Building a Discipling Culture, by Mike Breen and Steve Cockram is by far one of the landmark books on practical discipleship. The lessons in this work are so precious because they are the result of 30 plus years of life on life discipleship. Instead of focusing on the “ABC’s” of church measurement: attendance, buildings, and cash, Breen and Cockram argue that we should focus on the only thing that Jesus counts- making disciples.
Christ’s words in the Great Commission, command believers to “go” and “make” disciples. There has to be an intentional, missional, and incarnational approach to going into the world and looking for the person of peace, and other future leaders for whom we can make as disciples. The authors advocate a three form learning method that incorporates information, an apprenticeship type access to the teacher, known as imitation, and an immersion experience in doing ministry, where innovation takes place.
The teachings on Lifeshapes and the fivefold ministry are essential to learn how make disciples in this new generation and all their principles are strongly based on biblical theology. Accountability and community are the two driving themes behind making disciples and Building a Discipling Culture.
*Author’s Note: This short blurb was originally written on May 28th, 2012 as a personal reflection on the initial 3dm material. Slight edits were made on January 25th, 2016.
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