January 28, 2013
An evangelical call to disciple making is sent to all the world by the Baptist pastor of the Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Ala. The bestselling author (Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream) sees the potential for making Jesus followers whether the disciple-maker is an ordinary individual or a faraway missionary. "Through modeling the character of Christ, speaking the truth of Christ, and showing the love of Christ, we commend the gospel of Christ to people around us every day," writes Platt. He sees the spreading of the word as "supernatural regeneration" â a rebirth through God's mercy and forgiveness and spiritual indwelling -- rather than a spectator sport that the passive church member attends only on Sunday morning. Submissive church members are superficial. The converted disciple, by contrast, reaches out to find a new way to tell others how to live. His examples exploring the delivery of the gospel in third world countries are much more demanding than modeling the gospel at home. The author issues a concluding challenge to find a way to change the world one person at a time. This book will appeal to evangelical Christians looking for a compelling book on discipleship.