Other Discipleship Links

Additional resources are listed below to enrich your study as a follower of Jesus. You’ll find articles and books for Year 1 listed below. Year 2 resources are listed separately for each module: Prayer, Worship, Reading the Bible, Overcoming Sin and Living in Community.

Recommended Books

Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, Hendrickson Publishers, 2004.

From the back cover: The central task of the Christian life is simply this: learning day by day to live like Jesus. And for practical guidance in so daunting a task countless millions of believers over 600 years have cherished The Imitation of Christ. Thomas à Kempis’s thoughtful and practical meditations focusing on Christ’s life and teaching point the way to daily discipleship that draws Christians ever closer to the mind of Christ.

David Augsburger, Dissident Discipleship, Brazo Publishing, 2006.

From the publisher: In Dissident Discipleship, David Augsburger discerns two dominant strains of spirituality in the modern church. The first is focused on self-growth and self-enlightenment, and the second is focused almost entirely vertically by encouraging a deeper personal relationship with God. While there is a need for care of self and a deeper relationship with God, Augsburger shows that churches must nurture a third type of spirituality that combines the best of the other two types and adds to them a horizontal commitment to love of neighbor manifesting itself in service.

George Barna, Growing True Disciples, WaterBrook Press, 2001.

From the publisher: Christ’s command to the church is clear: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations. . . .” It is in building disciples—helping others to embrace Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, mature in him, and then lead others to do the same—that the Kingdom grows. And when the Kingdom grows, churches do too.

In Growing True Disciples, respected author and researcher George Barna helps pastors and leaders assess how their churches are doing in fulfilling their role as disciplemakers. And he reveals models and examples that will equip churches to dramatically increase their effectiveness. As a result, your church can begin to see more involved members who want to live out their faith in submission to God and joyfully share their resources to fulfill Christ’s commission.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship, Touchstone, 1995.

From the publisher: What can the call to discipleship, the adherence to the word of Jesus, mean today to the businessman, the soldier, the laborer, or the aristocrat? What did Jesus mean to say to us? What is his will for us today? Drawing on the Sermon on the Mount, Dietrich Bonhoeffer answers these timeless questions by providing a seminal reading of the dichotomy between "cheap grace" and "costly grace." "Cheap grace," Bonhoeffer wrote, "is the grace we bestow on ourselves . . . grace without discipleship. . . . Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the girl which must be asked for, the door at which a man must know. . . . It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life.

Lee Camp, Mere Discipleship: Radical Christianity in a Rebellious World, Brazos Press, 2003.

From the publisher: In the clear and compelling fashion of C. S. Lewis's classic Mere Christianity, Lee Camp here sets forth his vision of what it means to truly follow Christ in the twenty-first century. Drawing on a sound biblical framework of what disciples believe and therefore what they should do, Camp challenges Christians to put obedience to Jesus as Lord ahead of allegiances to all earthly authorities be they nationalistic, political, economic, or cultural. To Camp, that means loving one's enemies, not killing them; evangelizing by showing Jesus, not just talking about him; and allowing God's grace to transform one's notions of wealth.

Bill Hull (with Dallas Willard), Choose the Life: Exploring a Faith that Embraces Discipleship, Baker Books, 2004.

From the publisher: Get ready to explore a faith that does not separate salvation from discipleship, but embraces the seamless journey from conversion to transformation. In Choose the Life, discipleship expert Bill Hull breaks new ground, challenging what we've made of the gospel. He believes that the Great Commission has more to do with spiritual depth than strategies and structures. Jesus is calling us to choose the life of thinking as he thought, living as he lived, loving as he loved, ministering as he ministered, and leading as he led. Anything less is Christ-less Christianity.

Bill Hull, The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Making Followers of Christ, Navpress Publishing Group, 2006.

From the back cover: The Complete Book of Discipleship is the definitive A to Z resource on discipleship for every Christian. It pulls together in to one convenient, comprehensive volume relevant topics such as spiritual growth, transformation, spiritual disciplines and discipleship in the local church and beyond.

Henri Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus, Crossroad/Faith & Formation, 1993.

From Audiofile Review: The late Dutch priest and author taught at Notre Dame, Harvard, and Yale before being called to lead a community for mentally handicapped people called L'Arche Daybreak. Moving from academia to raw emotional communion with the intellectually impaired taught him lessons he couldn't otherwise learn. He tells us that followers of Jesus are often lured by power into a style of leadership that is decidedly not God-like. "It seems easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life." All Christians should hear this heartfelt, gently narrated memoir, a wonderful collection of reflections.

Greg Ogden, Discipleship Essentials: A Guide to Building Your Life in Christ, InterVarsity Press, 1998.

From the publisher: We grow in Christ as we seek him together. Jesus' own pattern of disciple-making was to be intimately involved with others and allow life to rub against life. By gathering in twos or threes to study the Bible and encourage one another, we most closely follow Jesus' example with the twelve disciples.

This workbook is a tool designed to help you follow the pattern Jesus drew for us. Working through it will deepen your knowledge of essential Christian teaching and strengthen your faith.

Greg Ogden, Transforming Discipleship: Making Disciples a Few at a Time, Intervarsity Press, 2003.

From the publisher: In Transforming Discipleship Greg Ogden introduces his vision for discipleship, emphasizing that solutions will not be found in large-scale, finely-tuned, resource-heavy programs.

Instead, Ogden recovers Jesus' method of accomplishing life change by investing in just a few people at a time. And he shows how discipleship can become a self-replicating process with ongoing impact from generation to generation.

Biblical, practical and tremendously effective, Transforming Discipleship provides the insights and philosophy of ministry behind Ogden's earlier work, Discipleship Essentials. Together, these ground-breaking books have the potential to transform how your church transforms the lives of its people.

John Ortberg, The Life You’ve Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People, Zondervan, 2002.

From the publisher: The heart of Christianity is transformation—a relationship with God that impacts not just our “spiritual lives,” but every aspect of living. John Ortberg calls readers back to the dynamic heartbeat of Christianity—God’s power to bring change and growth—and reveals both the how and why of transformation.

As with a marathon runner, the secret to winning the race lies not in trying harder, but in training consistently—training with the spiritual disciplines. The disciplines are neither taskmasters nor an end in themselves. Rather they are exercises that build strength and endurance for the road of growth. The fruit of the Spirit—joy, peace, kindness, etc.—are the signposts along the way.

Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society, InterVarsity Press, 2000.

From the publisher: As a society, we are no less obsessed with the immediate than when Eugene Peterson first wrote this Christian classic. If anything, email and the Internet may have intensified our quest for the quick fix. But Peterson's time-tested prescription for discipleship remains the same—a long obedience in the same direction.

Tucked away in the Hebrew Psalter, Peterson discovered "an old dog-eared songbook," the Songs of Ascents that were sung by pilgrims on their way up to worship in Jerusalem. In these songs (Psalms 120-134) Peterson finds encouragement for modern pilgrims as we learn to grow in worship, service, joy, work, happiness, humility, community and blessing.

Dallas Willard, The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus’ Essential Teachings on Discipleship, Harper One, 2006.

From the publisher: Willard boldly challenges the thought that we can be Christians without being disciples, or call ourselves Christians without applying this understanding of life in the Kingdom of God to every aspect of life on earth. He calls on believers to restore what should be the heart of Christianity—being active disciples of Jesus Christ. Willard shows us that in the school of life, we are apprentices of the Teacher whose brilliance encourages us to rise above traditional church understanding and embrace the true meaning of discipleship—an active, concrete, 24/7 life with Jesus.

Wright, N.T., Following Jesus: Biblical Reflections on Discipleship, Eerdman’s Publishing Company, 1995.

The twelve exhilarating meditations in this volume explore what it truly means to follow Jesus today. Part 1 outlines the essential messages of six major New Testament books—Hebrews, Colossians, Matthew, John, Mark, and Revelation. Part 2 examines six key New Testament themes—resurrection, rebirth, temptation, hell, heaven, and new life—and considers their significance for the lives of present-day disciples.

Year 2: Prayer

My House Shall Be a House of Prayer:Jonathan Graf and Lani C. Hinkle, editors

Johanthan L. Graf, Lani C. Hinkle, My House Shall Be a House of Prayer, NavPress, 2001.

From the publisher: This small book answers the questions of how to encourage others to catch the vision of becoming a praying church. . . . Offers practical helps and suggestions for pastors, prayer leaders, and intercessors who want to see their churches devoted to prayer.

Douglas A. Kamstra, The Praying Church Idea Book: Practical Ways Your Church Can Pray, Faith Alive Christian Resources, 2001.

From the publisher: This companion to the popular Praying Church Sourcebook includes dozens of prayer strategies that can work in your church. Also includes sample worship services, retreat plans, and a comprehensive list of prayer initiatives.

Cheryl Sacks, The Prayer Saturated Church: A Comprehensive Handbook for Prayer Leaders, NavPress, 2007.

From the publisher: More and more churches are recognizing the importance of prayer for life and power in the church. But making prayer more foundational is a challenging task for pastors and prayer leaders. The Prayer-Saturated Church provides all the step-by-step, practical help any pastor or prayer leader needs to mobilize, organize, and motivate believers to make their church a house of prayer.

The Joy of Prayer: A 40 Day Devotional to Invigorate Your Prayer Life by Al Vander Griend, Harvest Prayer Ministries, 2007

From Faith Alive Christian Resources: Are you aching for more joy in prayer? Have you heard God’s voice? Are you hungry for more of God? This new guide will provide you with clear answers to persistent questions you have about prayer. Dr. Alvin Vander Griend addresses challenging prayer issues in a clear and easy-to-understand way. Each of the 40 devotions unpacks a vital truth about prayer from Scripture. Discover down-to-earth prayer practices that can make prayer a joy.

Alvin Vander Griend, Love to Pray: A 40 Day Devotional for Deepening Your Prayer Life, Harvest Prayer Ministries, 2007. This resource includes a devotional, Study Guide, DVD and a Resource Kit.

From Faith Alive Christian Resources: A 40-day study to help you grow stronger in prayer and pray more effectively. Written by the co-author of the popular Praying Church Sourcebook, this course provides instruction about prayer from Scripture, stimulates growth through personal reflection, and invites you to wait on the prompting of the Lord. Learn to love to pray!

Alvin J. VanderGriend, Edith Bajema, The Praying Church Sourcebook, Second edition, Faith Alive Christian Resources, 1997.

From the publisher: This best-selling resource helps your church come alive in prayer! Learn how to use prayer in worship, how to teach people to pray, how to set up prayer class and prayer meetings, and much more. Includes a complete prayer director to help churches an individuals develop a vital, effective life of prayer.

Philip Yancey, Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?, Zondervan, 2006.

From the publisher: Philip Yancey probes the very heartbeat, the most fundamental, challenging, perplexing, and deeply rewarding aspect of our relationship with God: prayer. What is prayer? Does it change God’s mind or ours or both? This book is an invitation to communicate with God the Father who invites us into an eternal partnership through prayer.

Year 2: Worship

Books about Worship

Plantinga, Cornelius Jr. and Sue A. Rozeboom. Discerning the Spirit: A Guide to Thinking about Christian Worship Today, Eerdmans, 2003.

From the publisher: Christian worship in North America has undergone great change in recent years. But change always brings uncertainty—at times even division—about what constitutes “authentic worship.” This important book reviews a wide variety of current perspectives and offers a fresh outlook on the contemporary practice of Christian worship.

Van Dyk, Leanne, ed. A More Profound Alleluia: Theology and Worship in Harmony, Eerdmans,, 2004.

From the publisher: Two questions lie at the heart of this rich, suggestive book: What are the theological implications of worship? and What are the liturgical implications of theology? Convinced that worship and theology are integrally related, the authors of A More Profound Alleluia show in practical terms how

Below are listed two of the books from The Alban Institute Vital Worship, Healthy Congregations Series. “Each book in this special series (published by the Alban Institute in cooperation with the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship) is designed to reflect the kind of vibrant, creative energy and patient reflection that will promote worship that is both relevant and profound.”

Galbreath, Paul. Leading from the Table, 2008.

From the publisher: This book is a series of reflections about the way prayer at the communion table provides a pattern for our lives. The goal is to shift our understanding of table prayer from a formula led by the pastor to a road map that highlights intersections between the practices at the table and the daily practices in the life of the community that gathers around the table. When congregations are grounded in word, water, bread, and wine, then the transformative power of God’s Spirit has room to work among us. Then we are blessed with a community that will sustain us to work for justice and peace in this world.

Gilbert, Marlea, Christopher Grundy, Eric T. Myers, and Stephanie Perdew. The Work of the People: What We Do in Worship and Why, 2006.

From the publisher: The Work of the People simply and clearly explains the structure of worship, the actions and words we use in liturgy, the environment in which it all happens—in other words, what we are doing and why. This book will guide congregations in worshiping in a way that encourages participants’ spiritual growth, welcomes new participants into faith, and sends people out as the body of Christ to transform the world. Built around a basic service—gathering, service of the Word, Eucharist, and sending—this book is both theological and practical, and it encourages all worshipers’ active participation in Spirit-led worship of the God of all creation.

Worship Curriculum for Children and Youth

Keeley, Robert J and Laura Keeley. Together We Worship: A Curriculum for 4th - 6th grade, Christian Schools International, 2008.
From the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship: How can children be welcomed and engaged in worship as members of the body of Christ? How can we rediscover their gifts of participation and leadership? This curriculum identifies four elements of worship and provides activities, worksheets, and audio resources for teaching them in the classroom setting.

Systsma, Mary and Jane Vogel. Sunday Morning Live: How and Why We Worship, Faith Alive Christian Resources, 2003.

From the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship: Like most of us, high school teens want their Sunday morning worship to be genuine, enthusiastic, lively, and—most of all—God-glorifying. Sunday Morning Live builds on those expectations while at the same time teaching teens the principles of worship in the Reformed/Presbyterian tradition. In six sessions, it offers hands-on, experiential learning that keeps students involved, with multisensory content that's been field-tested with a real youth group.

Discover Worship

Walk With Me: Discover Worship, Faith Alive Christian Resources, 2006.

From the publisher: A new study for grades 6-8 on how and why we worship together. Discover Worship includes sessions on Worship, Baptism, Profession of Faith/Confirmation, and The Lord’s Supper.

Year 2: Reading the Bible

Books about Reading the Bible

The Drama of Scripture

Bartholomew,Craig and Michael Goheen. The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story, Baker Academic, 2004.

From the publisher: Craig Bartholomew and Michael Goheen provide an engaging overview of the story line and theology of the Bible. As the authors suggest in their introduction, it is only as we read and appropriate the Bible “as our story” that we fully understand it and allow it to have authority over us. As we enter into the story of the Bible, we find God revealed there and are called to participate in his continuing activity. The biblical story, then, is foundational to Christian thinking and living.

The Divine Mentor

Cordeiro, Wayne. The Divine Mentor: Growing Your Faith as You Sit at the Feet of the Savior, Bethany House, 2007.

From the publisher: You will discover how to enjoy a dynamic, vital, and intimate relationship with God as you learn to hear him speak daily through the Bible. You'll embark on an adventure that will introduce you to his handpicked mentors, men and women who may save your health, your marriage, your ministry, and your future. Wayne Cordeiro challenges you to develop a lifelong habit—the one thing Jesus says is truly necessary.

How to Read the Bible Book by Book

Fee, Gordon D., and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible Book by Book, Zondervan, 2002.

From the back cover: Reading the Bible need not be a haphazard journey through strange and bewildering territory. Like an experienced tour guide, How to Read the Bible Book by Book takes you by the hand and walks you through the Scriptures. For each book of the Bible, the authors start with a quick snapshot, then expand the view to help you better understand its key element and how it fits into the grand narrative of the Bible.

How to Read the Bible for All It's Worth

Fee, Gordan D. and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth, Zondervan, 2003.

From the back cover: Understanding the Bible isn’t for the few, the gifted, the scholarly. The Bible is accessible. It’s meant to be read and comprehended by everyone, from armchair reader to seminary students. A few essential insights into the Bible can clear up a lot of misconceptions and help you grasp the meaning of Scripture and its application to your twenty-first century life.

Eat This Book

Peterson, Eugene. Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading, Eerdmans, 2006.

From the Publisher: Eat This Book challenges us to read the Scripture on their own terms, as God’s revelation, and to live them as we read them. With warmth and wisdom, Peterson offers greatly needed, down-to-earth counsel on spiritual reading. In these pages he draws readers into a fascinating conversation on the nature of language, the ancient practice of lectio divina, and the role of Scripture translations.

So Much More

Rienstra, Debra. So Much More: An Invitation to Christian Spirituality, Jossey Bass, 2005.

From the publisher: What are the mysteries at the heart of Christian faith? Why do they matter? How can they transform our lives? Debra Rienstra answers these questions and many more in her evocative exploration of Christian life and faith. Anyone who wishes to understand Christianity better will welcome this genuine, heartfelt account of basic Christian beliefs and practices. A free study guide is also available.

Simply Christian

Wright, N.T. Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense, Harper One, 2006.

From the publisher: Why do we expect justice? Why do we crave spirituality? Why are we attracted to beauty? Why are relationships often so painful? And how will the world be made right? These are not simply perennial questions all generations must struggle with, but, according to N.T. Wright, are the very echoes of a voice we dimly perceive but deeply long to hear. In fact, these questions take us to the heart of who God is and what he wants from us.
Simply Christian walks the reader through the Christian faith step by step and question by question. With simple yet exciting and accessible prose, Wright challenges skeptics by offering explanations for even the toughest doubt-filled dilemmas, leaving believers with a reason for renewed faith. For anyone who wants to travel beyond the controversies that can obscure what the Christian faith really stands for, this simple book is the perfect vehicle for that journey.

Year 2: Overcoming Sin

Books about Overcoming Sin

Buechner,Frederick. Wishful Thinking: A Seekers ABC , HarperOne, 1993.
From the publisher: In Wishful Thinking, the first book in his much-loved lexical trilogy, Frederick Buechner puts the language of God, the universe, and the human spirit under his wry linguistic microscope. In his often ironic and always keen-sighted reflections on such terms as agnostic, envy, love, and sin, he invites us to look at these everyday words in new and enlightening ways. Freshly revised and expanded for this edition, Wishful Thinking is a "beguiling" [Time] adventure in language for the restless believer, the doubter, and all who love words.

Epstein Joseph. Envy: The Seven Deadly Sins, Oxford University Press, 2006.

From the publisher: Malice that cannot speak its name, cold-blooded but secret hostility, impotent desire, hidden rancor and spite—all cluster at the center of envy. Envy clouds thought, writes Joseph Epstein, clobbers generosity, precludes any hope of serenity, and ends in shriveling the heart. Of the seven deadly sins, he concludes, only envy is no fun at all.

Foster,Richard. Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony in a Complex World, Harper One, 2005.
From the publisher: Written in the same warm, accessible style as Richard Foster's best-selling Celebration of Discipline, Freedom of Simplicity articulates a creative, more human style of living and points the way for Christians to make their lives "models of simplicity." Foster provides a way to rethink our priorities and to "seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness." He shows us how to live in harmony with the rich complexity of life while stressing the relation of simplicity to prayer, solitude, and all the Christian disciplines.

Year 2: Living in Community

Life Together By Dietrich Bonhoeffer Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community. Harper One, 1978.
From the publisher: After his martyrdom at the hands of the Gestapo in 1945, Dietrich Bonhoeffer continued his witness in the hearts of Christians around the world. His Letters and Papers from Prison became a prized testimony to Christian faith and courage, read by thousands. Now in Life Together we have Pastor Bonhoeffer's experience of Christian community. This story of a unique fellowship in an underground seminary during the Nazi years reads like one of Paul's letters. It gives practical advice on how life together in Christ can be sustained in families and groups. The role of personal prayer, worship in common, everyday work, and Christian service is treated in simple, almost biblical words. Life Together is bread for all who are hungry for the real life of Christian fellowship.

The Connecting Church by Randy Frazee Frazee, Randy. The Connecting Church, Zondervan, 2001.
From the publisher: The development of meaningful relationships, where every member carries a significant sense of belonging, is central to what it means to be the church. So why do many Christians feel disappointed and disillusioned with their efforts to experience authentic community? Despite the best efforts of pastors, small group leaders, and faithful lay persons, church too often is a place of loneliness rather than connection.
Church can be so much better. So intimate and alive. The Connecting Church tells you how. The answer may seem radical today, but it was a central component of life in the early church. First-century Christians knew what it meant to live in vital community with one another, relating with a depth and commitment that made "the body of Christ" a perfect metaphor for the church. What would it take to reclaim that kind of love, joy, support, and dynamic spiritual growth? Read this book and find out.