Read by Lynette
I judged the booked by the title - Radical Disciple - surely it's about crazily devoted lives, leaving everything behind even martyrdom? Things I can only wow at but too unachievable. I was proved wrong, radical disciple lifestyle is doable. The first few chapters are on basic fundamentals of living our lives as a Christian, getting small yet important details right in our daily actions, not conforming to the lusts of the world. We are called to live a simple life just like Jesus. John urged us just to keep our lives simple, even taking care of people and the environment are small steps to live like Christ! Depending on others - this is also a form of maturity! And of course, some are called into persecution and martyrdom.. this is covered only at the last few pages. For in death, we live.
Read by Melvin
This book speaks about 8 characteristics of Christian discipleship that should be taken seriously but are often neglected as we are selective of the commitments which suits us in our walk with Christ and avoiding that which may be costly or inconvenient to us. John writes on how we should be non-conforming to the ways of the world and never compromising in our Christian values. Next, he writes on Christlikeness being the ultimate purpose for God's people in all of time (past, present and future). He also writes on the need for growth with depth in our relationship with and our vision of Christ in order to mature in Christ. He emphasizes that maturity in Christ is to be our goal for ourselves and in our ministry to others. Apart from our relationship to God and one another, we also have a relationship to God's creation and nature. We are to be responsible stewards on this earth where our work is to be an expression of our worship and our care reflects our love for the Creator. John also writes on the need to live a life of simplicity full of humbleness and thanksgiving to God. We should help those that are less fortunate not by aid but through development akin to teaching them to fish rather than just giving them fish. Another aspect is the need to balance the many facets of a disciple; to grow, to fellowship with one another, to witness, to holiness. We are called to both pilgrimage and citizenship in his kingdom. The book also attests that dependence is part of our design by God. We are to be depend on others and be burdens to each other in this family of Christ. Finally, he writes on how death is only in 1 sense an end but in every other situation the surest way to life itself. He closes the book by noting that this list of characteristics was his arbitrary selection and that it is not the only aspects to look at. He encourages the reader to explore their own list through personal experience in pursuit of being the radical disciple.
Read by Malcolm
Much like the first John Stott book I read, this book was brilliant in its simplicity and its wide reaching application of the Gospel in every aspect of our lives. I much like the illustrations and examples he used when linking how the Gospel should impact our view of stewarding the earth, working and caring for the poor since he showed how unbalanced the various political factions are and thus society is in dealing with these issues. His balanced view of much of society and how Christians should approach discipleship is both refreshing and evidently pulled straight out of scripture. That was probably the strongest lesson of this book for me which demonstrates how Stotts study of the Bible with the help of the Holy Spirit should inform and affect every area of his life and ours as well if we decide to put in the time.
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