Transformation: Discipleship that Turns Lives, Churches, and the World Upside Down

by Bob Roberts Jr.

Transformation lays the groundwork for what church and Christian community can become in this new century. Author and pastor Bob Roberts Jr. is one of the architects of this unique approach to Christianity—based on biblical and missional discipleship—that he calls T-Life (transformed life), which leads to a T-World (transformed world). Ever since Jesus' commission to make disciples in his name, Christianity has transformed lives and the world at large. To those watching, it must have looked like an upstart religion led by a group of men, most of whom were martyred for their beliefs. The voice of secular culture today is no louder and no more indulgent than it was in those days. And yet much of the Western church has settled for becoming just another mass media market that's adding to the noise, instead of a movement that continues to turn the world upside down. Drawing inspiration from early church history and the emerging church in the developing world, Roberts envisions a new way of engaging the local church to achieve common goals. He calls In fact, all this begins with a growing, interactive relationship with God that includes personal and corporate worship. This, in turn, results in community. As community serves others, transformation has both a global and local impact and creates transformation in the world. Transformation redefines the focus and practice of the church, not from external bells and whistles, but from the internal transformation of the very character of its people.

Genres: Christian

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 2010

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Transformation" is targeted at pastors to encourage them to create a church culture focused on transformation that impacts "lives, churches, and the world." It's easy to understand and has some good points (which I've also read in other books). It also has a few points that I haven't heard before, especially regarding church planting. I'd recommend this book to pastors more interested in seeing an increase in transformed lives than in the purely numerical growth of their church.

The various chapters were about: everyone is a missionary (through their "normal" work); transformation starts on the inside and works out; transformation comes about through the following relationships: you & God, you & a Christian community, and you reaching the world through your job.

How the church can impact the non-Christian community around them: have members live Christianity as a lifestyle (living dependent on & "tuned in" to God); affect both local and world-wide communities; plant new churches with the intent that those churches will also plant new churches; work with other churches; and support diversity within the church (so everyone is using their strengths to complete kingdom work).

I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.