Reviewed by: Hope Bolinger, a professional writing major at Taylor University, Upland, Indiana

Introduction

Title: Discipleship that Fits    

Author: Bobby Harrington and Alex Absalom

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: 2016

Format: Print book

Length: 238 pages

OVERVIEW

The church wrestles with discipleship today. The process of “helping people to trust and follow Jesus” (19) is lacking in the modern church because Christians prioritize information over relationships. Authors Harrington and Absalom also argue that people may struggle with discipleship due to contextual misunderstandings. For instance, a person may try to form a deep relationship in a shallow context such as “travelers on the same flight” (52). Or, on the flipside, in a one-on-one experience, persons may withhold information from each other.

     Harrington and Absalom present five different contexts that range in group sizes and relationship depth. They also compare these five areas to Jesus’ ministry. For instance, Jesus exemplifies the personal context (a group of four to twelve people) with his twelve apostles. Harrington and Absalom also offer some teaching and mentoring examples from the Old Testament, including Moses, Daniel, Jacob, and Elijah. Discipleship that Fits provides an intriguing sociological take on a practice that has been in the church since its conception. The book, however, often lacks specific clarity for its target audience, and its format presents several sporadic section changes without smooth transitions.

ASSESSMENT

Rating (1 to 5)

4 out of 5 stars

Suggested Audience

Those wishing to cultivate strong discipleship, particularly pastors

Christian Impact

Jesus commands Christians to make disciples in Matthew 28:19. Discipleship has been implemented by the church since its beginning and it still matters for Christians today. Discipleship that Fits provides examples of fruitful discipleship in the modern context.

Interested in reviewing a book, movie, album, or other type of media for our website? We would love to hear from you! Find out more about how to submit media reviews.