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Building a Discipling Culture
New Material in the 3rd Edition of Building a Discipling Culture
* An updated introduction that explains the importance of the context of Family on Mission in Building a Discipling Culture
* The Five Capitals: thinking about how we pour ourselves into others and into mission.
* The Three As: considering how we can follow Jesus’ example and avoid the core temptations of ambition, appetite, and approval
* New culture-creating language for the Person of Peace Strategy via a new shape
Much ink and many pages have been devoted to all of the missional issues facing the Western church today. As our culture becomes more post-Christian with each passing day, we are all realizing that what has worked in the past is no longer working, that we are far less effective for the Kingdom than we were even 10 years ago. But we would suggest it isn't because we don't know what the Great Commission states or the imperatives of the Gospel, or that our church services just aren't getting it done.
Its because we are in the midst of a discipleship crisis in the Western church. The people sitting in our pews are rarely becoming like the people we read about in Scripture. They may come to a worship service, join a small group or even tithe, but their lives just don't seem to look like Jesus life.
The truth of the matter is that we don't have a missional problem or leadership problem in the Western church. We have a discipleship problem. If we make disciples like Jesus made them, well never have a problem finding leaders or seeing new people coming to faith.
The central issue is that we have no idea how to make disciples who can do the things that Jesus did for the reasons Jesus did them. Building a Discipling Culture is the product of more than 25 years of hands-on discipleship practice in a post-Christian context that has turned into a worldwide discipling movement, dealing specifically with how to make the types of missional disciples Jesus spoke of. We all want to make disciples. Most of us are unsure how to do it.
Dallas Willard put it this way: Every church needs to be able to answer two questions. One, do we have a plan for making disciples? Two, does our plan work?
For most of our church communities, we have a plan, but the plan isn't working.
If you find yourself in this situation, this book is for you.
* An updated introduction that explains the importance of the context of Family on Mission in Building a Discipling Culture
* The Five Capitals: thinking about how we pour ourselves into others and into mission.
* The Three As: considering how we can follow Jesus’ example and avoid the core temptations of ambition, appetite, and approval
* New culture-creating language for the Person of Peace Strategy via a new shape
Much ink and many pages have been devoted to all of the missional issues facing the Western church today. As our culture becomes more post-Christian with each passing day, we are all realizing that what has worked in the past is no longer working, that we are far less effective for the Kingdom than we were even 10 years ago. But we would suggest it isn't because we don't know what the Great Commission states or the imperatives of the Gospel, or that our church services just aren't getting it done.
Its because we are in the midst of a discipleship crisis in the Western church. The people sitting in our pews are rarely becoming like the people we read about in Scripture. They may come to a worship service, join a small group or even tithe, but their lives just don't seem to look like Jesus life.
The truth of the matter is that we don't have a missional problem or leadership problem in the Western church. We have a discipleship problem. If we make disciples like Jesus made them, well never have a problem finding leaders or seeing new people coming to faith.
The central issue is that we have no idea how to make disciples who can do the things that Jesus did for the reasons Jesus did them. Building a Discipling Culture is the product of more than 25 years of hands-on discipleship practice in a post-Christian context that has turned into a worldwide discipling movement, dealing specifically with how to make the types of missional disciples Jesus spoke of. We all want to make disciples. Most of us are unsure how to do it.
Dallas Willard put it this way: Every church needs to be able to answer two questions. One, do we have a plan for making disciples? Two, does our plan work?
For most of our church communities, we have a plan, but the plan isn't working.
If you find yourself in this situation, this book is for you.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 30, 2017
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December 21, 2012
Overall: when you start a book book by stating that God is only concerned with how many disciples you make, "it's the only number he's concerned with," you tip your hand for the rest of the book.
The book is clearly written for pastors, so I am not the target audience. Other than that, the one sentence paragraphs and grammatical errors distracted me from the main ideas and geometric concepts of the book. I think some of the principles may translate to real life, but there are so many other nuances and hurdles when dealing with real people and real problems.
I think I was let down by the feeling that they crammed their ideas into shapes that appear nowhere in Jesus' teachings in order to make it work.
The book is clearly written for pastors, so I am not the target audience. Other than that, the one sentence paragraphs and grammatical errors distracted me from the main ideas and geometric concepts of the book. I think some of the principles may translate to real life, but there are so many other nuances and hurdles when dealing with real people and real problems.
I think I was let down by the feeling that they crammed their ideas into shapes that appear nowhere in Jesus' teachings in order to make it work.
December 12, 2012
Mike Breen and Steve Cockram’s passion to see discipleship come to the forefront of church ministry is evident from the very beginning of Building a Discipling Culture. They allege that many churches have their priorities reversed, focusing on building churches while neglecting to make disciples. They propose an alternative model that Jesus Himself espoused, claiming that “If you make disciples, you always get the church. But if you make a church, you rarely get disciples” (Kindle Location 100). They later elaborate, “If you set out to build the church, there is no guarantee you will make disciples. It is far more likely that you will create consumers who depend on the spiritual services that religious professionals provide” (KL 109).
So what is the difference between building a church and discipling people? Breen and Cockram argue that three things are necessary for building a discipling culture: 1) a discipling vehicle, 2) discipling relationships, and 3) a discipling language (KL 537).
A DISCIPLING VEHICLE
A discipling vehicle is essentially a small group of four to ten people that you meet with regularly to disciple (at least every other week) (KL 546). Breen and Cockram call this group a “huddle,” and a huddle, diverges from traditional small groups in that it does not grow by adding new members, but by equipping and encouraging members to start their own huddles (KL 551). The reason for this is that, by definition, every disciple makes disciples (Mt. 28:18-20).
DISCIPLING RELATIONSHIPS
A huddle by itself, however, is inadequate for making disciples, because “the best discipling relationships always have an intentional, ‘organized’ component to them, as well as a less formal, ‘organic’ component” (KL 546). Covenantal relationships constitute the “organic” component whereby disciples have access to the discipler’s personal life. Breen and Cockram describe this dynamic in the discipleship triangle of “Information-Imitation-Innovation.”
Many churches convey “information” (classroom) very well. However, they often lack discipling relationships that facilitate “imitation” (apprenticeship and immersion), which in turn fosters “innovation” (KL 598). It would be a mistake, however, to equate discipling relationships with friendships. Friendship only requires invitation, but discipleship also entails challenge. Discipleship calls people to a greater conformity to Christ’s character and to a higher level of Christ-like competency. Breen and Cockram’s “Invitation and Challenge Quadrant” demonstrates that an ideal discipling relationship involves both high invitation and high challenge:
This kind of discipling relationship need not be inordinately burdensome. It can be as simple as inviting someone who is struggling spiritually to accompany you to the grocery store so that you can talk with him or her on the way and back (KL 580). It means inviting people to our quotidian comings and goings. This assumes, of course, that we first have a life worth imitating (KL 576), but we need not despair, because while we will never be perfect examples, we can be living examples (KL 624).
A DISCIPLING LANGUAGE
Up to this point, there is nothing radically insightful in Building a Discipling Culture that sets it apart from other books on discipleship. Almost 50 years prior, Robert Coleman delineated a similar process of discipleship in his classic The Master Plan of Evangelism, namely the Selection, Association, Consecration, Impartation, Demonstration, Delegation, Supervision, and Reproduction of disciples. Furthermore, modern books such as Colin Marshall and Tony Payne’s Trellis and the Vine (2009) also decry churches’ shortsighted tendency to rely on vocational ministers and volunteers to build churches through programs and events (the trellis), rather than training the whole church to make disciples (the vine).
What sets Building a Discipling Culture apart from the other books on discipleship is its discipling language. Breen and Cockram explain that “language creates culture,” and that in order to create a discipling culture, we need a language to support it (KL 632). The discipling language that Breen and Cockram, and their ministry 3DM, use is called LifeShapes. The LifeShapes are 8 diagrams that seek to capture the essence of discipleship. Breen and Cockram note that Jesus chose parables as his preferred teaching method in an oral culture, and argue that we live in a visual culture that calls for an image-based pedagogy (KL 687-692). Since most of the book is dedicated to describing these LifeShapes, I will summarize and evaluate each of them below (If you want to see the actual diagrams see: http://scarletyarn.com/2012/11/12/bui...
1. Continuous Breakthrough: “The Kairos Learning Circle”
Kairos is a Greek word that denotes punctual, opportune, time, as opposed to chronos, which denotes linear, chronological time. According to Breen and Cockram, every Christian encounters kairos moments “when the eternal God breaks into your circumstances with an event that gathers some loose ends of our life and knots them together in his hands” (KL 772). This event can be “positive (a promotion at work) or negative (getting laid off from your job). It can be big (your wedding) or small (a date night with your spouse)” (KL 815). The “Kairos Learning Circle” is a diagram that helps believers respond appropriately to their kairos moments. The straight line stands for the believer’s linear journey, at which point a kairos moment (X) takes place. At this point, the believer needs to enter the learning circle, which consists of observing, reflecting, and discussing the kairos event in order to plan, account, and act (KL 834). This is the same process as repentance and belief (Mk. 1:15). This first LifeShape is a useful tool for promoting attentiveness and responsiveness to divine encounters in people’s everyday lives.
2. Deeper Relationships: “The Triangle of Following Jesus”
The “Triangle” seeks to illustrate the holistic life of discipleship that entails “Up, In, and Out” relationships. Breen and Cockram use Mic. 6:8 as the paradigm: “Act justly” (Out), “Love mercy” (In), and “Walk humbly with your God” (Up) (KL 1080). They challenge Christians simultaneously to leave their comfort zones to seek out the lost (Out) and establish communities characterized by intimacy and accountability (In), both, without compromising a deep, personal relationship with God (Up).
3. Rhythm of Life: “The Semicircle Pendulum of Rest and Work”
Breen and Cockram lament that “We have become human ‘doings’ rather than human ‘beings’” (KL 1300), and argue that we need a Biblical framework for rest and work. To this end, the “Semicircle Pendulum” describes seasons of fruitfulness followed by seasons of abiding (KL 1399). Breen and Cockram write that bearing fruit is supposed to be natural, just as vines don’t strain to push out grapes. The reason why we strain to produce fruit, they argue, is because we do not have proper seasons of abiding wherein we cease activity and rest (KL 1414). Specifically, Breen and Cockram advocate breaking the day down into “eight hours of sleep, eight hours of work, four hours engaging, and four hours disengaging” (KL 1468). They also highlight the need for extended times of retreat for resting in the presence of God (Mk. 1:12-13) (KL 1487), as well as daily times of quiet resting (Mk. 1:35-39) (KL 1496).
4. Multiplying Life: “The Square of Discipleship Multiplication”
Drawing from his discipling experience, Breen and Cockram observe four levels of disciples (D1, D2, D3, D4) and the appropriate leadership style for each (L1, L2, L3, L4) (KL 1547). The confidence/enthusiasm of the disciples is inversely proportionate to the leader’s consensus/explanation, and the competence/experience of the disciples is inversely proportionate to the leader’s direction/example.
D1=high confidence/enthusiasm, low competence/experience (Mk. 1:15-20).
L1=high direction/example, low consensus/explanation
“I do, you watch”
This is the first stage of discipleship where the disciples are excited about the new idea and purpose in their lives but have little competence (KL 1564-1572).
D2=low confidence/enthusiasm, low competence/experience (Lk. 12:32-34)
L2=high direction/example, high consensus/explanation
“I do, you help”
This is when the excitement begins to die down and discouragement creeps in (KL 1622-1639). Breen and Cockram add that D2 is the most important stage of development for disciples. The leaders need to be highly accessible at this point and emphasize the grace of God.
D3=low confidence/enthusiasm, high competence/experience (Jn. 15:12-17)
L3=low direction/example, high consensus/explanation
“You do, I help”
The leaders need to highlight the sovereignty of God at this point (KL 1691).
D4=high confidence/enthusiasm, high competence/experience (Mt. 28:18-20)
L4=low direction/example, low consensus/explanation
“You do, I watch”
By this stage, the disciples’ confidence and enthusiasm are no longer a fledgling bud, but a full-bloom flower rooted in the gospel. This is when the disciples are released to go and do likewise (KL 1736).
The leadership styles presented by Breen and Cockram mirror the three leadership styles first noted by psychologist Kurt Lewin in 1939: Authoritarian (Autocratic), Participative (Democratic), and Delegative (Laissez-Faire). The Scriptural references adduced in the book are only tangentially, if at all, related to these various leadership styles, and thus this LifeShape seems to be derived more from general revelation than from special revelation.
5. Personal Calling: “The Fivefold Ministries Pentagon”
The “Pentagon” is a visual mnemonic for remembering the fivefold ministries specified in Eph. 4:7, 11-13 (KL 1820). Breen and Cockram assert that every Christian is equipped to serve as at least one of the following:
Apostles – Visionary individuals who are always pioneering into new territory, initiating new churches, ministries, etc. (KL 1843)
Prophets – Perceptive individuals with the ability to foretell and forth-tell God’s revelation in specific circumstances (KL 1853).
Evangelists – Personable individuals who enjoy spending time with and sharing the gospel with non-Christians (KL 1872).
Pastors – Empathetic individuals who care for, comfort, and encourage God’s people (KL 1890).
Teachers – Analytical individuals who delight in explaining and applying the Scriptures for others (KL 1903).
Breen and Cockram teach that every Christian has a “base,” or primary, ministry, but may still be called to engage in “phase,” or secondary, ministries for certain periods (KL 1920). They note that prophets, pastors, and teachers have a natural preference for stability and tend to be introverted (KL 1990), while apostles and evangelists have a predilection for flexibility and tend to be extroverted (KL 2016). This diagram is helpful, but it can be misleading because it conflates spiritual offices with spiritual gifts. First, the Apostles were those commissioned by Jesus Christ Himself to establish churches where they previously did not exist (Acts 1:21-22; 1 Cor. 9:2; 15:8). There may be people with apostolic gifts, but they are not Apostles. Second, while any Christian with the gift of prophecy can occasionally prophesy (1 Cor. 14:31), there are those who are officially designated as Prophets in local churches (Acts 13:1; 15:31; 21:9; 1 Cor. 14:32). Third, while all Christians are called to evangelize (Matthew 28:18-20), there are Evangelists (Acts 21:8; 2 Tim. 4:5) who are to devote themselves entirely to the task of doing, and equipping others for, evangelism. Similarly, every Christian is called to teach and admonish one another (Col. 3:16), but the Teaching Pastors (this designation is to be preferred since, in Eph. 4, the “Pastor” and “Teacher” are combined under a single definite article) were officially recognized as such and compensated for their work (Acts 13:1; Gal. 6:6; 1 Cor. 12:28; 1 Tim. 5:17). Therefore, not every Christian is called to fulfill one of the five ministerial offices. Rather, the emphasis in Eph. 4:11-12 is that God “gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers” themselves as gifts to the Church so that they might “equip the saints for the work of ministry.” The spiritual gifts are distributed to each Christian (Eph. 4:7; 1 Cor. 12), but spiritual offices are given only to some for the purpose of equipping all for ministry.
6. Definitive Prayer: “The Hexagon of Lord’s Prayer”
The “Hexagon” is a way to teach the Lord’s Prayer as a model for our prayers (Luke 11:1-4; Matthew 6:9-15). It is based on the Father’s Character, and pleads for the Father’s Kingdom, Provision, Forgiveness, Guidance, and Protection (KL 2142). This LifeShape is instructive, although the Father’s Guidance and Protection really belong in the same category: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13).
7. Spiritual Health: “The Heptagon: Seven Signs of Life”
Breen and Cockram suggest that the seven signs of living organisms, namely Respiration (Prayer), Sensitivity (Fivefold Ministries), Growth, Reproduction, Excretion (Repentance), Nutrition (Obedience), and Movement (Delegation/Distribution of Authority), ought to characterize a living Church (1 Peter 2:4-5). They argue that these are “a useful diagnostic tool for assessing the spiritual health of those you disciple and the ministries they lead” (KL 2219). The connection between the signs of living organisms and the signs of a living church appears promising at first, but the strained analogy disappoints. For example, the word “respiration” does not naturally suggest “prayer,” nor “nutrition” “obedience.” Here, the LifeShape begins to feel less like a mnemonic and more like a gimmick. Instead of serving as a visual aid, the “Heptagon” is a visual distraction.The 9 Marks of a Healthy Church is a superior model for assessing the vitality of a church.
8. Relational Mission: “The Octagon: Finding the Person of Peace”
The final LifeShape, the “Octagon,” is a way to teach evangelism based on the “Person of Peace” principle found in Luke 10 (KL 2424). Breen and Cockram posit that God has already prepared Persons of Peace who are receptive to the gospel, and that our job in evangelism is to identify these Persons of Peace rather than belaboring the issue with those whom God has not called (KL 2431-2499). There is a time for sowing and a time for reaping.
The eight principles for unlocking, or discovering, the Persons of Peace are:
Presence: We are to model the Presence of Jesus in people’s lives by showing kindness and speaking encouragement (KL 2524).
Passing Relationships: For people we come across only once or twice in our lives, our objective is to plant seeds in hopes that others will water and that God will give the harvest in the future (1 Corinthians 3:6) (KL 2533).
Permanent Relationships: Evangelizing our friends and family may take a long time. It is important at this point to watch, wait, and pray, rather than trying to force the issue prematurely (KL 2540).
Proclamation: In proclamation, we invite a person to faith in Christ. This is one way to identify Persons of Peace (KL 2549).
Preparation: Breen and Cockram utilize the Engel Scale as an example to show that there are various stages of preparation for non-believers. Some are closer to faith than others.
Power: This is a method which uses “awe as evangelism,” through miraculous healings and such (KL 2569).
Perception: This is what Peter Wagner calls “testing the soil,” and calls for spiritual discernment regarding individuals and situations in evangelism (KL 2576).
This LifeShape is also less than helpful because it confuses several categorical axes. First, there is the context of evangelism (passing and permanent relationships), then there is the method of evangelism (presence, proclamation, and power), and finally there’s the measure of evangelism (preparation and perception). Lumping them all into the same diagram with unclear, even if alliterative, headings muddles the Person of Peace principle. Moreover, there’s only seven sides to this Octagon…
Notwithstanding my fuss over minutiae, Building a Discipling Culture is an excellent practical resource if you want to learn about discipleship. Breen and Cockram have a knack for presenting nuggets of insight with memorable alliterations and catchy phrases. Consequently, the discipling model proposed in their book is extraordinarily simple and reproducible. It has, and will continue to, serve the Church well. However, if you are looking for a theologically-nuanced and comprehensive book on discipleship, this is not one. For example, it does not include ways to teach Scripture study or theology, and omits other essential spiritual disciplines such as fasting and silence. It also tends to assume that the gospel is central to discipleship, rather than accentuating its importance. Discipleship that is not properly grounded in the gospel can degenerate into pragmatic legalism. One would be wise also to consult Jonathan Dodson’s Gospel-Centered Discipleship.
So what is the difference between building a church and discipling people? Breen and Cockram argue that three things are necessary for building a discipling culture: 1) a discipling vehicle, 2) discipling relationships, and 3) a discipling language (KL 537).
A DISCIPLING VEHICLE
A discipling vehicle is essentially a small group of four to ten people that you meet with regularly to disciple (at least every other week) (KL 546). Breen and Cockram call this group a “huddle,” and a huddle, diverges from traditional small groups in that it does not grow by adding new members, but by equipping and encouraging members to start their own huddles (KL 551). The reason for this is that, by definition, every disciple makes disciples (Mt. 28:18-20).
DISCIPLING RELATIONSHIPS
A huddle by itself, however, is inadequate for making disciples, because “the best discipling relationships always have an intentional, ‘organized’ component to them, as well as a less formal, ‘organic’ component” (KL 546). Covenantal relationships constitute the “organic” component whereby disciples have access to the discipler’s personal life. Breen and Cockram describe this dynamic in the discipleship triangle of “Information-Imitation-Innovation.”
Many churches convey “information” (classroom) very well. However, they often lack discipling relationships that facilitate “imitation” (apprenticeship and immersion), which in turn fosters “innovation” (KL 598). It would be a mistake, however, to equate discipling relationships with friendships. Friendship only requires invitation, but discipleship also entails challenge. Discipleship calls people to a greater conformity to Christ’s character and to a higher level of Christ-like competency. Breen and Cockram’s “Invitation and Challenge Quadrant” demonstrates that an ideal discipling relationship involves both high invitation and high challenge:
This kind of discipling relationship need not be inordinately burdensome. It can be as simple as inviting someone who is struggling spiritually to accompany you to the grocery store so that you can talk with him or her on the way and back (KL 580). It means inviting people to our quotidian comings and goings. This assumes, of course, that we first have a life worth imitating (KL 576), but we need not despair, because while we will never be perfect examples, we can be living examples (KL 624).
A DISCIPLING LANGUAGE
Up to this point, there is nothing radically insightful in Building a Discipling Culture that sets it apart from other books on discipleship. Almost 50 years prior, Robert Coleman delineated a similar process of discipleship in his classic The Master Plan of Evangelism, namely the Selection, Association, Consecration, Impartation, Demonstration, Delegation, Supervision, and Reproduction of disciples. Furthermore, modern books such as Colin Marshall and Tony Payne’s Trellis and the Vine (2009) also decry churches’ shortsighted tendency to rely on vocational ministers and volunteers to build churches through programs and events (the trellis), rather than training the whole church to make disciples (the vine).
What sets Building a Discipling Culture apart from the other books on discipleship is its discipling language. Breen and Cockram explain that “language creates culture,” and that in order to create a discipling culture, we need a language to support it (KL 632). The discipling language that Breen and Cockram, and their ministry 3DM, use is called LifeShapes. The LifeShapes are 8 diagrams that seek to capture the essence of discipleship. Breen and Cockram note that Jesus chose parables as his preferred teaching method in an oral culture, and argue that we live in a visual culture that calls for an image-based pedagogy (KL 687-692). Since most of the book is dedicated to describing these LifeShapes, I will summarize and evaluate each of them below (If you want to see the actual diagrams see: http://scarletyarn.com/2012/11/12/bui...
1. Continuous Breakthrough: “The Kairos Learning Circle”
Kairos is a Greek word that denotes punctual, opportune, time, as opposed to chronos, which denotes linear, chronological time. According to Breen and Cockram, every Christian encounters kairos moments “when the eternal God breaks into your circumstances with an event that gathers some loose ends of our life and knots them together in his hands” (KL 772). This event can be “positive (a promotion at work) or negative (getting laid off from your job). It can be big (your wedding) or small (a date night with your spouse)” (KL 815). The “Kairos Learning Circle” is a diagram that helps believers respond appropriately to their kairos moments. The straight line stands for the believer’s linear journey, at which point a kairos moment (X) takes place. At this point, the believer needs to enter the learning circle, which consists of observing, reflecting, and discussing the kairos event in order to plan, account, and act (KL 834). This is the same process as repentance and belief (Mk. 1:15). This first LifeShape is a useful tool for promoting attentiveness and responsiveness to divine encounters in people’s everyday lives.
2. Deeper Relationships: “The Triangle of Following Jesus”
The “Triangle” seeks to illustrate the holistic life of discipleship that entails “Up, In, and Out” relationships. Breen and Cockram use Mic. 6:8 as the paradigm: “Act justly” (Out), “Love mercy” (In), and “Walk humbly with your God” (Up) (KL 1080). They challenge Christians simultaneously to leave their comfort zones to seek out the lost (Out) and establish communities characterized by intimacy and accountability (In), both, without compromising a deep, personal relationship with God (Up).
3. Rhythm of Life: “The Semicircle Pendulum of Rest and Work”
Breen and Cockram lament that “We have become human ‘doings’ rather than human ‘beings’” (KL 1300), and argue that we need a Biblical framework for rest and work. To this end, the “Semicircle Pendulum” describes seasons of fruitfulness followed by seasons of abiding (KL 1399). Breen and Cockram write that bearing fruit is supposed to be natural, just as vines don’t strain to push out grapes. The reason why we strain to produce fruit, they argue, is because we do not have proper seasons of abiding wherein we cease activity and rest (KL 1414). Specifically, Breen and Cockram advocate breaking the day down into “eight hours of sleep, eight hours of work, four hours engaging, and four hours disengaging” (KL 1468). They also highlight the need for extended times of retreat for resting in the presence of God (Mk. 1:12-13) (KL 1487), as well as daily times of quiet resting (Mk. 1:35-39) (KL 1496).
4. Multiplying Life: “The Square of Discipleship Multiplication”
Drawing from his discipling experience, Breen and Cockram observe four levels of disciples (D1, D2, D3, D4) and the appropriate leadership style for each (L1, L2, L3, L4) (KL 1547). The confidence/enthusiasm of the disciples is inversely proportionate to the leader’s consensus/explanation, and the competence/experience of the disciples is inversely proportionate to the leader’s direction/example.
D1=high confidence/enthusiasm, low competence/experience (Mk. 1:15-20).
L1=high direction/example, low consensus/explanation
“I do, you watch”
This is the first stage of discipleship where the disciples are excited about the new idea and purpose in their lives but have little competence (KL 1564-1572).
D2=low confidence/enthusiasm, low competence/experience (Lk. 12:32-34)
L2=high direction/example, high consensus/explanation
“I do, you help”
This is when the excitement begins to die down and discouragement creeps in (KL 1622-1639). Breen and Cockram add that D2 is the most important stage of development for disciples. The leaders need to be highly accessible at this point and emphasize the grace of God.
D3=low confidence/enthusiasm, high competence/experience (Jn. 15:12-17)
L3=low direction/example, high consensus/explanation
“You do, I help”
The leaders need to highlight the sovereignty of God at this point (KL 1691).
D4=high confidence/enthusiasm, high competence/experience (Mt. 28:18-20)
L4=low direction/example, low consensus/explanation
“You do, I watch”
By this stage, the disciples’ confidence and enthusiasm are no longer a fledgling bud, but a full-bloom flower rooted in the gospel. This is when the disciples are released to go and do likewise (KL 1736).
The leadership styles presented by Breen and Cockram mirror the three leadership styles first noted by psychologist Kurt Lewin in 1939: Authoritarian (Autocratic), Participative (Democratic), and Delegative (Laissez-Faire). The Scriptural references adduced in the book are only tangentially, if at all, related to these various leadership styles, and thus this LifeShape seems to be derived more from general revelation than from special revelation.
5. Personal Calling: “The Fivefold Ministries Pentagon”
The “Pentagon” is a visual mnemonic for remembering the fivefold ministries specified in Eph. 4:7, 11-13 (KL 1820). Breen and Cockram assert that every Christian is equipped to serve as at least one of the following:
Apostles – Visionary individuals who are always pioneering into new territory, initiating new churches, ministries, etc. (KL 1843)
Prophets – Perceptive individuals with the ability to foretell and forth-tell God’s revelation in specific circumstances (KL 1853).
Evangelists – Personable individuals who enjoy spending time with and sharing the gospel with non-Christians (KL 1872).
Pastors – Empathetic individuals who care for, comfort, and encourage God’s people (KL 1890).
Teachers – Analytical individuals who delight in explaining and applying the Scriptures for others (KL 1903).
Breen and Cockram teach that every Christian has a “base,” or primary, ministry, but may still be called to engage in “phase,” or secondary, ministries for certain periods (KL 1920). They note that prophets, pastors, and teachers have a natural preference for stability and tend to be introverted (KL 1990), while apostles and evangelists have a predilection for flexibility and tend to be extroverted (KL 2016). This diagram is helpful, but it can be misleading because it conflates spiritual offices with spiritual gifts. First, the Apostles were those commissioned by Jesus Christ Himself to establish churches where they previously did not exist (Acts 1:21-22; 1 Cor. 9:2; 15:8). There may be people with apostolic gifts, but they are not Apostles. Second, while any Christian with the gift of prophecy can occasionally prophesy (1 Cor. 14:31), there are those who are officially designated as Prophets in local churches (Acts 13:1; 15:31; 21:9; 1 Cor. 14:32). Third, while all Christians are called to evangelize (Matthew 28:18-20), there are Evangelists (Acts 21:8; 2 Tim. 4:5) who are to devote themselves entirely to the task of doing, and equipping others for, evangelism. Similarly, every Christian is called to teach and admonish one another (Col. 3:16), but the Teaching Pastors (this designation is to be preferred since, in Eph. 4, the “Pastor” and “Teacher” are combined under a single definite article) were officially recognized as such and compensated for their work (Acts 13:1; Gal. 6:6; 1 Cor. 12:28; 1 Tim. 5:17). Therefore, not every Christian is called to fulfill one of the five ministerial offices. Rather, the emphasis in Eph. 4:11-12 is that God “gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers” themselves as gifts to the Church so that they might “equip the saints for the work of ministry.” The spiritual gifts are distributed to each Christian (Eph. 4:7; 1 Cor. 12), but spiritual offices are given only to some for the purpose of equipping all for ministry.
6. Definitive Prayer: “The Hexagon of Lord’s Prayer”
The “Hexagon” is a way to teach the Lord’s Prayer as a model for our prayers (Luke 11:1-4; Matthew 6:9-15). It is based on the Father’s Character, and pleads for the Father’s Kingdom, Provision, Forgiveness, Guidance, and Protection (KL 2142). This LifeShape is instructive, although the Father’s Guidance and Protection really belong in the same category: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13).
7. Spiritual Health: “The Heptagon: Seven Signs of Life”
Breen and Cockram suggest that the seven signs of living organisms, namely Respiration (Prayer), Sensitivity (Fivefold Ministries), Growth, Reproduction, Excretion (Repentance), Nutrition (Obedience), and Movement (Delegation/Distribution of Authority), ought to characterize a living Church (1 Peter 2:4-5). They argue that these are “a useful diagnostic tool for assessing the spiritual health of those you disciple and the ministries they lead” (KL 2219). The connection between the signs of living organisms and the signs of a living church appears promising at first, but the strained analogy disappoints. For example, the word “respiration” does not naturally suggest “prayer,” nor “nutrition” “obedience.” Here, the LifeShape begins to feel less like a mnemonic and more like a gimmick. Instead of serving as a visual aid, the “Heptagon” is a visual distraction.The 9 Marks of a Healthy Church is a superior model for assessing the vitality of a church.
8. Relational Mission: “The Octagon: Finding the Person of Peace”
The final LifeShape, the “Octagon,” is a way to teach evangelism based on the “Person of Peace” principle found in Luke 10 (KL 2424). Breen and Cockram posit that God has already prepared Persons of Peace who are receptive to the gospel, and that our job in evangelism is to identify these Persons of Peace rather than belaboring the issue with those whom God has not called (KL 2431-2499). There is a time for sowing and a time for reaping.
The eight principles for unlocking, or discovering, the Persons of Peace are:
Presence: We are to model the Presence of Jesus in people’s lives by showing kindness and speaking encouragement (KL 2524).
Passing Relationships: For people we come across only once or twice in our lives, our objective is to plant seeds in hopes that others will water and that God will give the harvest in the future (1 Corinthians 3:6) (KL 2533).
Permanent Relationships: Evangelizing our friends and family may take a long time. It is important at this point to watch, wait, and pray, rather than trying to force the issue prematurely (KL 2540).
Proclamation: In proclamation, we invite a person to faith in Christ. This is one way to identify Persons of Peace (KL 2549).
Preparation: Breen and Cockram utilize the Engel Scale as an example to show that there are various stages of preparation for non-believers. Some are closer to faith than others.
Power: This is a method which uses “awe as evangelism,” through miraculous healings and such (KL 2569).
Perception: This is what Peter Wagner calls “testing the soil,” and calls for spiritual discernment regarding individuals and situations in evangelism (KL 2576).
This LifeShape is also less than helpful because it confuses several categorical axes. First, there is the context of evangelism (passing and permanent relationships), then there is the method of evangelism (presence, proclamation, and power), and finally there’s the measure of evangelism (preparation and perception). Lumping them all into the same diagram with unclear, even if alliterative, headings muddles the Person of Peace principle. Moreover, there’s only seven sides to this Octagon…
Notwithstanding my fuss over minutiae, Building a Discipling Culture is an excellent practical resource if you want to learn about discipleship. Breen and Cockram have a knack for presenting nuggets of insight with memorable alliterations and catchy phrases. Consequently, the discipling model proposed in their book is extraordinarily simple and reproducible. It has, and will continue to, serve the Church well. However, if you are looking for a theologically-nuanced and comprehensive book on discipleship, this is not one. For example, it does not include ways to teach Scripture study or theology, and omits other essential spiritual disciplines such as fasting and silence. It also tends to assume that the gospel is central to discipleship, rather than accentuating its importance. Discipleship that is not properly grounded in the gospel can degenerate into pragmatic legalism. One would be wise also to consult Jonathan Dodson’s Gospel-Centered Discipleship.
March 15, 2022
The tools and shapes for discipleship explained in this book have some usefulness and helped lead my discipleship group in good discussions. However, the tone of this book and breakdown of specific roles and methods of discipleship felt too gimmicky, specific, and “business-like” to me. Not a book I would recommend, but I still learned from it.
August 27, 2018
This is how I want church to be.
August 3, 2013
Both 3dm and the Order of Mission think that in order to build a discipling culture, you must first have a discipling language. They believe that the language used creates the culture. The language used by the Mike Breen, the Order of Mission and 3dm is completely different than that used to describe discipleship in the Bible.
This book teaches that in order to be "radical" and make disciples you need to learn something "deeper" and "more effective" than the language that Jesus and his disciples used to transform the world. Jesus did not use Lifeshapes, he did not require a special discipling language, he never authorized Senior Guardians or Guardians, and he never required anyone to take vows or oaths.
Anyone considering the Mike Breen's 3dm model should also review the materials found at missionorder.org. You will find that Mike Breen, the leader of 3dm, is also the Senior Guardian of the Order of Mission, a self-proclaimed "neo-monastic order." The Order of Mission aspires to be a small, radically committed group of people who will seek to usher in the next great awakening or next large move of God.
A person seeking to join the Order of Mission must make a multi-year commitment. The Missionorder.org website states the following:
Temporary Covenant
On taking their three year temporary vows for The Order of Mission, members take the following vows at Initiation:
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit,
I solemnly promise before God
to devote myself
to a life of simplicity, purity
and accountability
within The Order of Mission.
I vow before God and in the presence of the Senior Guardian (Guardians)
and the members of the Order,
to live and work according to its Rule.
I ask for the grace of Almighty God
and the prayers of all those present.
Amen
Interestingly, the vow requires members to live and work according to the Rules of Life of the Order. The Rules of Life of the order are based upon the concept of "Lifeshapes." The Lifeshapes used by the Mission of Order are the same Lifeshapes that are taught by 3dm ministries. The Order uses geometric shapes to teach their "rule of life." The shapes used are:
The Circle: Listening to God's voice and responding obediently
The Triangle: Balanced and deep relationships
The Semi-Circle: Kingdom-oriented rhythms of life around Rest and Work
The Square: Multiplying the life of Jesus into the lives of others
The Pentagon: Personal calling
The Hexagon: Prayer
The Heptagon: Organic Health
The Octagon: Relational mission
Members of the Order of Mission also take vows of Simplicity, Purity and Accountability.
The use of "accountability" and the ushering in of a "new" discipling language clearly makes 3dm and the Order of Mission potential candidates for a re-emergence of the abusive Shepherding Movement that existed in the 70s and 80s. I was part of a church involved in that movement and saw first-hand the damage that it did.
When your desire is to create a system that requires people to take vows to live by the Rule of Life of the Order, you steep them in a "special" language, you tell them that they are a part of a radical movement that will usher in the next great awakening, and you make them accountable to you, you have taken far too many steps down the road of Shepherdship error. The steps outlined above can lead to "disciples" who are alienated from other Christians (who do not share their language), who have taken vows to live by something other than the Bible, and who voluntarily submit themselves to the authority of another human being under the guise of "accountability." There really is only one mediator between God and man, and that is Jesus.
This book teaches that in order to be "radical" and make disciples you need to learn something "deeper" and "more effective" than the language that Jesus and his disciples used to transform the world. Jesus did not use Lifeshapes, he did not require a special discipling language, he never authorized Senior Guardians or Guardians, and he never required anyone to take vows or oaths.
Anyone considering the Mike Breen's 3dm model should also review the materials found at missionorder.org. You will find that Mike Breen, the leader of 3dm, is also the Senior Guardian of the Order of Mission, a self-proclaimed "neo-monastic order." The Order of Mission aspires to be a small, radically committed group of people who will seek to usher in the next great awakening or next large move of God.
A person seeking to join the Order of Mission must make a multi-year commitment. The Missionorder.org website states the following:
Temporary Covenant
On taking their three year temporary vows for The Order of Mission, members take the following vows at Initiation:
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit,
I solemnly promise before God
to devote myself
to a life of simplicity, purity
and accountability
within The Order of Mission.
I vow before God and in the presence of the Senior Guardian (Guardians)
and the members of the Order,
to live and work according to its Rule.
I ask for the grace of Almighty God
and the prayers of all those present.
Amen
Interestingly, the vow requires members to live and work according to the Rules of Life of the Order. The Rules of Life of the order are based upon the concept of "Lifeshapes." The Lifeshapes used by the Mission of Order are the same Lifeshapes that are taught by 3dm ministries. The Order uses geometric shapes to teach their "rule of life." The shapes used are:
The Circle: Listening to God's voice and responding obediently
The Triangle: Balanced and deep relationships
The Semi-Circle: Kingdom-oriented rhythms of life around Rest and Work
The Square: Multiplying the life of Jesus into the lives of others
The Pentagon: Personal calling
The Hexagon: Prayer
The Heptagon: Organic Health
The Octagon: Relational mission
Members of the Order of Mission also take vows of Simplicity, Purity and Accountability.
The use of "accountability" and the ushering in of a "new" discipling language clearly makes 3dm and the Order of Mission potential candidates for a re-emergence of the abusive Shepherding Movement that existed in the 70s and 80s. I was part of a church involved in that movement and saw first-hand the damage that it did.
When your desire is to create a system that requires people to take vows to live by the Rule of Life of the Order, you steep them in a "special" language, you tell them that they are a part of a radical movement that will usher in the next great awakening, and you make them accountable to you, you have taken far too many steps down the road of Shepherdship error. The steps outlined above can lead to "disciples" who are alienated from other Christians (who do not share their language), who have taken vows to live by something other than the Bible, and who voluntarily submit themselves to the authority of another human being under the guise of "accountability." There really is only one mediator between God and man, and that is Jesus.
September 17, 2013
This book attempts to outline a method for creating disciples within church communities and falls into some of the same traps I've seen in many other books with similar intentions. First, the language of the book not fails to provide enough room, for us to believe the writers don't think this is God's gift to discipleship. I prefer, when reading books of this type, to see research backing up epistemic offerings, failures discussed along with successes, and the occasional mention of, "This isn't the only way to do it." In fact, the language does veer directly into the territory of, "Changing or adapting our methods will cause failure." It annoys me to read them saying that it's impossible to start their version of a small group (pretentiously called a "Huddle") without having been in one first. Then how did you start it, and where did you get the idea for it?
Secondly, the language abounds with pretentious neologisms. They use real words, but there is too much emphasis placed on ascribing to the set language outlined in the book in order to acheive success. Just call it a small group, not a Huddle. We know it's different. That's why we're reading the book in the first place.
The biggest crime the writers commit is the usual overreading of biblical texts, specifically the words of Jesus. One or two sentences from the gospels can be broken into as many as seven major principles of leadership for these guys, and I for one see no reason to believe everything Jesus said was so tightly packed with content and directions. They also decide to arbitrarily pull direction out of such tangential sources as the seven markers of living things. There's no reason to say that reproduction, respiration, and even excretion have implications for discipleship. You're better off just telling us, "Good discipleship has seven characteristics because it does." In the end, explaining in such detail the fine points of discipleship just provides us with more thing to forget, leading us back where we started.
Despite these flaws, the book does have good ideas about what to prioritize in small groups so that individuals make conscious choices to become better disciples of Christ. I guess some people need the structure handed to them and cannot create one for themselves. And perhaps if all this book does is allow the leader of a small group to ask this much of his or her mini-congregation (which I think is the one true threshold seperating good small groups from bad), then it will have done its job, and a good one. In the end, it's a good book on a framework for small groups that is poorly written and makes very little attempt to provide actual week-to-week glimpses of the framework lived out. It's a good battle plan, but no battle plan survives contact with the enemy.
Secondly, the language abounds with pretentious neologisms. They use real words, but there is too much emphasis placed on ascribing to the set language outlined in the book in order to acheive success. Just call it a small group, not a Huddle. We know it's different. That's why we're reading the book in the first place.
The biggest crime the writers commit is the usual overreading of biblical texts, specifically the words of Jesus. One or two sentences from the gospels can be broken into as many as seven major principles of leadership for these guys, and I for one see no reason to believe everything Jesus said was so tightly packed with content and directions. They also decide to arbitrarily pull direction out of such tangential sources as the seven markers of living things. There's no reason to say that reproduction, respiration, and even excretion have implications for discipleship. You're better off just telling us, "Good discipleship has seven characteristics because it does." In the end, explaining in such detail the fine points of discipleship just provides us with more thing to forget, leading us back where we started.
Despite these flaws, the book does have good ideas about what to prioritize in small groups so that individuals make conscious choices to become better disciples of Christ. I guess some people need the structure handed to them and cannot create one for themselves. And perhaps if all this book does is allow the leader of a small group to ask this much of his or her mini-congregation (which I think is the one true threshold seperating good small groups from bad), then it will have done its job, and a good one. In the end, it's a good book on a framework for small groups that is poorly written and makes very little attempt to provide actual week-to-week glimpses of the framework lived out. It's a good battle plan, but no battle plan survives contact with the enemy.
May 26, 2016
I think that if you read the first two chapters of this book, you’ve pretty much got the picture. Premise: There’s a lack of depth/growth/love in the Christian community. Why? Because people aren’t being discipled to truly know Christ and learn to be like Him. Breen asserts that we’re focusing so much on the knowledge/information facet (sermons, Bible studies, etc.) that we’re missing out on the relationship part. Jesus discipled his followers by being in relationship with them, sharing his life with them, and Breen suggests that if we follow Jesus’ pattern, emulating Him in our relationships, the rest will follow. I like it. I think there might be something to Breen’s premise. He spends the rest of the book fleshing it out, the specifics of which may or may not apply to your specific situation. I particularly liked the three pronged approach – focus upward (towards God), focus inward (towards the church), and focus outward (outreach), keeping everything in balance.
December 7, 2012
Every now and then you read a book that changes your life. It doesn’t happen often, but it happened to me this weekend as I read ‘Building a Discipling Culture’. This book answered questions I’ve had for some time about discipleship, evangelism and how the church should function. Aside from giving me answers, it also challenged me in a huge way.
The first part of the book offers a fresh and biblical view on discipleship. This part was incredibly challenging, because author Mike Breen states that the church in general has a huge discipleship problem. Jesus’ last instruction for us wasn’t to build the church, it was to make disciples. And we have failed miserably in these last decades.
The second part of the book explains this discipling language Breen talks about. He states that our modern culture is very visual, our brains store large amounts of information, stories and data by attaching them to images. He (with others I assume) has therefore developed a ‘language’ of eight shapes, called LifeShapes which each show a different aspect of being a disciple. They have to with things like a sustainable life rhythm, spiritual growth, prayer, spiritual health and evangelism (note that I’m using my own terms here and not Breen’s, as they would take a bit long to explain). He explains each of these images and concepts in a chapter.
So why was this book so life-changing? Because it put into words what I’ve felt for a long time, but couldn’t identify: that discipleship wasn’t working. I’ve seen it fail without knowing why. I’ve also seen the examples where it did work and interestingly enough, these were situations where a lot of the elements of a discipling culture were present.
It was also challenging, because what Breen proposes isn’t easy. It’s not a just-follow-the-program kind of thing. It requires a huge commitment…but one that got me energized to get started. Also, there are some pretty radical standpoints in there, for instance on leadership. Breen shows Jesus using a variant on situational leadership and challenges us to do the same.
For a full review, see: http://www.youthleadersacademy.com/bu...
The first part of the book offers a fresh and biblical view on discipleship. This part was incredibly challenging, because author Mike Breen states that the church in general has a huge discipleship problem. Jesus’ last instruction for us wasn’t to build the church, it was to make disciples. And we have failed miserably in these last decades.
The second part of the book explains this discipling language Breen talks about. He states that our modern culture is very visual, our brains store large amounts of information, stories and data by attaching them to images. He (with others I assume) has therefore developed a ‘language’ of eight shapes, called LifeShapes which each show a different aspect of being a disciple. They have to with things like a sustainable life rhythm, spiritual growth, prayer, spiritual health and evangelism (note that I’m using my own terms here and not Breen’s, as they would take a bit long to explain). He explains each of these images and concepts in a chapter.
So why was this book so life-changing? Because it put into words what I’ve felt for a long time, but couldn’t identify: that discipleship wasn’t working. I’ve seen it fail without knowing why. I’ve also seen the examples where it did work and interestingly enough, these were situations where a lot of the elements of a discipling culture were present.
It was also challenging, because what Breen proposes isn’t easy. It’s not a just-follow-the-program kind of thing. It requires a huge commitment…but one that got me energized to get started. Also, there are some pretty radical standpoints in there, for instance on leadership. Breen shows Jesus using a variant on situational leadership and challenges us to do the same.
For a full review, see: http://www.youthleadersacademy.com/bu...
January 14, 2021
Clear, succinct, comprehensive, practical, inspiring
I would recommend this book as an extremely viable option for any Christian leader who seeks to accomplish what the title describes.
The author’s expertise with the tools he suggests and the process of helping people believe in, be friends with, and become like Jesus is apparent.
A significant addition to the field of discipleship is the argument (which I found compelling both logically and experientially as my own retention of the concepts taught increased with its use) that the concepts of a teaching are more readily transmitted using shape imagery as their containers.
The book is not heavy on philosophical concepts. It does not teach basic skills of group leadership. It explains specific teachings and a process for sharing that teaching the author has found transformative for others through years of trial.
I appreciate it’s emphasis on community as well as the space it creates for justice (though underdeveloped), a tenant of more liberal/liberation theologies, and things like prophetic words and discernment as expressed in more evangelical and charismatic traditions. An excellent five-fold ministry (APEST) instrument and description is included.
I would recommend this book as an extremely viable option for any Christian leader who seeks to accomplish what the title describes.
The author’s expertise with the tools he suggests and the process of helping people believe in, be friends with, and become like Jesus is apparent.
A significant addition to the field of discipleship is the argument (which I found compelling both logically and experientially as my own retention of the concepts taught increased with its use) that the concepts of a teaching are more readily transmitted using shape imagery as their containers.
The book is not heavy on philosophical concepts. It does not teach basic skills of group leadership. It explains specific teachings and a process for sharing that teaching the author has found transformative for others through years of trial.
I appreciate it’s emphasis on community as well as the space it creates for justice (though underdeveloped), a tenant of more liberal/liberation theologies, and things like prophetic words and discernment as expressed in more evangelical and charismatic traditions. An excellent five-fold ministry (APEST) instrument and description is included.
December 6, 2019
This is an excellent biblical and practical book to help a person enter into a life of discipleship. If you understand and believe that Jesus calls us to make disciples (as opposed to planting churches) and are ready to do the work and ready to trust God through this process then this is the book for you.
I have been looking for this book my whole life. It is a testimony to the fact that many churches do not have an established Discipleship system/lifestyle that actively teaches others how to become a disciple and how to teach those disciples how to disciple others. In all the churches I have attended throughout my life I have not seen anything close to this until just recently. You can have discipleship without church but you cannot have church without discipleship. Any church without discipleship is going to exist only in one form of dead legalism or another—which is not life! Period!
• Once you read this book you will need to prayerfully seek out a discipler who has already been through this process.
I have been looking for this book my whole life. It is a testimony to the fact that many churches do not have an established Discipleship system/lifestyle that actively teaches others how to become a disciple and how to teach those disciples how to disciple others. In all the churches I have attended throughout my life I have not seen anything close to this until just recently. You can have discipleship without church but you cannot have church without discipleship. Any church without discipleship is going to exist only in one form of dead legalism or another—which is not life! Period!
• Once you read this book you will need to prayerfully seek out a discipler who has already been through this process.
November 27, 2015
I liked some aspects of this book, and was very skeptical about some others. I like that the purpose for churches is to develop a culture where formal discipleship is a high priority, and then arguing that this needs to happen through a shared language and through communities focused on mission ("Huddles" in their terminology). The basic idea seems to be that when you form a group you apprentice people using a common language that is geared toward action. So far, so good.
The things I didn't like so much is that amount of pop-psychology used, and I didn't fully get on board with all the "shapes" and the theology behind them. I'm not sure I would use these without heavy editing.
The broad vision is interesting and worthwhile - the specifics, not so much.
The things I didn't like so much is that amount of pop-psychology used, and I didn't fully get on board with all the "shapes" and the theology behind them. I'm not sure I would use these without heavy editing.
The broad vision is interesting and worthwhile - the specifics, not so much.
July 27, 2025
I first read this book ~10 years ago and really struggled with it. While many of the principles were really good, they shoehorned them to be able to say they found them in scripture. I also felt like they added an extra barrier or an extra level of knowledge and language on top of the Bible that one had to learn to disciple and be discipled.
I read it again to see if I still felt the same way. I do. This book has some good things in it and some things would be better if they didn’t try to make the claim that the idea was found in scripture. There can be good practices that aren’t based in Jesus’ ministry.
Overall there are much better books about discipleship out there. I would not recommend that anyone read this one.
I read it again to see if I still felt the same way. I do. This book has some good things in it and some things would be better if they didn’t try to make the claim that the idea was found in scripture. There can be good practices that aren’t based in Jesus’ ministry.
Overall there are much better books about discipleship out there. I would not recommend that anyone read this one.
December 13, 2022
Useful and practical book on creating a culture of discipleship in the church. The LifeShapes were somewhat helpful, but there were too many and convoluted at times to grasp. Might be better to adapt personally to each church context. Regardless, the concepts are great and something I will be referring back to!
March 27, 2020
I liked some things Breen said, but it’d help if he cited examples from the early church and church history that supported his approach to discipleship. Otherwise, it somewhat comes across as everyone before him has (and is) doing it wrong, even though he admits, "I'm not saying this is the only way to disciple people or even the best way,” (9).
Review:
https://gcdiscipleship.com/article-fe...
Review:
https://gcdiscipleship.com/article-fe...
November 14, 2024
Some good stuff I’ll teach my high schoolers, some bad theology. Ok overall!
March 26, 2025
Mike Breen's model of discipleship has proven extremely fruitful in the western church over the last 15-20 years. This is the third edition of his signature book on building a culture of discipleship in the local church. It has a number of distinctives. Three that immediately come to mind, having just finished reading it are (1) the concept of invitation balanced with challenge; (2) the small group he designates the Huddle; and (3) the concept of establishing a distinctive discipleship language.
Invitation is giving people access to your life, to hear what you believe and to see it incarnated in your way of life. This will probably sound daunting to most of us, but it is tempered with "challenge" - that is, being able to bring a firm, or strong word of challenge or correction to those people you've invited in. Referring to the life and work of Jesus, Breen shows that invitation was always balanced with appropriate challenge. We all need both. Ministry that has only one or the other will struggle to bring people along the road of discipleship.
This sense of accountability is critical to the concept of the Huddle. This is a small group of 4-10 individuals, prayerfully selected by the leader of the Huddle, to be discipled. It's not a Bible study per se. It is a high-commitment, intimate context for relational discipling. It is not a permanent group - it is a staging ground for discipling others and getting them ready to start their own huddles.
Language creates culture, and Breen argues that it makes a big difference to develop a particular language, terminology and way of speaking about being disciples, growing in discipleship and making disciples. The language he has developed over the course of his career has been based on geometric shapes (the Circle, the Triangle, the Square, etc.). He calls them LifeShapes. Their value is in providing a framework on which to hang the precepts of good biblical discipleship. The precepts are not new or groundbreaking - that's not the point. The point is that by teaching the LifeShapes, they are easy to understand, to remember and then, to teach to other people. By making core parts of discipleship central to teaching and discourse, it reorients the participants to a way of thinking predisposed towards discipleship.
In such ways (for example), Breen builds a system for establishing a culture within the church: a discipling culture. System-building might seem a bit artificial, like the latest fad or program, but in DiscipleShift, Putman et al identify the establishment of some kind of disciple-building system as one of key responsibilities of the pastor of a church committed to making disciples. And the proof is in the pudding: Breen's approach has been used across the western world for decades and is bearing much fruit. Some of the healthiest churches in Australia are deeply committed to it even now.
This model of discipleship is challenging and demanding. It is easy to see its potential. It will require commitment, prayer and energy to see it implemented.
Invitation is giving people access to your life, to hear what you believe and to see it incarnated in your way of life. This will probably sound daunting to most of us, but it is tempered with "challenge" - that is, being able to bring a firm, or strong word of challenge or correction to those people you've invited in. Referring to the life and work of Jesus, Breen shows that invitation was always balanced with appropriate challenge. We all need both. Ministry that has only one or the other will struggle to bring people along the road of discipleship.
This sense of accountability is critical to the concept of the Huddle. This is a small group of 4-10 individuals, prayerfully selected by the leader of the Huddle, to be discipled. It's not a Bible study per se. It is a high-commitment, intimate context for relational discipling. It is not a permanent group - it is a staging ground for discipling others and getting them ready to start their own huddles.
Language creates culture, and Breen argues that it makes a big difference to develop a particular language, terminology and way of speaking about being disciples, growing in discipleship and making disciples. The language he has developed over the course of his career has been based on geometric shapes (the Circle, the Triangle, the Square, etc.). He calls them LifeShapes. Their value is in providing a framework on which to hang the precepts of good biblical discipleship. The precepts are not new or groundbreaking - that's not the point. The point is that by teaching the LifeShapes, they are easy to understand, to remember and then, to teach to other people. By making core parts of discipleship central to teaching and discourse, it reorients the participants to a way of thinking predisposed towards discipleship.
In such ways (for example), Breen builds a system for establishing a culture within the church: a discipling culture. System-building might seem a bit artificial, like the latest fad or program, but in DiscipleShift, Putman et al identify the establishment of some kind of disciple-building system as one of key responsibilities of the pastor of a church committed to making disciples. And the proof is in the pudding: Breen's approach has been used across the western world for decades and is bearing much fruit. Some of the healthiest churches in Australia are deeply committed to it even now.
This model of discipleship is challenging and demanding. It is easy to see its potential. It will require commitment, prayer and energy to see it implemented.
April 24, 2016
Recently, I read through 3DM’s guide on “Building a Discipling Culture” by Mike Breen for the 2nd time. There is a lot of things I enjoy about this guide in building an effective discipleship plan and culture. Here are some notes, quotes and thoughts from the book. Building a Discipling Culture
Understanding Discipleship
Types of cultures we create:
High Challenge / Low Invitation. Stressful quadrant. Discouraged culture.
Low Challenge / Low Invitation. Boring quadrant. Apathetic culture.
Low Challenge / High Invitation. Chaplaincy quadrant. Cozy culture.
High Challenge / High Invitation. Discipling quadrant. Empowering culture.
A very helpful concept is how Breen described the way people learn:
How We Learn
Breen says:
“There seem to be three different ways that we learn, but unequivocally, we learn best when there is a dynamic interplay between all three at one time: 1) Classroom/Lecture passing on of information 2) Apprenticeship 3) Immersion.” (Kindle Locations 256-259).
Passing on information is fine, but it is difficult to translate that information into practice. Take, for example, the often used example of learning to ride a bicycle: you could read a book on it and still not be able to ride a bike. For this reason, Breen thinks learning information needs to be coupled with apprenticeship. “In many ways, the practice of apprenticeship is about investment. Someone invests their time, energy, skills and life into ours, teaching us to do what they do.” (Kindle Locations 287-288).
We also learn through immersion, where we are immersed in a context where something is used or some skill is practiced. We learn from merely being in that environment. “The key to immersion is having access to the culture you are hoping to shape you.” (Kindle Location 306).
The research has shown us, according to Breen, that people learn best when there is an interplay of the three types of learning. I find this to be true, at least from my own experience it has been true.
Three things we need to build a discipling culture:
A discipleship vehicle (or engine): Huddle
People need access to your life (discipleship can’t be done at a distance)
A discipling language: LifeShapes
Understanding Discipleship
Types of cultures we create:
High Challenge / Low Invitation. Stressful quadrant. Discouraged culture.
Low Challenge / Low Invitation. Boring quadrant. Apathetic culture.
Low Challenge / High Invitation. Chaplaincy quadrant. Cozy culture.
High Challenge / High Invitation. Discipling quadrant. Empowering culture.
A very helpful concept is how Breen described the way people learn:
How We Learn
Breen says:
“There seem to be three different ways that we learn, but unequivocally, we learn best when there is a dynamic interplay between all three at one time: 1) Classroom/Lecture passing on of information 2) Apprenticeship 3) Immersion.” (Kindle Locations 256-259).
Passing on information is fine, but it is difficult to translate that information into practice. Take, for example, the often used example of learning to ride a bicycle: you could read a book on it and still not be able to ride a bike. For this reason, Breen thinks learning information needs to be coupled with apprenticeship. “In many ways, the practice of apprenticeship is about investment. Someone invests their time, energy, skills and life into ours, teaching us to do what they do.” (Kindle Locations 287-288).
We also learn through immersion, where we are immersed in a context where something is used or some skill is practiced. We learn from merely being in that environment. “The key to immersion is having access to the culture you are hoping to shape you.” (Kindle Location 306).
The research has shown us, according to Breen, that people learn best when there is an interplay of the three types of learning. I find this to be true, at least from my own experience it has been true.
Three things we need to build a discipling culture:
A discipleship vehicle (or engine): Huddle
People need access to your life (discipleship can’t be done at a distance)
A discipling language: LifeShapes
October 7, 2011
Mike Breen brings to light the utmost importance of discipling believers in the faith. All too often we wonder why so many Christians are struggling with their faithwalk, yet rarely are we (yes, all of us) taking the time to disciple a new Christian. Most often, we tend to rely on Sunday School to be our discipleship program, but Sunday School isn't designed for that. Breen brings to light a simply, upfront discipleship method. The fact that he uses charts, graphs and object lessons to get his message across is music to my ears. I recommend this book for anyone interested in understanding the meaning and purpose behind discipleship. Good book.
January 1, 2020
Terrible editing. Terrible organization. Liked the idea of a "Kairos moment". Most of the rest is standard Evangelical jargon sloppily packaged. None the less my group of friends and I have had some great discussions of how it triggers us, and occasionally found nuggets of wisdom in there. So 1.5 stars or interesting conversations but I'm rounding down for the absolutely terrible editing.
August 27, 2012
This is an excellent guide to be read alongside the experience of participating in and later, leading huddles! I am excited to have the opportunity to begin a process of learning more about this way of discipling people more like Jesus did!
February 23, 2018
The 3rd edition of this book is fantastic! I’ve read it through twice. This is a practical guide in how to build a Discipling culture. I am already building some of the principles into the ministries I oversee.
February 22, 2017
I LOVED the way Breen explained the significance of discipleship. The shape model was very resourceful as I was thinking about the practicality of his principles.
May 14, 2017
Extremely helpful book for doing exactly what it sets out to do- develop a common vocabulary for communicating the principles of disciple making.
July 9, 2019
“BUILDING A DISCIPLING CULTURE” by Mike Breen
An assortment of helpful leadership tools for developing leaders.
Prominent examples include:
• Invitation-Challenge quadrants
• Kairos circle
• The Leadership-Discipleship square.
* The Leadership-Discipleship Square: Here is a helpful model on how to pass on your skills for doing your ministry task to the next person –
1. Step 1: “I do. You watch.”
2. Step 2: “I do. You help.”
3. Step 3: “I help. You do.”
4. Step 4: “You do. I celebrate.”
It takes at least 4 consecutive turns at doing the task together before the new person is ready to go on their own. You may want to swap with others on the roster so as to get 4 back-to-back opportunities to train & mentor your new person.
*Types of cultures we create:
1. High Challenge / Low Invitation. Stressful quadrant. Discouraged culture.
2. Low Challenge / Low Invitation. Boring quadrant. Apathetic culture.
3. Low Challenge / High Invitation. Chaplaincy quadrant. Cozy culture.
4. High Challenge / High Invitation. Discipling quadrant. Empowering culture.
* How We Learn:
“There seem to be three different ways that we learn, but unequivocally, we learn best when there is a dynamic interplay between all three at one time:
1. Classroom/Lecture passing on of information
2. Apprenticeship
3. Immersion
Passing on information is fine, but it is difficult to translate that information into practice. Take, for example, the often used example of learning to ride a bicycle: you could read a book on it and still not be able to ride a bike. For this reason, Breen thinks learning information needs to be coupled with apprenticeship. “In many ways, the practice of apprenticeship is about investment. Someone invests their time, energy, skills and life into ours, teaching us to do what they do.”
We also learn through immersion, where we are immersed in a context where something is used or some skill is practiced. We learn from merely being in that environment. “The key to immersion is having access to the culture you are hoping to shape you.”
The research has shown us, according to Breen, that people learn best when there is an interplay of the three types of learning. I find this to be true, at least from my own experience it has been true.
* Three things we need to build a discipling culture:
1. A discipleship vehicle (or engine): Huddle
2. People need access to your life (discipleship can’t be done at a distance)
3. A discipling language: LifeShapes
…
An assortment of helpful leadership tools for developing leaders.
Prominent examples include:
• Invitation-Challenge quadrants
• Kairos circle
• The Leadership-Discipleship square.
* The Leadership-Discipleship Square: Here is a helpful model on how to pass on your skills for doing your ministry task to the next person –
1. Step 1: “I do. You watch.”
2. Step 2: “I do. You help.”
3. Step 3: “I help. You do.”
4. Step 4: “You do. I celebrate.”
It takes at least 4 consecutive turns at doing the task together before the new person is ready to go on their own. You may want to swap with others on the roster so as to get 4 back-to-back opportunities to train & mentor your new person.
*Types of cultures we create:
1. High Challenge / Low Invitation. Stressful quadrant. Discouraged culture.
2. Low Challenge / Low Invitation. Boring quadrant. Apathetic culture.
3. Low Challenge / High Invitation. Chaplaincy quadrant. Cozy culture.
4. High Challenge / High Invitation. Discipling quadrant. Empowering culture.
* How We Learn:
“There seem to be three different ways that we learn, but unequivocally, we learn best when there is a dynamic interplay between all three at one time:
1. Classroom/Lecture passing on of information
2. Apprenticeship
3. Immersion
Passing on information is fine, but it is difficult to translate that information into practice. Take, for example, the often used example of learning to ride a bicycle: you could read a book on it and still not be able to ride a bike. For this reason, Breen thinks learning information needs to be coupled with apprenticeship. “In many ways, the practice of apprenticeship is about investment. Someone invests their time, energy, skills and life into ours, teaching us to do what they do.”
We also learn through immersion, where we are immersed in a context where something is used or some skill is practiced. We learn from merely being in that environment. “The key to immersion is having access to the culture you are hoping to shape you.”
The research has shown us, according to Breen, that people learn best when there is an interplay of the three types of learning. I find this to be true, at least from my own experience it has been true.
* Three things we need to build a discipling culture:
1. A discipleship vehicle (or engine): Huddle
2. People need access to your life (discipleship can’t be done at a distance)
3. A discipling language: LifeShapes
…
July 20, 2021
I have mixed feelings about this book.
On the negative side:
1. The introduction was pretty... bleh (the techinical term, I believe). I almost gave up in the first 50 pages - I don't even remember what was there, it just didn't say anything new.
2. The book suffers from trying to filter every good principle through a gospel verse that doesn't necessarily relate. Lots of eisegesis!
3. Although it's only one short introductory chapter, Breen promotes the eneagram believing it comes from the desert fathers (via Richard Rohr). It doesn't, it comes form the new age movement, so I'll be spitting out those bones.
On the positive:
1. In the meat of the book, Breen gives you a simple, readily transferable framework and language for doing discipleship.
2. This is a highly relational method.
3. Most importantly, (despite some bad scriptural 'justification' for his method), the process gets people into Scripture.
My church is currently in a 3dm type group (which is why I bought the book) and at the practical level we're finding it very beneficial. I hope that this will instill a discipling culture into the church as we go forward. But being in the group is the key, as Breen says in the book itself, you need to experience a group before you can try implimenting the book.
On the negative side:
1. The introduction was pretty... bleh (the techinical term, I believe). I almost gave up in the first 50 pages - I don't even remember what was there, it just didn't say anything new.
2. The book suffers from trying to filter every good principle through a gospel verse that doesn't necessarily relate. Lots of eisegesis!
3. Although it's only one short introductory chapter, Breen promotes the eneagram believing it comes from the desert fathers (via Richard Rohr). It doesn't, it comes form the new age movement, so I'll be spitting out those bones.
On the positive:
1. In the meat of the book, Breen gives you a simple, readily transferable framework and language for doing discipleship.
2. This is a highly relational method.
3. Most importantly, (despite some bad scriptural 'justification' for his method), the process gets people into Scripture.
My church is currently in a 3dm type group (which is why I bought the book) and at the practical level we're finding it very beneficial. I hope that this will instill a discipling culture into the church as we go forward. But being in the group is the key, as Breen says in the book itself, you need to experience a group before you can try implimenting the book.
June 7, 2019
Although Mike Breen paints a realistic picture of the state of the Western church in regards to the implementation of effective discipleship, I’m hesitant to throw all of my weight behind his theories. I found myself agreeing with the core of his philosophies, but often disagreeing with how he encourages them to be executed. The Word of God is our primary source for knowing and obeying Jesus. I was surprised that Breen doesn’t spend more time emphasizing the importance of helping people learn how to read and apply the Bible. In my experience, this is the backbone of developing spiritual maturity! As a leader in women’s ministry, the number one question I receive from women looking to grow is, “how do I learn to read the Bible?” This can’t be neglected. Breen does do a great job stressing missional living and prayer. Which are equally as important. But in trying to establish healthy discipleship relationships at our church, we will have to look elsewhere for resources on how to train our women to read the Bible.
September 17, 2022
Breem starts from the premise that the effective church is the church that creates disciples. Most churches do a good job of teaching, but the discipling goes beyond that, and integrates the teaching into a life imitative of Jesus' life.
To start the proper process of creating disciples, Breem argues we need a common language of discipling. This is where perhaps the most important part of this work comes in with the introduction of Life Shapes. Life Shapes are geometric configurations such as circles, triangles and the like that map out how we apply the teaching of Jesus to our lives.
From there he lays out what he feels is the best to use the life shapes and how to effectively disciple using what he calls a Huddle. Huddles are different than small groups in that they amp up the game. It is not just study and empathy, but challenging one another and holding each other accountable for the application of the traits and habits of disciples.
All in all, a very good book and well worth the reading.
To start the proper process of creating disciples, Breem argues we need a common language of discipling. This is where perhaps the most important part of this work comes in with the introduction of Life Shapes. Life Shapes are geometric configurations such as circles, triangles and the like that map out how we apply the teaching of Jesus to our lives.
From there he lays out what he feels is the best to use the life shapes and how to effectively disciple using what he calls a Huddle. Huddles are different than small groups in that they amp up the game. It is not just study and empathy, but challenging one another and holding each other accountable for the application of the traits and habits of disciples.
All in all, a very good book and well worth the reading.
June 5, 2018
Building a Discipling Culture lays out a model of discipleship with suggestions for implementing that model in the local church. Breen has a clear conception of the elements of discipleship and the journey that leads to growth as a follower of Jesus. His understanding that a balance of affirmation and challenge is necessary for sustained growth is useful. Further, his model helpfully includes appropriate instruction for implementing accountable discipleship groups. There are weaknesses in the model though. It is mechanical in nature and does not appear to fit the organic nature of spiritual growth. The model is unnecessarily complex and the shape metaphor confusing. While Breen likely considers the shapes a helpful memory device they cannot obscure the fact that his model consists of many lengthy and formulaic lists of characteristics and actions. Breen's teaching on the five-fold ministry is not faithful to the biblical text either. There is much to engage in this book, but it has limited usefulness in the day to day life of the church.
April 22, 2021
A better name for this book would be “Building a Small Group Culture that seeks to evangelize.” This book is not necessarily focused on one on one discipleship, nor does it provide detailed examples as to what that should look like. Rather Breen focuses building a group of people to disciple, so that they may be sent out to do the same. This book argues that its not just another program, yet the entire format is program driven and entirely based on pragmatic thought to retain individuals. There are some good pieces in here for the discipler as he or she disciples an individual. I also appreciate the emphasis on evangelism, and the call for Christians to evangelize for the purpose of making more disciples of Christ. The misleading title, short choppy sentences, the blocked paragraphs (non-traditional writing that refuses to indent at paragraphs and leaves a giant gap between paragraphs), and the unnecessary length of the book force time to give only two stars.
May 4, 2021
Interesting and incredibly practical take on how to make disciples. The book is built around the concept of "Life Shapes" which provide a mechanism for thinking through the various elements of the Christian life and what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Taken together, along with the concept of "huddles" (groups where the discipleship process occurs), it provides a helpful framework for thinking through how we can grow as disciples and help others to do the same.
The one thing I would add, or perhaps wish for as a follow-up, is more specificity or suggestions and examples for how to integrate these concepts into your life as a matter of practice. It would be very easy to work your way through learning these "Life Shapes" and walk away without any difference to your day-to-day life.
The one thing I would add, or perhaps wish for as a follow-up, is more specificity or suggestions and examples for how to integrate these concepts into your life as a matter of practice. It would be very easy to work your way through learning these "Life Shapes" and walk away without any difference to your day-to-day life.
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