Category Archives: SG Ldrship

Book Review: Small Group Leaders’ Handbook J. Alex Kirk, et al

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Book Review: Small Group Leaders’ Handbook J. Alex Kirk, et al

“Small Group Leaders’ Handbook” is written by seven staff workers with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship from various college campuses.  They came together in a number of ways to collaborate and provide a current view on raising small group leaders, especially for ministry on college campuses.  Over the course of a year, they arrived at the principles and methods described in the book interspersed with their testimonies of reaching and raising up leadership for small groups on college campuses.

Developing leadership is often messy work, but leaders who are proactive and willing to be flexible can see great fruit in what they describe as a transformational community that studies the Bible, prays and participates in God’s mission together. 

I might have thought the book would be seven different approaches or seven different perspectives on small group leadership.  However, they have interacted sufficiently in person and over email and phone to form a consistent approach dealing with various aspects of transformation. Their writing styles are similar. Their stories are engaging.  Their mission is clear: to raise up new spiritual leaders.

I did have difficulty following some of the chapters, because the organization of the material was not as clear as I need.  However, it may be because I like the nuts and bolts in a handbook to be in a clear outline; I don’t like to search for the principles.  The principles are there in each of the chapter, yet they could have been summarized or highlighted more clearly.  That’s likely a personal preference.

I’m grateful for their intent and pursuit of seeking to build the kingdom of Jesus Christ in the formulating years of college students.  I’m grateful for their heart of passion to win students to Jesus Christ and their leadership to follow through the transformation of students’ hearts for Jesus Christ.  May the Lord use this to further His kingdom!

Book Review: Successful Home Cell Groups by Dr. Paul Yonggi Cho

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Book Review: Successful Home Cell Groups by Dr. Paul Yonggi Cho
“Successful Home Cell Groups” by Paul Yonggi Cho is a great testimony of God’s grace in building His church in South Korea and the influence Cho has had around the world.  Dr. Cho has initiated more projects and influenced more lives that likely any other Christian in our age. He is obviously committed to Jesus Christ and making disciples.  He was so focused on building God’s kingdom on earth that he didn’t need to listen to many others about building a church.  His church numbered about one million in 2007 and he has now turned the church to Dr. Lee Yoon.  This book was written in 1981 when the church was only about 150,000.  He set off with dependency on the Lord with goals in mind.  His goal of numbers drove him to see the largest church built in the world.

He based his growth on two things.  First, he realized if he was going to expand beyond the 2400 he saw his church plateau at, he would need to decentralize the authority.  He did this through home cell groups who came under his authority.  He gave cell leaders his message and training on Wednesday nights.  He then expected from them after the Sunday message, they would build up the people with the Word and love them into the group.  It wasn’t love that was just mentioned, but love that had feet to the actions. 

The home cell groups were the means of outreach.  He exhorted his people to reach out to neighbors and love them in tangible ways.  The examples he gives demonstrate the humility of the people under his ministry.  If anyone wanted to join Cho’s church, they first had to sign up to be a part of a cell group.

The second basis of growth was setting goals with numbers.  He made sure people knew the numbers and they submitted to his authority to reach more people.  I wouldn’t want to take away anything that the Lord has done through his ministry, yet the eastern humility and authority orientation of the Korean culture is off the charts and likely assisted in the expansion.  Yet, he has been effective in many other countries around the world.   He also attributes a great deal of his ministry to the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. 

Some might argue about some of his theologies.  I am always amazed at the reality that some people may not see Scripture exactly as I do.  But what I do respect is the humble results of what God has done through Dr. Cho.  It is incredible and astounding.  You will catch a vision for the possibility of home groups if you haven’t been in one before and you’ll be reinforced to press to the upward call if you already are using home groups.

Book Review: Multiply: Disciples making Disciples by Francis Chan

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“Multiply” by Francis Chan is a well-written, engaging book on an overview of the Bible story.  As Francis continues to minister to thousands of people around the world, he has provided an excellent volume to establish the story line for new believers to Christianity and Jesus Christ.  It is written so that anyone can read and understand the thrust of the message.

What is especially helpful in the book are the three parts preceding the overview of the Old and New Testaments.  The first part describes “Living as a Disciple Maker” and highlights from the beginning our responsibility to Jesus Christ to grow and make disciples ourselves.  The second part describes “Living as the Church” and the importance of life in the church, especially when the church is filled with imperfect people.  The third part describes “How to Study the Bible” and gives excellent principles of how to study and prayerfully obey it.

The last two sections cover an overview of the Old and New Testaments.  He works through important aspects of each Testament in God’s story of creation, fall and redemption.  His gospel presentation is clear; his emphasis on the sin failure of man is evident.  And he ensures God is glorified as the only means of redemption from man’s fallen state.

I appreciate how in the section on “How to Study the Bible” and specifically “Studying Logically,” he emphasizes interpreting Scripture by finding the plain meaning of the text.  He wisely places emphasis on the context and understanding the difference between interpretation and application.  His next two portions define “Find the plain meaning” and “Take the Bible Literally.” (pp. 129-133)  I agree with him completely.  These are accurate tools for interpretation. 

However, it doesn’t appear that he does that in his overview of the Old and New Testaments.  For example, it appears he takes the prophecies of Ezekiel 36, which he identifies given to Israel, but applies them directly to believers in the Church (pp. 279-280).  Those are prophecies given to Israel and will be fulfilled with Israel when the Lord comes back at the Second Coming.  There is truth about how the Holy Spirit will transform hearts of unbelievers in the Church Age, but not in fulfillment of Ezekiel 36.  Another example is identifying Jesus’ return at the Second Coming to be the end of the world (p. 316-318).  If a person looks for the plain meaning and interprets literally, Jesus’ return at the Second Coming precedes a thousand year millennium, which Francis does not identify.  Francis graciously identifies differences in end time perspectives (p. 317), but he takes a symbolic view of interpretation for many things rather than take a plain, literal interpretation. 

With that being said, Chan’s passion for discipleship and reaching the world for Christ is almost unparalleled.  I am convicted in reading this volume and pray that I might also seek to reach the world for Christ to the extent or manner that Francis Chan has.

Book Review: Real-life Discipleship by Jim Putman

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In “Real-life Discipleship”, Jim Putman records the strategy by which churches can build themselves through making disciples.  The emphasis is placed on what God does through ordinary people available and faithful to God’s calling to make disciples.  The challenge exists, but the process is simple enough for any person feeling “inadequate, fearful” or like a “failure” in life.

Discipleship does not just happen.  It won’t happen by accident, except in a few cases like the apostle Paul and Billy Graham.  Churches must become intentional about building up disciples.  When the Biblical foundation is secure in a relational environment, then the reproductive process can grow people spiritually. 

Putman outlines well the spiritual growth process through five stages of living.  The first is the spiritually dead and then four stages of the Christian: infant, child, young adult and spiritual parent.  He makes the case well, because several of the chapters include “the phrase from the stage” that identifies how far along the spiritual growth level a Christian has grown.  A Christian may have been converted for 60 years, but if he is still saying things like “Why do those new people have to come into our small group?” it’s obvious that he is still in the spiritual child stage.  This assessment is essential to help people understand where they are in the Christian life, so they can grow up and consider how to become spiritual parents and reproduce growing disciples.

This book could have been outlined more clearly.  At times it could have been more succinct, but the content is so refreshing and focused on a missing ingredient of multiplication.  Jim has a laser focus on what his church is supposed to do and every Christian ought to consider two questions.  First, “What is my goal?”  And secondly, “What am I producing?” 

Book Review: Church Is a Team Sport by Jim Putman

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In “Church Is a Team Sport”, Jim Putman takes his wrestling background and shows how important the “team” concept is in church ministry.  As a Preacher’s Kid, Jim took off on his own tangent walking away from God, but God brought him back to Himself through Jim’s own pastoring father.  After finishing his schooling, he began in youth ministry and developed a great youth group, because he spent time with them, loved them and took a keen interest in them individually and as a group.  After eight years in a couple youth ministries that were growing, but the adult ministry was not, two couples from northern Idaho asked him to plant a church.  He had no desire to plant a church, but through many obvious events, he returned to where he had roots from his college days.

His plan was simple.  Focus on small groups that had a consistent system for growth.  Coach the people to see they are the players, not the spectators.  Help people see they can lead others and reproduce themselves through small groups.  With coaches overseeing the small group leaders, those coaches provided weekly support and encouragement to the small group leaders.  Those small group leaders looked to reproduce themselves in the people that were growing.  As leaders grew, they were encouraged to serve and look to become disciple-making people themselves.

Jim’s sports background permeates the entire book. The reality is we are made to function on the Lord’s team in His body working together in the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  Whether Jim discusses from the “locker room” to the “board room” or working with the same “playbook” he draws the reader into seeing how God can transform lives immediately, because it’s not based on religion, but authentic relationships in a safe environment of a small group.  He certainly inspires you to want to become a champion disciple-maker.

If you want to continue only attending church and going about your business, I would suggest you not read the book.  The principles are infectious and motivating for any background or ability to rise up and say, “I can do that [discipleship] (in His power).”

Book Review: Truth that Sticks by Avery T. Willis Jr. and Mark Snowden

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In “Truth That Sticks” Avery Willis walks through the change in American culture from a reading society to an oral learning society.  I accept his statistics and points, but am unable to verify them.  I can, however, say that people in my community and church do not read as much as they did 20 years ago.  People seem to be far more oriented to television, the internet and texting.  I also can say that people enjoy stories and always have. 

Avery’s desire is to present “How to Communicate Velcro Truth in a Teflon World.”  God’s truth is the crux of life, but our post-modern society is quick to choose only what it wants and it acts like it is the final judge of what truth is.  Hence, the possibility and importance of telling stories to answer questions for the world.  His appendix, “Why the Johnnys of America Can’t, Don’t, or Won’t Read” provides a good explanation why and how our society has changed in learning style.

People often think telling stories is for children.  I don’t think someone like a Garrison Keillor would agree with them.  Many of you will remember great storytellers like Mark Twain, JD Salinger, Edgar Allen Poe, John Updike, F Scott Fitzgerald, Stephen King and Washington Irving.  I find people normally remember one of my illustrations far longer than they remember an expositional outline.  I would not, however, exchange exposition of God’s Word to proclaim the truth or provide answers to life’s questions.  Yet, could story-telling be an essential ingredient to reaching people AND preparing leaders to multiply in making disciples?

Avery Willis has been working with a church in Post Falls, Idaho, called Real Life Ministries.  They’ve been able to expand a church plant to 700 small groups in ten years in part due to story- telling in their small groups.  They also have a laser focus on their purpose and what they are trying to produce.  People with little to no biblical background are able to read through a passage many times and tell it in a story to a small group and then the group goes back over the story looking at the biblical passage to note what was added or left out and the leader facilitates several questions regarding the story.

This is not about dumbing down the truth or helping people become lazy regarding Bible study. It’s about reaching the world of people who need a leader to help them become disciples of Jesus Christ.  It’s also about helping people remember the content of holy Scriptures in a way that they see their role in multiplying disciples of Jesus Christ to reach the world