every day with ideas in books and suggestions from parishioners. At times, the material is repetitive but patient readers will be rewarded in the long-run for sticking with the author and following his life of thought.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
The subtitle captures the essence of Im’s proposal: 5 Small Shifts That Will Transform Your Ministry. The author maintains, “The only way change happens – significant, long-lasting, macro-level change – is through a series of small decisions, steps, or micro-shifts, that are put into action and completed one at a time.” These shifts are set forth in Section One and include the following with brief summaries:
From Destination to Direction– Emphasizing disciples who are focused on a direction instead of merely completed a set of check-lists, which is so common in many churches. Such an approach is bound to lead to both spiritual growth and numerical growth. Maturity in this model is “a result of equipping your church members with the right tools at the right time, so that they can ‘run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith.’”
From Output to Input – At the heart of this shift is a re-examination of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Extensive research reveals that maturing disciples read the Bible on a regular basis, strive to obey God, deny self, serve God and others, share their faith, exercise their faith, seek God, build relationships, and strive for to live transparent lives. These markers are referred to throughout as “input goals” which serve as indicators of spiritual growth and maturity. Once again, the emphasis is that micro-changes in these areas lead to life change.
From Sage to Guide – This shift presents a fresh approach to theological education which places a premium upon application, a component that is missing in many church classrooms.
From Form to Function – Here a renewed emphasis is placed squarely on the kingdom of God. Indeed, as Im writes, “A healthy church that is making disciples of all nations is supposed to be a forecast of the kingdom of God.”
From Maturity to Missionary – The final shift focuses on the missional elements of the church. Mr. Im builds on the work of Timothy Keller who also emphasizes the missionary paradigm. Six specific components are presented: 1) The church must confront society’s idols, 2) The church must contextualize skillfully and communicate in the vernacular, 3) The church must equip people in mission in every area of their lives, 4) The church must be a counterculture for the common good, 5) The church must itself be contextualized, and 6) The church must practice unity.
These various shifts are explained comprehensively and linked to the Bible. Once again, readers are reminded that small shifts are preferable and will lead to lasting change in the lives of disciples and the corporate Body of Christ.
Section Two reveals the path of discipleship. This section unpacks the practical outworking of the material that Mr. Im presented in the first part of the book. Mr. Im suggests how to lead a church that needs to initiate strategic steps of change. But the author clearly communicates that change is never easy and requires courage.
An important step on the discipleship path involves vision, strategy, and values. Examples are offered and exercises are included to help pastors and leaders in this area.
Daniel Im’s presentation is biblical from start to finish. The principles are attainable in the local church setting and many practical suggestions are included that will help move churches forward on the path to discipleship. The emphasis on making “small shifts” is sure to be a hit with pastors and Christian leaders who are bombarded every day with ideas in books and suggestions from parishioners. At times, the material is repetitive but patient readers will be rewarded in the long-run for sticking with the author and following his life of thought.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
September 22, 2017
When change is mentioned in church by the leadership, long term members shutter with the fear of losing their sacred cow and say things like “Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.” Daniel Im’s No Silver Bullets declares no easy model or major change will radically increase the church’s attendance, impact, or whatever. Instead, Daniel Im proposes five small shifts in thinking, planning, and targeting that can be healthy for a church.
Daniel Im’s No Silver Bullets (twitter: @Danielangi #NoSilverBullets)
2017 published by B&H Publishing Group (ISBN: 978-1-4336-5154-0)
https://www.amazon.com/No-Silver-Bull...
Summary of Content
Section one focuses on five micro-shifts. The five small shifts with big results are the following:
(1) from destination to direction,
(2) from output to input,
(3) from sage to guide,
(4) from form to function,
(5) from maturity to missionary.
From destination to direction speaks about a view of discipleship and changing the church’s program from a series of classes to events that move people toward Jesus. The second shift, from output to input challenges the manner in which leadership judges success. Output judgments are attendance, tithing, baptisms, and memberships, while input judgments are actions like reading the Bible, confessing personal sins, praying for others, setting aside time for private worship, sharing Christ with someone, attending smaller gatherings, having regular responsibilities at the church, and being discipled in a one-on-one relationship. From sage to guide involves four principles that moves the focus off of the teacher and onto the student: lower anxiety, start with experience, move beyond your lectern, apply the learning today. The fourth micro-shift, from form to function, addresses four spaces for relationships within the church to form and deepen: public, social, personal, intimate. Lastly, from maturity to missionary defines the end goal which is not smarter saints but missionary disciples.
Section two focuses on the path for implementing the five shifts. The path involves how to introduce change to the church, understanding vision, strategy, and values, and developing an intentional discipleship pathway that produces missionary disciples. Introducing change requires an understanding that every aspect of the church is connected – interwoven – and therefore, change ripples and must be anticipated and managed before implementation. The book presents three steps for introducing change: (1) strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats analysis, (2) conversation checklist, (3) ministry area idea audit. With vision, strategy, and values, the three must work as one, flowing together and mixing, while serving their specific function. He warns, “Strategy without vision is ineffective, powerless, inept, and unproductive.” Four types of values characterize everything the church does: core, aspirational, permission-to-play, accidental. A church’s discipleship pathway exists as a network of integrated systems. A major point states, “The goal for a discipleship pathway is never to get someone through it; the goal is to get individuals to own it.”
Analysis/Evaluation of the Book
Daniel Im’s No Silver Bullets presents a strategy for making micro-shifts that any church leadership can successfully make in any church. The book is focused and fulfills its premise. The ideas presented I find practical and authentic. I value the well-written format with a perfect mixture of personal antidotes, referencing to other experts, real-life examples, easy to follow charts and models, and each chapter ending with reflection questions.
Conclusion
My plan was to read one chapter per day but the reading excited me so much that I read three chapters. It’s that good. It’s an important read for any church leader to aid them to evaluate their structures and process and statements, but also, to empower them to make the small shifts to improve their goals without throwing the baby out with the bath water.
Twitter: @AK_Jemar
Instagram: johnjemar
FB & LinkedIn: John Jemar
jjemar@juno.com
Daniel Im’s No Silver Bullets (twitter: @Danielangi #NoSilverBullets)
2017 published by B&H Publishing Group (ISBN: 978-1-4336-5154-0)
https://www.amazon.com/No-Silver-Bull...
Summary of Content
Section one focuses on five micro-shifts. The five small shifts with big results are the following:
(1) from destination to direction,
(2) from output to input,
(3) from sage to guide,
(4) from form to function,
(5) from maturity to missionary.
From destination to direction speaks about a view of discipleship and changing the church’s program from a series of classes to events that move people toward Jesus. The second shift, from output to input challenges the manner in which leadership judges success. Output judgments are attendance, tithing, baptisms, and memberships, while input judgments are actions like reading the Bible, confessing personal sins, praying for others, setting aside time for private worship, sharing Christ with someone, attending smaller gatherings, having regular responsibilities at the church, and being discipled in a one-on-one relationship. From sage to guide involves four principles that moves the focus off of the teacher and onto the student: lower anxiety, start with experience, move beyond your lectern, apply the learning today. The fourth micro-shift, from form to function, addresses four spaces for relationships within the church to form and deepen: public, social, personal, intimate. Lastly, from maturity to missionary defines the end goal which is not smarter saints but missionary disciples.
Section two focuses on the path for implementing the five shifts. The path involves how to introduce change to the church, understanding vision, strategy, and values, and developing an intentional discipleship pathway that produces missionary disciples. Introducing change requires an understanding that every aspect of the church is connected – interwoven – and therefore, change ripples and must be anticipated and managed before implementation. The book presents three steps for introducing change: (1) strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats analysis, (2) conversation checklist, (3) ministry area idea audit. With vision, strategy, and values, the three must work as one, flowing together and mixing, while serving their specific function. He warns, “Strategy without vision is ineffective, powerless, inept, and unproductive.” Four types of values characterize everything the church does: core, aspirational, permission-to-play, accidental. A church’s discipleship pathway exists as a network of integrated systems. A major point states, “The goal for a discipleship pathway is never to get someone through it; the goal is to get individuals to own it.”
Analysis/Evaluation of the Book
Daniel Im’s No Silver Bullets presents a strategy for making micro-shifts that any church leadership can successfully make in any church. The book is focused and fulfills its premise. The ideas presented I find practical and authentic. I value the well-written format with a perfect mixture of personal antidotes, referencing to other experts, real-life examples, easy to follow charts and models, and each chapter ending with reflection questions.
Conclusion
My plan was to read one chapter per day but the reading excited me so much that I read three chapters. It’s that good. It’s an important read for any church leader to aid them to evaluate their structures and process and statements, but also, to empower them to make the small shifts to improve their goals without throwing the baby out with the bath water.
Twitter: @AK_Jemar
Instagram: johnjemar
FB & LinkedIn: John Jemar
jjemar@juno.com
January 9, 2018
No Silver Bullets: Five Small Shifts that will Transform Your Ministry by Daniel Im is foremost a book about discipleship. However, this doesn't mean the book is full of tips and techniques. Instead, Daniel Im views discipleship holistically at both an individual and church-wide level.
Daniel Im identifies 2 key aspects of human life. First, we tend to look for the quick fix, the easy solution, the proverbial silver bullet. And second, silver bullets seldom work out the way we thought. If you are looking for a book that will give you the latest discipleship fad, this book will disappoint.
However, if you are searching for a book that challenges the way you think about discipleship, No Silver Bullets is perfect. This is because Daniel Im leads you on a journey. He views discipleship from 40,000 feet before zooming in to a microscopic viewpoint. And in the process, Im gently weaves in 5 key transformations to the way you understand discipleship. These are:
1. Destination to Direction
2. Output to Input
3. Sage to Guide
4. Form to Function
5. Maturity to Missionary
I found the first transformation to be the key to understanding the book as a whole. It helps teach that discipleship is the continual movement toward Jesus. Notice this is an on-going process rather than simply a matter of completing a discipleship course, or graduating from a programme.
Im identifies 4 different approaches to discipleship churches adopt based upon the destination-direction spectrum. Additionally, he notes the important role accountability and intentionality play in discipleship. When these factors are overlayed, 4 broad models of church discipleship are identified.
Here’s how Daniel Im describes the four church types:
1. Copy Cat Church
The Copy Cat Church is convinced that they are only one model away from breakthrough. They believe that maturity and growth are a result of pushing the right buttons and offering the right classes in the right order. As a result, they focus on creating a singular defined environment for everyone in their church to take a formulaic set of steps or classes in. Unfortunately, to the church, the leadership seems scattered and indifferent since nothing lasts longer than a few months—or at most—a year.
2. Silver Bullet Church
The Silver Bullet Church coordinates their ministries, implements a well-defined change management strategy, and contextualizes language so that their discipleship pathway makes sense to their people. While this model may seem slick and efficient, one of the glaring issues is that they see disciples as widgets. At the heart of this model is the belief that discipleship is programmatic, so maturity is a result of getting to the end of a set process.
3. Hippie Church
The Hippie Church believes that discipleship can happen anywhere and anytime. This is because they see discipleship as being deeply personal and not formulaic in any way, shape, or form. However, they give way too much credit to the average church member. The church leadership assumes that as long as they teach the right things and have the right beliefs, people will just naturally grow and mature. As a result, there’s a lack of measurement and intentionality—everything is good as long as it works for you.
4. Intentional Church
The Intentional Church is organized and very involved in creating environments where church members can take their next step toward Christ. However, instead of leaving maturity totally up to the individual and hoping that sermons and programs will guide them in the right direction, the Intentional Church has guardrails and a moving sidewalk that their members can choose to use if they want.
I found this presentation of discipleship models incredibly helpful. I easily grasped where my church was and equipped me with tools to consider how I could bring a greater level of accountability and intentionality in my leadership.
Guiding is what Daniel Im does so well in No Silver Bullets. Im draws upon his experiences, illustrations and research to offer ideas, does so by leading the reader to reach conclusions that will work in their unique context. This has been done really well. The book is as relevant for the simplest of home churches as for mega-churches. This is no small feat.
Conclusion
No Silver Bullets is the handbook for church life. The book doesn't view discipleship as a component of the church but asks how people are being led to greater Christ-likeness as they engage with the life of the church. Therefore, it is best suited for church leadership, especially if the entire leadership team worked through the book together. The book includes exercises which would be best done together.
(Note: Even as the pastor of a simple church I found the exercises helpful. There wasn't always a direct correlation between some of the exercises and my context, however, the content was often open enough to be adapted, or provide food for thought on the challenges we face.)
No Silver Bullets is also great for individual reading. One thing is clear, as much as the book helps to identify church-wide discipleship strategies, discipling others is done by people (just think of the sage to guide transformation, and maturity to missionary). I've recommended this book to friends who I know just have a passion for discipling others because I know they will benefit from it.
If you don't own this book, you need to get a copy of it.
This review originally appear on darryleyb.com.
Daniel Im identifies 2 key aspects of human life. First, we tend to look for the quick fix, the easy solution, the proverbial silver bullet. And second, silver bullets seldom work out the way we thought. If you are looking for a book that will give you the latest discipleship fad, this book will disappoint.
However, if you are searching for a book that challenges the way you think about discipleship, No Silver Bullets is perfect. This is because Daniel Im leads you on a journey. He views discipleship from 40,000 feet before zooming in to a microscopic viewpoint. And in the process, Im gently weaves in 5 key transformations to the way you understand discipleship. These are:
1. Destination to Direction
2. Output to Input
3. Sage to Guide
4. Form to Function
5. Maturity to Missionary
I found the first transformation to be the key to understanding the book as a whole. It helps teach that discipleship is the continual movement toward Jesus. Notice this is an on-going process rather than simply a matter of completing a discipleship course, or graduating from a programme.
Im identifies 4 different approaches to discipleship churches adopt based upon the destination-direction spectrum. Additionally, he notes the important role accountability and intentionality play in discipleship. When these factors are overlayed, 4 broad models of church discipleship are identified.
Here’s how Daniel Im describes the four church types:
1. Copy Cat Church
The Copy Cat Church is convinced that they are only one model away from breakthrough. They believe that maturity and growth are a result of pushing the right buttons and offering the right classes in the right order. As a result, they focus on creating a singular defined environment for everyone in their church to take a formulaic set of steps or classes in. Unfortunately, to the church, the leadership seems scattered and indifferent since nothing lasts longer than a few months—or at most—a year.
2. Silver Bullet Church
The Silver Bullet Church coordinates their ministries, implements a well-defined change management strategy, and contextualizes language so that their discipleship pathway makes sense to their people. While this model may seem slick and efficient, one of the glaring issues is that they see disciples as widgets. At the heart of this model is the belief that discipleship is programmatic, so maturity is a result of getting to the end of a set process.
3. Hippie Church
The Hippie Church believes that discipleship can happen anywhere and anytime. This is because they see discipleship as being deeply personal and not formulaic in any way, shape, or form. However, they give way too much credit to the average church member. The church leadership assumes that as long as they teach the right things and have the right beliefs, people will just naturally grow and mature. As a result, there’s a lack of measurement and intentionality—everything is good as long as it works for you.
4. Intentional Church
The Intentional Church is organized and very involved in creating environments where church members can take their next step toward Christ. However, instead of leaving maturity totally up to the individual and hoping that sermons and programs will guide them in the right direction, the Intentional Church has guardrails and a moving sidewalk that their members can choose to use if they want.
I found this presentation of discipleship models incredibly helpful. I easily grasped where my church was and equipped me with tools to consider how I could bring a greater level of accountability and intentionality in my leadership.
Guiding is what Daniel Im does so well in No Silver Bullets. Im draws upon his experiences, illustrations and research to offer ideas, does so by leading the reader to reach conclusions that will work in their unique context. This has been done really well. The book is as relevant for the simplest of home churches as for mega-churches. This is no small feat.
Conclusion
No Silver Bullets is the handbook for church life. The book doesn't view discipleship as a component of the church but asks how people are being led to greater Christ-likeness as they engage with the life of the church. Therefore, it is best suited for church leadership, especially if the entire leadership team worked through the book together. The book includes exercises which would be best done together.
(Note: Even as the pastor of a simple church I found the exercises helpful. There wasn't always a direct correlation between some of the exercises and my context, however, the content was often open enough to be adapted, or provide food for thought on the challenges we face.)
No Silver Bullets is also great for individual reading. One thing is clear, as much as the book helps to identify church-wide discipleship strategies, discipling others is done by people (just think of the sage to guide transformation, and maturity to missionary). I've recommended this book to friends who I know just have a passion for discipling others because I know they will benefit from it.
If you don't own this book, you need to get a copy of it.
This review originally appear on darryleyb.com.
June 7, 2024
This was an incredibly helpful and encouraging book that hit me at just the right time! Lots of good thoughts on discipleship in the church and practical thoughts on how to make micro-shifts for macro-change. I listened on audiobook and already am planning on buying a physical copy to highlight and slowly reread.
May 23, 2025
Overall enjoyed this text by Im. At times it became redundant and felt like a “never done ministry before? Here is your guide!”… but Im gives some helpful structures for Churches
June 30, 2025
Challenging
September 20, 2017
It is official; I’m officially on a diet. Wait, that is not the right terminology. Rather, I’m changing my lifestyle. This is not the first time that I have attempted this. I’ve lost and gained back a first grader at least twice. My Facebook feed is constantly filled with people who have the secret shake, pill, or wrap that will take off the pounds but most experts agree that it takes hard work and change to truly make this happen. I need more than just a super pill or drink; I need subtle but necessary changes.
That is the premise of Daniel Im in his newest book No Silver Bullets: 5 Small Shifts That Will Transform Your Ministry released by B&H Publish Group, a book I highly recommend to the pastor and leader who wants to see his church make a vital impact on the Kingdom of God. Instead of looking for a quick one size fits all approach to ministry, Daniel challenges the reader to rather consider making small shifts that will in time lead to great change and fruitfulness in your ministry. I must admit this book made me think about how we do ministry at the church that I pastor. I found myself validated in a few areas but in need of reevaluation in others.
Daniel serves as the director of Church Multiplication for NewChurches.com and Lifeway Christian resources. His position and his past experience has allowed him to bring us a book packed full of research and practical recommendations. Having access to the Lifeway research department has allowed him to have access to the data that really makes his writing full of time tested truth. This book is not something that you will lay down to never visit again. The self assessments and audits make it a tool for future use with your leadership team. I have read books that discussed to great length vision, strategy, and values. Daniel explained each of these in simple terms but also gave you these great audits to look at with your leadership team. The questions were simple but reveal the missing pieces in these areas.
You could tell that the author has been thinking about this for sometime, even back to the days of when he was serving the local church before serving at Lifeway. Several times as he explained how he had implemented these shifts, I found myself thinking that I was going to be a thief and use his successful approach.
Probably my favorite part of the book is the treasure trove of quotes. I found myself highlighting, not only Daniel’s work, but also all of the various authors that he has pulled into his work. This will cause me to pull this book down time and time again.
If you are looking for a very practical work that could make a huge difference in your church, you would do well to pick up his work.
That is the premise of Daniel Im in his newest book No Silver Bullets: 5 Small Shifts That Will Transform Your Ministry released by B&H Publish Group, a book I highly recommend to the pastor and leader who wants to see his church make a vital impact on the Kingdom of God. Instead of looking for a quick one size fits all approach to ministry, Daniel challenges the reader to rather consider making small shifts that will in time lead to great change and fruitfulness in your ministry. I must admit this book made me think about how we do ministry at the church that I pastor. I found myself validated in a few areas but in need of reevaluation in others.
Daniel serves as the director of Church Multiplication for NewChurches.com and Lifeway Christian resources. His position and his past experience has allowed him to bring us a book packed full of research and practical recommendations. Having access to the Lifeway research department has allowed him to have access to the data that really makes his writing full of time tested truth. This book is not something that you will lay down to never visit again. The self assessments and audits make it a tool for future use with your leadership team. I have read books that discussed to great length vision, strategy, and values. Daniel explained each of these in simple terms but also gave you these great audits to look at with your leadership team. The questions were simple but reveal the missing pieces in these areas.
You could tell that the author has been thinking about this for sometime, even back to the days of when he was serving the local church before serving at Lifeway. Several times as he explained how he had implemented these shifts, I found myself thinking that I was going to be a thief and use his successful approach.
Probably my favorite part of the book is the treasure trove of quotes. I found myself highlighting, not only Daniel’s work, but also all of the various authors that he has pulled into his work. This will cause me to pull this book down time and time again.
If you are looking for a very practical work that could make a huge difference in your church, you would do well to pick up his work.
March 24, 2018
This book will challenge something in your current church practice and put you on a thought path to improvement.
March 22, 2018
One of the best church leadership books I've read. I can't recommend this book enough. It is the small shifts that can make the biggest impact over time.
August 19, 2017
An incredibly rich and practical book that keeps you engaged.
I think that this book is incredible. I read it slow because there was so much in it to process, and it was incredibly rich. Yet, it wasn't a difficult read like some books tend to be. It flows and keeps you engaged. It isn't a book to read just to say you read it, but a book to digest and process.
I think that this book is incredible. I read it slow because there was so much in it to process, and it was incredibly rich. Yet, it wasn't a difficult read like some books tend to be. It flows and keeps you engaged. It isn't a book to read just to say you read it, but a book to digest and process.
March 8, 2018
A must read for church planters. A great read for anyone creating a discipleship pathway.
August 16, 2018
A different kind of church leadership book. No quick fixes, but important long-term strategies that make a difference. Very helpful book for anyone in leadership or Christian ministry. What makes it stand out is that rather than quick fixes or gimmicks, Daniel gives simple but powerful strategies for more effectively leading, teaching and shepherding people. Another thing which is unique about the book is that Daniel backs up what he says with actual research, rather than just anecdotes or conjecture.
October 24, 2017
This book really connected with me. Some will think it takes to much of a business/process perspective, but the charts and illustrations helped me to grasp some concepts I hadn't thought about before. I found the concepts of the leadership pipeline and discipleship pathway clearly explained with practical suggestions on how to implement them.
I have only one regret. This book needs to be read by a leadership team together. It is more a workbook than anything else.
I have only one regret. This book needs to be read by a leadership team together. It is more a workbook than anything else.
October 19, 2017
Daniel Im offers a very practical, zoomed out appeal for the systematic process of making missionary disciples. This book is a challenge to take the gloves off and ask the hard questions about how you’re making disciples, and how intentional you are in doing so. This is worth the time for even the busiest Pastor.
October 24, 2017
I would put this up there with Simple Church, Purpose Driven Church, and others because of how incredibly practical it is. This is a virtual "how to" manual for driving a church forward in ministry. I found his insights incredibly helpful even in a context that is committed to a certain church paradigm. Don't miss this book!
January 24, 2018
A great resource for those desiring to be intentional about discipleship in the church
Im brings out some important concepts in retooling our thinking on Sunday school and the small group. I highly recommend this book for all of your church leadership. I’ve given copies to all of my directors and have been introducing the ideas whenever we get together.
Im brings out some important concepts in retooling our thinking on Sunday school and the small group. I highly recommend this book for all of your church leadership. I’ve given copies to all of my directors and have been introducing the ideas whenever we get together.
October 15, 2017
Solid.
December 12, 2017
Offers a lot of wisdom, and a lot to chew on, for pastors and church leaders.
December 16, 2017
Outrageously good!
This was what I hoped Transformational Discipleship (?) was going to be. A core book right alongside Simple Church and Designed to Lead.
This was what I hoped Transformational Discipleship (?) was going to be. A core book right alongside Simple Church and Designed to Lead.
December 27, 2017
Discipleship.
May 31, 2018
We all want a quick fix. Whether it’s losing weight, quitting a destructive habit, moving up the corporate ladder, or growing a church, we are all prone to fall prey to the delusion that there is a quick fix — a silver bullet — that would solve all of our problems. But as diet fads come and go, so do church growth fads, and we’re left with this striking, but honest conclusion — There are no silver bullets.
In his new book on church leadership, "No Silver Bullets," Daniel Im argues this very point. Daniel serves as the Director of Church Multiplication at Lifeway, as well as a teaching pastor at his church in Nashville. In this book, he makes the case that, though there are no silver bullets that will offer you a quick, instant fix, there are small, intentional shifts that will result in a huge difference. He says:
"There are no silver bullets — one-decision solutions that will solve all your woes and unleash your church into a new season of fruitfulness. The only way change happens — significant, long-lasting, macro-level change — is through a series of small decisions, steps, or micro-shifts, that are put into action and completed one at a time" (5).
In the end, this book packs a lot into 250 pages. From part one on the 5 micro-shifts to part two on the actual implementation process, this is not a book that can (or should) be read in a quick sitting. There is a lot of information, a lot of suggestions, and if you're not careful, you can quickly feel a little overwhelmed at the scope of what is being suggested. But if you are willing to take it slow, chew on and mediate on the ideas and suggestions that are being given, and thoughtfully and carefully think through what that would look like in your ministry context, this book could be a wonderful asset to your leadership and your ministry. Daniel says in the first chapter:
"I am convinced that ignorance is the main reason churches in North America, and in many parts of the world, are not experiencing growth — spiritual and numerical ... I'm referring to the type of ignorance where you don't know why you do ministry the way that you do" (27).
Whether you agree with every single thing in the book, or whether you think you should implement every single idea in the book, I firmly believe that you will walk away from this book having been stretched to think and ask questions about why you do ministry the way that you do. And as you're asking that question and evaluating your ministry, I do believe that many of these micro-shifts suggested in this book would be worth your consideration in implementing in your local church in order to create, not just disciples, but disciple-makers.
In accordance with FTC regulations, I would like to thank B&H Books for providing me with a review copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
In his new book on church leadership, "No Silver Bullets," Daniel Im argues this very point. Daniel serves as the Director of Church Multiplication at Lifeway, as well as a teaching pastor at his church in Nashville. In this book, he makes the case that, though there are no silver bullets that will offer you a quick, instant fix, there are small, intentional shifts that will result in a huge difference. He says:
"There are no silver bullets — one-decision solutions that will solve all your woes and unleash your church into a new season of fruitfulness. The only way change happens — significant, long-lasting, macro-level change — is through a series of small decisions, steps, or micro-shifts, that are put into action and completed one at a time" (5).
In the end, this book packs a lot into 250 pages. From part one on the 5 micro-shifts to part two on the actual implementation process, this is not a book that can (or should) be read in a quick sitting. There is a lot of information, a lot of suggestions, and if you're not careful, you can quickly feel a little overwhelmed at the scope of what is being suggested. But if you are willing to take it slow, chew on and mediate on the ideas and suggestions that are being given, and thoughtfully and carefully think through what that would look like in your ministry context, this book could be a wonderful asset to your leadership and your ministry. Daniel says in the first chapter:
"I am convinced that ignorance is the main reason churches in North America, and in many parts of the world, are not experiencing growth — spiritual and numerical ... I'm referring to the type of ignorance where you don't know why you do ministry the way that you do" (27).
Whether you agree with every single thing in the book, or whether you think you should implement every single idea in the book, I firmly believe that you will walk away from this book having been stretched to think and ask questions about why you do ministry the way that you do. And as you're asking that question and evaluating your ministry, I do believe that many of these micro-shifts suggested in this book would be worth your consideration in implementing in your local church in order to create, not just disciples, but disciple-makers.
In accordance with FTC regulations, I would like to thank B&H Books for providing me with a review copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
September 22, 2019
As someone in church leadership, I’ve read a lot of books over the years suggesting new ministries, new ministry models, new approaches to “how to do church”, et al. This book gets to the heart of why such books are read by so many in church leadership: because of a desire to find a silver bullet to solve dysfunctions and to propel the church to health and growth. Essentially, Im says such thinking is wrong and that all searches for a silver bullet will be ultimately fruitless. Instead, he recommends not a new approach to ministry, but rather a set of small shifts in thinking and perspective that can be applied to any church with any ministry approach, and that will still lead to the large-scale impact that church leaders desire. An example of such a shift: instead of focusing on spiritual maturity by focusing on the end result, one ought to focus on the direction and journey towards spiritual maturity instead. Another example: instead of focusing on end metrics (outputs), focus on what is being poured into people (inputs). Im’s recommendations aren’t earth-shattering – and they aren’t meant to be – but they are clearly articulated ways to re-think how to do ministry. Throughout, his prose is very readable and very practical, with lots of charts and tactical advice. In fact, the second half of the book is largely advice on managing change and implementing a new approach to discipleship. Overall, one of the better ministry books I’ve read.
August 20, 2020
If there is one thing I've learned doing ministry, it is that you can't be stagnant and you can't be afraid to change things up. That gets to the point of the book. Small changes (Daniel has specific small changes churches can make throughout the book) are what will have a kingdom impact. No single big change ("Silver bullet") will be the change that makes all the difference.
Two quotes that set the tone for the book that I liked are:
"Change or die. This is the decision you'll have to make if you continue to let routines from yesteryear run your church."
"They think that busyness is equivalent to obedience. But busyness without the right direction is poor stewardship."
I appreciate Daniel Im's book. I took my time going through it, even though it isn't a hard read. I think he has a lot of good ideas and information that are proven things churches can do to improve their ministries and outreach. I wanted to take time to process what I was reading. I appreciate his stories, examples, charts, and resources he provides in the book that goes along with the points he is trying to make. I would recommend this book for all those in church leadership to read or have a leadership team read together. He sets the book up in a way that leadership teams can discuss questions he has at the end of each chapter and how that micro shift would fit in the context of your church.
Two quotes that set the tone for the book that I liked are:
"Change or die. This is the decision you'll have to make if you continue to let routines from yesteryear run your church."
"They think that busyness is equivalent to obedience. But busyness without the right direction is poor stewardship."
I appreciate Daniel Im's book. I took my time going through it, even though it isn't a hard read. I think he has a lot of good ideas and information that are proven things churches can do to improve their ministries and outreach. I wanted to take time to process what I was reading. I appreciate his stories, examples, charts, and resources he provides in the book that goes along with the points he is trying to make. I would recommend this book for all those in church leadership to read or have a leadership team read together. He sets the book up in a way that leadership teams can discuss questions he has at the end of each chapter and how that micro shift would fit in the context of your church.
February 7, 2019
There are lots of books on discipleship coming out recently. The unique principle I found in this book is the idea of "bounded sets" vs "centered sets" in discipleship. Im defines a disciple as anyone who him moving toward the likeness of Christ. Taken to the logical extreme, this could include those who have not yet committed their lives to the lordship of Christ (sorry to the churchy words, but it fits).
This is at great odds with many discipleship and evangelistic concepts. I'm not sure that I totally agree with it, but the challenge it presents to more traditional discipleship views can help one like me to refine, update, and improve the concept and practice of both personal discipleship and the training of other.
Im has several other good and/or challenging points, but I'll leave that to other reviewers.
This is at great odds with many discipleship and evangelistic concepts. I'm not sure that I totally agree with it, but the challenge it presents to more traditional discipleship views can help one like me to refine, update, and improve the concept and practice of both personal discipleship and the training of other.
Im has several other good and/or challenging points, but I'll leave that to other reviewers.
September 30, 2020
I had so many people recommend this book that I thought for sure it had something unique and helpful. It says what every other leadership book has ever said. Also, for being entitled “No Silver Bullets” it sure felt like it was a proposed silver bullet like every other leadership book; “If you do things according to this pattern then you’ll have success”.
I’m really burned out on leadership books. Every one of them says the same thing. I am disappointed with this books also because I have listened to Daniel Im on podcast and have always enjoyed his insights.
I’m really burned out on leadership books. Every one of them says the same thing. I am disappointed with this books also because I have listened to Daniel Im on podcast and have always enjoyed his insights.
February 19, 2018
I'm going to write a longer review on Amazon, but this was such a helpful book that I'll continually read it over and with other disciple-makers. Daniel is extremely intelligent and strategic, and it shows through this book. From micro-shifts to DNA and vision of the church, I loved learning from the beginning to the end. Already can't wait for another book of his!
October 17, 2018
Earlier this year I wrote a discipleship plan. Just now finished Daniel Im's No Silver Bullets.
I should have read this first! This is as clear, flexible, and concrete a resource on church systems and strategy as I've seen. Every executive pastor, church-planter, or solo pastor should read this book!
I should have read this first! This is as clear, flexible, and concrete a resource on church systems and strategy as I've seen. Every executive pastor, church-planter, or solo pastor should read this book!
January 3, 2022
I read this book over a long period of time. There is method in the madness. It’s the sort of book you use as a workbook and you come back to it time and time again. The five subtle shifts are wildly helpful and exposed for me a whole lot of ridiculous ways I do ministry - trying the same thing and expecting a different result.
Time to try something new. Thanks DI.
Time to try something new. Thanks DI.
February 8, 2025
Full of insights deeper than most people and churches will be able to understand and implement. Listening to the audio book seemed to rely more heavily upon research than pastoral experiences. I think credibility would be better with more examples of these things working in several different sized churches in an effort to boost usefulness and credibility among pastors and lay leaders.
May 17, 2019
"The first rule of ministry is this: Don't recreate the wheel."
This book should be compulsory reading for anyone who is responsible for leading and starting a disciple-making ministry. Daniel Im's 'No silver bullets' is a clear and compelling playbook for anyone in ministry.
This book should be compulsory reading for anyone who is responsible for leading and starting a disciple-making ministry. Daniel Im's 'No silver bullets' is a clear and compelling playbook for anyone in ministry.
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