Go: Returning Discipleship to the Front Lines of Faith by Preston Sprinkle

Go: Returning Discipleship to the Front Lines of Faith Reviews

• 
  Justin

  I was disappointed in this one. I think Sprinkle's use of the Barna/Navigators study was useful and revealing, but it primarily revealed what many of us already suspected. Sprinkle did a good job in expressing some good thinking on the subject, but I was expecting something much more practical. Part of the solution seems to be "be careful with your programs," so I wasn't looking for new programs to implement. Instead, though, it felt like a smart summation of what's going on, and something many of us would agree with, but I wanted it to go deeper into specific ideas about what to do with this information.
• 
  Mark Evans

  About the author: Preston Sprinkle is a professor, speaker, and a New York Times bestselling author. He earned a Ph.D. in New Testament from Aberdeen University in Scotland (2007), and he’s been a professor of theology at Cedarville University (OH), Nottingham University (England), and Eternity Bible College (CA and ID). Preston is currently a full-time author, speaker, and teacher…Preston loves communicating Christian truths with thoughtfulness, honesty and grace. He is passionate about approaching topics that everyone wants to know about, but no one wants to talk about…Preston has written several books and dozens of articles. He loves to bridge the gap between the ivory tower and the pew by writing on controversial topics in an accessible and engaging way… Preston and his wife, Christine, live in Boise, Idaho, with their three daughters and son.
  
  The information above has been copied from Preston’s personal website.
  
  So Many Great Quotes
  
  “Without an authentic reliance on God’s unmerited delight, we cannot follow the sinless Savior. Unless God stubbornly pursues us-which he does-we simply can’t pursue him.” (p. 26)
  
  “Jesus is far less threatened by our doubts than we are. He knows how fragile our faith actually is-even if we try to spackle over our weakness with good Christian performance.” (p. 32)
  
  “A performance-based church environment will prevent disciples from genuinely wrestling with the deep issues of life-the things that cause them to doubt.” (p. 34)
  
  “Christian accountability should never shame someone into obedience or make them feel unloved by God.” (p. 37)
  
  “When two (or three, or four) broken people come together and have nothing to hide, no one to impress, and no plastic image that they’re trying to put on, it becomes so much easier to engage in honest relationships. (p.39)
  
  “Churches need to resist being controlled by fear-driven rhetoric and to explore ways in which they can nurture and train people to think critically about matters of faith and obedience.” (p. 80)
  
  “The church has done a poor job at thoughtfully engaging the present issues of the day. From science to sexuality, Christian are being told what to think, not how to think.” (p. 98)
  
  “The church needs to be a safe place to dialogue. We can’t be scared of hard questions, and we need to stop giving prepackaged, canned responses to complex issues.” (p. 105) We love to hear ourselves talk, and we keep regurgitating dogmatic answers to complex questions.” (p. 105)
  
  “As image bearers, all possess gifts and talents that should be used to further God’s kingdom. Yet people often feel stifled or forced to fit into a few prepackaged programs that are created from the top down.” (p. 121)
  
  “Only Jesus can accomplish ethnic reconciliation-tearing down walls of division and animosity and forming a unified body of Jesus followers.” (p. 129)
  
  “If all I do is read Scripture through my white middle-class, male lenses, and if I pursue God in a community with other white, middle class men, I’m bound to miss out the fullness of God, which is best revealed through a diverse community of image bearers. We’re all prone to think about God through the homogeneous lenses we’ve grown up with.” (p. 139)
  
  “It just seems that we’ve created an expensive machine called “church” that’s so dependent upon money (and lots of it) that it’s hard to sustain or reproduce. And the return-making disciples who make disciples-has been far less than what we should expect.” (p. 150)
  
  Discipleship Cannot Happen Apart From Relationships (p. 44)
  
  Preston wrote Go in response to the books Soul Searching and The State of Discipleship. He did consult other resources, but these two titles he refers to most often. The writers (Christian Smith, Melinda Lundquist Denton) of Soul Searching investigate the large number of millennials who have left the church. The State of Discipleship is a recent Barna study which illuminated the lack of consistent church growth, proper biblical worldview, and biblical discipleship. Preston concerned, found inspiration, and Go is the product of much research, critical thinking, and heart.
  
  Discipleship has been a popular topic for several years, or more. However, with all the research and study the church as a whole has been ineffective at implementing many solutions. I have read about solutions in this book and others. But discipleship seems to be a minor concern to the majority and a major concern to the minority. As Preston points out in the book, many churches and leaders are more interested in efficiency and survival. Many churches have become non communal communities. (p. 69) He even dedicated a chapter to the alarming segregation that takes place within our churches, “The Most Segregated Hour Of The Week.” (p. 127-145)
  
  Preston provides heart wrenching statistics and creative solutions. I have read several other books about discipleship. I don’t believe that Preston offers much new insight, the same information has been going around for years. The book is short in length and easy to read. He uses subtitles, which is great because it helps readers to focus on the main point, they also help to navigate through the book. Relative comments and paragraphs of others are inserted into the chapters, blocked off. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a fresh creative way to minister or anyone who wants to know what discipleship looks like. Preston writes, “like many Christian buzzwords, discipleship terms clutter the church airwaves, yet few people actually understand what they mean.” (p. 5)
  
  Every now and then I read a book where I feel that I really sync with the author. As I read, I notice similar thoughts that I have had, or even things that I have said. I’m always enthusiastic when this happens, I think to myself, there are others who feel the way I do. We share the commonality of loving community and at the same time love the alone time that we experience in our thoughts and books. Preston did not coin the word “outlier” but he used it to identify people like himself (myself). Preston transparently wrote about his own struggles and concerns.
  
  In exchange for an honest review, Tyndall Blog Network has provided me a copy of this book. I have given an honest review.
  
• 
  Benjamin Finley

  Appropriately radical
  
  I love a good critique on the American church. The last part of the book is dedicated to it, and I loved every second.
  
  Who should read this book: Anyone with church hurt, any church leader, and anyone who is struggling with the difference between a Christian and a disciple of Jesus.
  
  It’s a great first step out of Americanized Christianity and into biblical Jesus following.
  
  #stoked
• 
  Katherine Jones

  I’ll be honest: Go was not a very enjoyable read for me. Not because of its quality, not in any way. On the contrary, it’s a superbly well-executed, insightful dissemination of a lot of rather technical information, i.e., the findings from the State of Discipleship report by the Barna Group. Preston Sprinkle’s dissection is delivered in a personable, relatable style that is the opposite of pedantic.
  
  No, the reason I found it less than enjoyable is because of its content. It exposes some hard truths. Which is, of course, not a bad thing, but if, like me, you’re wired for optimism (I recently took Gallup’s Strengths Based Leadership assessment and scored very high for “Positivity”), it’s hard live for long period of times in places where the positives aren’t accentuated and celebrated.
  
  Which leads me to the hard truth of what the State of Discipleship report reveals, and that is that, according to those polled in church leadership as well as those who are churched and unchurched, discipleship in America needs some help.
  
  So that’s the not-very-fun news that Preston Sprinkle devotes most of his book to exploring. Incidentally, you’ll have noticed that I included a far lengthier author bio than I normally do here (which I lifted from his website; you can find it here). I did this on purpose because when discussing a topic, or a book, about a potentially divisive subject, I feel it’s important to have a thorough grasp of where the author is coming from. To hear his heart, which I believe this bio allows us to do.
  
  Anyway. Back to my reflection: Thankfully, for “Positives” like me, Preston doesn’t leave us dwelling in the negative, and this is the really good news about Go . There’s much that can be done, he says:
  
  “This book isn’t about setting unattainable standards or even trying to master the full gamut of the Christian life overnight. It’s about reevaluating what it means to become like Christ in light of the Bible and asking God to show us the way. It’s about being self-critical, reformational, always eager to reexamine our perceived notions of what it means to follow Christ in light of Scripture to see if we’re doing it rightly.”
  
  Let’s also talk for a moment about audience. Who is this book for, anyway? I can tell you who it is not for: those who are happy with the trajectory of traditional, American church and those who are content to remain in the status quo. If you are one of those, this book will make you mad. If, however, you are a pastor, lay leader, or “general Christian” (as Preston calls us) who take an interest and see (or at least intuit) that all is not as it should be, then this book is for you. If you fall into this second camp and are a pastor or lay leader, I highly recommend you get your hands on this book. You are among those who can affect the most influence and change our current trajectory. If you, like me, fall into the third category and are even the slightest bit curious, this book is also very much worth your while. And if, like me, you are wired for positivity, you need to know what you’re in for, but also that there’s still much hope. Oh yes, there’s hope.
  
  My own takeaway is a sobering acceptance of how things are but also some ideas about what I may do about it. Those are the things I’m prayerfully considering today.
  
  Thanks to NavPress in alliance with Tyndale for providing me a free copy to review. All opinions are mine.
• 
  Curtis

  In response to the 2014 Barna/Navigators study, The State of Discipleship, the author explores our understanding and the various practices of discipleship in the church today. The study revealed several areas where the church could be more effective at forming disciples who are becoming more like Christ in a holistic fashion. The author supports the study's findings with anecdotal evidence and quotes from church leaders (mainly in the United States where the study was performed) in order to make the case for changes to current church practice.
  
  The evidence of the study revealed that most North American churches today are not developing the kind of disciples that they intend to with their current approaches to 'doing church' and discipleship. Rather than being formed holistically into Christlikeness, many churchgoers find their faith compartmentalized, their passions and giftings under-utilized, and their vision of possibility reduced to a narrow set of predetermined programs.
  
  In contrast to this frustrating picture the author provides several key components to the formation of true disciples with accompanying practical examples of their implementation. With a foundation firmly in the grace of God, the author brings the church's attention to the necessity of authentic relationships within the community of God, bearing witness to Christ and His kingdom in every sphere of life, developing intellectual depth while performing acts of mercy and justice as we evangelize in word and deed, and developing reconciliatory multiethnic communities pointing to a new one people in God.
  
  I identified with many of the frustrations of those interviewed and quoted as well as with the corresponding 'adjustments' to church practice. The church could be so much more beautiful than it's current state in North America today. We could be known for our love, for one another and for others, rather than our buildings, our judgements and our cultural caricatures. This work is a call for the church to wake up, take notice and make the changes necessary to bear witness to God's kingdom here and now, in word and deed.
  
  If you are a church pastor, a lay leader or passionate about discipleship this is a great place to start the dialogue with your local leaders around discipleship practices and outcomes.
  
  Provided through NetGalley for review.
• 
  Travis

  I have to be up front and let you know I received this book free from Tyndale for the purpose of reading and reviewing it.
  
  Discipleship is something that should be fairly straightforward. Jesus said, "Go and make disciples." Going never seems to be the issue, it's in the making of disciples where we get tripped up. What does it mean to "make disciples"? What does a disciple look like? How do we go about it? Do I need training in order to do it the right way? Who determines the right way and the not-so-right way? Is anyone else doing this and how can I tell if they are? Preston Sprinkle answers many similar questions in his book Go: Returning Discipleship to the Front Lines of Faith.
  
  Using the compiled data from a recent Barna Group study commissioned by The Navigators, Preston Sprinkle tackles the problem of missing and/or weak disciples within the church. According to the data the church universal is not making disciples and is instead producing congregations with weak faith, a lack of commitment, and astounding Bible illiteracy. This book seeks to provide answers geared toward changing the statistics through practical solutions and relevant disciple-making tactics.
  
  Overall it was an easy read with lots and lots of statistical evidence confirming what many suspected about the state of the church. I can certainly appreciate the work done by the Barna Group and found it eye-opening. However, the book felt more like a promo for the report than a biblical analysis and solution for "fixing" the problem. It was jam-packed with great information, but I came away wanting something with more "meat" to it. All in all, it is worth the read.
• 
  Michelle Kidwell

  
  
  Go
  
  Returning Discipleship to the Front Lines of Faith
  
  
  
  by Preston Sprinkle
  
  Tyndale House Publishers
  
  NavPress
  
  
  
  Christian, Religion & Spirituality
  
  Pub Date 01 Sep 2016
  
  I am voluntarily reviewing a copy of Go through the publisher and Netgalley:
  
  This book reminds us that if we are going to strive to be more like Jesus we need a better understanding of who Jesus is.
  
  The author points out that discipleship is not unique to the new aTestament. Bathe author points out too that the quote "God helps those who help themselves" though often attributed by Christians to the Bible is actually from the Qu'aran.
  
  Preston Sprinkle points out that Discipleship is best fostered through natural Conversation that love people in the rhythm of life where we live out our Faith.
  
  Go is a wonderful addition to anylibrary or class looking to grow in Discipleship.
  
  I give Go five out of five Star.
  
  Happy Reading.
• 
  Samuel Kassing

  This was an interesting book to read. Overall I think it was a good read but it has a major weakness. That being: Sprinkle never sets up a distinction between the organic and institutional expression of the church. This causes him to create a lot of false dichotomies. That aside I think this is a book that touches on a lot of younger people's frustrations in regards to discipleship.
• 
  Steve M

  Absolutely a must read on the state of the church in America today, and a call to action to return of being disciples whom are called to GO make disciples.
• 
  Doug Sullivan

  If I could give this book six stars, I would. A rattling, thought-provoking book on the commandment to make disciples and why we don't do it.
• 
  Michael Swanson

  Enjoyed this book lots! Sprinkle does a nice job in casting a vision for discipleship that is energizing and exciting without escaping what the average person can do. He's holistic (starts in the Grace of God, moves to the whole of our lives including vocation and mission, and attaches ethnic reconciliation to a robust Gospel message) without being inaccessible. He's also done a nice job of touching on a breadth of topics that are usually the subject of an entire book without being reductionistic. I'm grateful for his conclusion about Simple Church and the movement coming out of California, but would have liked a little more of the practicals of how to make church more simple. That's the only reason I didn't give it a 5. Otherwise, a really thoughtful and hopeful book in a sea of literature that tends towards either thoughtless optimism or cynical pessimism. Probably deserved a 4.5/5, but was limited to whole number ratings. Worth a read!
• 
  Andrew Cress

  Reads like a series of blog posts and should’ve been that. I think the survey framework limited the message and possibilities of the book.
• 
  Alyssa

  
  
  About the Book
  
  Disciple-making is a passion of many, as it should be. It is, after all, our great commission. But much of contemporary discipleship is informed by instinct, and as such it is vulnerable to the whims and trends of the broader culture, which can take us further away from our biblical model and mandate.
  
  Drawing on a 2015 Barna Group study of the state of discipleship in the United States commissioned by The Navigators, bestselling author Preston Sprinkle provides a holistic, biblical response for discipleship, providing accessible tools for all those who are engaged in making Christ-followers in the 21st century. Sprinkle points pastors, church leaders, and frankly, all Christ-followers, to a discipleship that is responsive to this most current research and accountable to the model of Jesus and his earliest followers, who counted making disciples as their most important work.
  
  In an extremely practical fashion, Go helps us to discern, from the Scriptures and from exemplary disciple-making ministries, what discipleship is and is not, what it has become and what it can still be.
  
  
  
  
  My Review
  
  Go by Preston Sprinkle is a book all about Discipleship. Now, I have read plenty of other books on this subject, mostly due to attending Bible College for a few years. Go had a lot of great quotes and creative solutions. Although I will say that much of what I read in Go wasn't new to me at all. I have just read so many books on this subject that I don't think anything could be new to me. Was it a good book that gave good ideas and solutions, yes. Was it a book that I really needed to read, no. But it will be a great addition to the all of the other disciplship books out there.
• 
  Donald

  'Go' is a straight-forward summary, with reflections, of a study wanting to find out how much of the church's mission to 'make disciples' is actually taking place across America and how much of that mission is stymied by 'doing/playing church'. I came across 'Christian Refugees', who are believers disenchanted with the current 'state of the church,' so they're looking for alternatives. After reading it, I sense more of a need to reconnect with a group of believers, for worship, fellowship, growth, and active-involvement with felt-needs in my community.
• 
  Larksinger

  This was a great read to help supply some flow to stagnant thought I have had on discipleship.