Book: The Radical Disciple
Book Synopsis – What is a life of radical discipleship? At the root, it means we let Jesus set the agenda of our lives. We aren’t selective. We don’t pick and choose what is congenial and stay away from what is costly. No. He is Lord of all of life. In the last book by the leading evangelical churchman of the twentieth century, John Stott opens up what it means to truly be a follower of Jesus. In a refreshing and accessible style, he explores eight aspects of Christian discipleship which are too often neglected and yet deserve to be taken seriously: nonconformity, Christlikeness, maturity, creation care, simplicity, balance, dependence and death. Here, including the last public sermon he ever preached, Stott offers wisdom gained from a lifetime of consistent Christian commitment. In addition, he poignantly reflects on his last years of life and ministry. The message is simple, classic and personal: Jesus is Lord. He calls. We follow. (Amazon)
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Notes:
Chapter 1 – Non-conformity
“So we are neither to seek to preserve our holiness by escaping from the world nor to sacrifice our holiness by conforming to the world. Escapism and conformism are thus both forbidden to us.”
Contemporary trends we must not conform to:
- Pluralism
- Materialism – Preoccupation with material things, which can smother our spiritual life. Develop a lifestyle of simplicity, generosity, and contentment.
- Ethical Relativism
- Narcissism
Chapter 2 – Christlikeness
What is God’s purpose for his people? What do you do after you’re converted?
Perhaps:
- Westminster Shorter Catechism – “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.”
- Love God, Love your
neighbour
John Stott’s answer nearing his end – “God wants his people to become like Christ, for Christlikeness is the will of God for the people of God.”
[Personal questions] Even if we become more Christlike, when will we ever truly be like Christ? Some people only have a few years on earth before they are taken away. Is there a definitive Christlikeness we need before we die? If we all don’t fully conform to full Christlike character, what’s the point? Does “becoming more like Christ” continue to take place in heaven?
5 Ways to be like Christ:
- We are to be like Christ in his incarnation
- In his service
- In his love
- In his endurance
- In his mission
“If all Christians were Christians there would be no more Islam today.” – Rev. Iskander Jadeed
God’s purpose is to make us like Christ, and God’s way is to fill us with his Holy Spirit.
Chapter 3 – Maturity
Growth but no depth. Christian numbers are growing but maturity in Christ is not.
“If we want to develop truly Christian maturity, we need above all a fresh and true vision of Jesus Christ.” “The poorer our vision of Christ, the poorer our discipleship will be, whereas the richer our vision of Christ, the richer our discipleship will be.”
Chapter 4 – Creation-care
In creation, God established human beings for three fundamental relationships:
- To himself, for he made them in his own image
- To each other
- The good earth and its creatures over which he set them
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