Book Review of "Growing Up"
Gallaty's book is based on teaching he received as a new believer as well as ten years of leading discipleship groups in his own life. He mentions there are many books on why discipleship is essential for the church. His book offers a practical plan of how to be a disciple who makes disciples. He uses what are called D-Groups. He writes the purpose of D-Groups is "to help you grow in your relationship with Christ, give a defense for your faith, and guide others in their relationship with Christ."
Gallaty offers a plan selected from the life of Jesus. He has chosen six disciplines that not only grow disciples but also helps them become disciplers of others. The intention is to create disciples who are self-feeders and not dependent on the church for discipleship. But this does not happen by chance. It involves time and requires others to watch the leader and then also lead within a group. His plan is based on the acronym, "C.L.O.S.E.R." From his experience, he believes these six are essential to grow and reproduce disciples.
There are several reasons why this book is worth your time. First of all, it is very practical. You could pick it up and go through it with a group immediately. Second, his passion and experience as a disciple who makes disciples creates a desire to do the same as you read. Third, it has several resources available in the appendix as well as within the chapters. I recommend this book for anyone looking for a valuable resource to help them in discipleship.
One area that I differ with the author is related to accountability. He quotes Jonathan Dodson in the book. I prefer Dodson's view of accountability that spends its time focused on Jesus rather than our personal sins and failures. I would also have liked to see more focus on our identity in Christ as a foundation for discipleship.
All in all, this book is one I will recommend to those within my church as a tool to be "disciples who make disciples."
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