Jonathan K. Dodson - Gospel-Centered Discipleship

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Nothing is more central to the global mission of the church than making disciples. This is at the very center of the gospel. Gospel-Centered Discipleship captures both the heart of the gospel and the essence of discipleship in the proper order. For too long weve put making disciples ahead of a clear understanding of the gospel. In cultures around the world, disciples lean away from the gospel toward religious performance or spiritual license. As a result, disciples burn out or drift from devotion to Jesus. Gospel-Centered Discipleship is an authentic re-centering of discipleship around the gospel of grace, in the context of community, for the mission of God. Dont miss it!

S. Douglas Birdsall, Executive Chair, The Lausanne Movement

Refreshingly honest and realistic, Dodson shares from experience the struggles and the blessings of making disciples. He does not give us a rule book, but gives practical teaching that can help every follower of Christ more effectively live out the gospel and the Great Commission.

Robert Coleman, Distinguished Professor of Evangelism and Discipleship, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Every church planter zealously runs into mission with a mandate from Jesus to make disciples of all nations. But what is a disciple? How are they formed? What needs to be done in order for a new church to make disciples? Dodson does a brilliant job of painting a picture of the head, heart, and hands of a disciple, as well as addressing how they are formed. This book provides a clear target for the church planters mission to make disciples.

Scott Thomas, Founder, Gospel Coach; coauthor, Gospel Coach: Shepherding Leaders to Glorify God

Jonathan strips away a stagnant view of discipleship and replaces it with something so refreshingly honest and deep, you find yourself craving it. This book will redefine all of your relationships with depth and transparency and Christ-centeredness. This isnt just Gods design for discipleshipits how we were designed to live. Jonathan just took discipleship from the spiritually elite to dorm rooms and neighborhoods and coffee shops.

Jennie Allen, author, Stuck: The Places We Get Stuck and the God Who Sets Us Free

Jonathan Dodson is the real deal! After reading the prequel to this book, we asked Jonathan to speak at our annual meeting. He blew us away with his grasp of the gospel and discipleship! If you want to take a deep dive into the mystery and joy of the gospel, this is the book for you. Jonathan will help you fight to keep the gospel the gospel. He will show you how to avoid the traps of performance and license. He will show you how to avoid believing a lie. And, most of all, he will help you to taste the sweetness of Jesus.

Patrick Morley, author, The Man in the Mirror ; CEO, Man in the Mirror

Jonathan has done us a huge favor in writing this book. As I read it, a growing passion to fight sin grew within me. I want to be a card-carrying member of a Fight Club so that in community we can take sin seriously, encourage one another to believe the gospel deeply, and pray for each other to respond to the Holy Spirit passionately. What else can I say? This is an excellent book. Buy it. Read it. Do it.

Steve Timmis, coauthor, Total Church and Everyday Church ; co-director, The Porterbrook Network, United Kingdom

Takes us to the heart of the gospel and true discipleship, reminding us that the fight of faith is done in community in radical dependence on the power of the Spirit. It is a rare book that brings together clear theological thinking, stories of personal experience, and practical application. This book will be helpful to pastors, counselors, leaders, and anyone wanting a practical vision of gospel-centered life. It will surely challenge, convict, and encourage all who pick it up.

Jason Kovacs, Pastor of Counseling, The Austin Stone Community Church

With all of the talk of gospel-centeredness these days, Im thankful to see Jonathan unpack this topic with a clear, compelling, Spirit-empowered approach. He goes beyond just answering the question: What is gospel-centered? to help us see how the gospel of grace really works in the details of everyday life. His clarification of the unhealthy divide between evangelism and discipleship will bring about a more holistic approach to gospel-centered discipleship. I know Jonathan and respect the fact that these are not just concepts or theories, but truths coming out of the practice of his own disciple-making ministry. I trust that this book will serve to further advance the work of discipleship that has the gospel of grace as its foundation.

Jeff Vanderstelt, author, Saturate ; Lead Teaching Pastor, Bellevue Church, Bellevue, WA

Jonathan cuts to the heart of the discipleship crisis we are facing by showing us that discipleship isnt an optional response to Jesus. Rather, its embracing a whole way of following Jesus Christ as Lord in the whole of life. This book will stir your heart and awaken in you the places the Good News is calling to reflect the likeness of Jesus. On top of this, his grace agenda will push you to live out the multiplying principle we see at work in the Great Commission.

Mike Breen, author, Creating a Discipleship Culture ; leader, 3DM Ministries

One of the most healthy trends in the church today is a renewed focus on making disciples. Jonathan Dodson has added an invaluable contribution to that trend. He makes it clear that making disciples must be gospel-centered and must take place in community. But he not only reminds us that this is what should be happening, he tells us how to actually make it happen. This book will give you a practical and proven approach that can work in your ministry setting. Read it carefully, both for its biblical challenge and its hands on approach to ministry.

Stephen Smallman, author, The Walk: Steps for New and Renewed Followers of Jesus

For the longest time, I have been hoping to see two books on discipleship. The first would be a practical resource for churches that, on the one hand, was serious about the kind of discipleship and accountability that are necessary for Christian growth and yet, on the other hand, would put forth the gospel of grace, not legalistic self-improvement, as the key to change. The second book Ive wished for is one that would situate the task of discipleship specifically within the missional calling of the church. I was thrilled to discover that Jonathan Dodson has managed to write both of these books in one. In Gospel-Centered Discipleship , Jonathan pulls together all these different themesgospel, mission, discipleship, church, and Spiritinto an integrated whole. And quite honestly, I dont know a better person for that task.

Abraham Cho, Assistant Pastor, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York

I am grateful for Jonathon Dodsons new book Gospel-Centered Discipleship . He masterfully took the truth and beauty of the gospel and pushed it into an area of Christendom that is typically performance driven. I came away from this book understanding how to think about discipleship in a new way. I also love that the book isnt just theory; Dodson has clearly lived what he is teaching. The truth in this book has built my love for the Holy Spirit. It has challenged my thinking on community and discipleship. And it has effectively pushed my comprehension of the gospel to a new level.