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SIDE BY SIDE: A HANDBOOK By Steve and Lois Rabey, General
Editors
Reaching People Who Are Taking A Break
Focus on Jesus' example while disciple making
As Jesus rose toward heaven, He directed His believers to
"make disciples of all nations." Evangelism is not complete until
people are nurtured to maturity in Jesus. Much has been written about
this process over the centuries.
The idea for Side by Side originated in
September 1999 during the First International Consultation on
Discipleship in Eastbourne, England. Approximately 450 delegates from
50 nations listened to speakers such as Ravi Zacharias, Stuart and Jill
Briscoe, John Stott, and James Houston, and discussed issues related to
disciple-making.
John Stott summed up a major concern when he said, "In
many parts of the world, the church is growing in leaps and bounds, yet
throughout the church superficiality is everywhere. That is the
paradox: growth without depth." To provide an overview of the best
concepts of disciple-making, general editors Steve and Lois Rabley have
collected excerpts from respected Christian writers such as Dietrich
Bonhoeffer, Frances Shaeffer, Henri Nouwen, Tony Campolo, C.S. Lewis,
Rebecca Manley Pippert, and Gordon MacDonald, to mention only a few.
Organized by key subjects, the broad range of topics is
arranged in easy-to-read articles and sidebars. This handbook provides
insights that will be useful both for individuals and groups that seek
to build faith. For instance, the section titled "Working with Flawed,
Fallen People" examines the "conviction that the 12 men Jesus chose were
flawed and fallen creatures," as demonstrated by Peter's three denials
of Jesus just before the crucifixion and when "all the disciples
deserted him [Jesus] and fled" (Matthew 26:26).
Stories about tax collectors and shepherds take on new
meaning when one reads, "Jesus' deep love for sinners was a source of
constant curiosity among His disciples and cause of continual criticism
from Jewish leaders."
In "The Gentleness of Grace," Michael Yaconelli,
cofounder of Youth Specialities, shares his realization of what God's
grace means to him. "I want to introduce a new sociobiological
category: failers. That is, people who fail on a regular basis. People
like me... That bothers a lot of people. Over the years, they have
expressed their displeasure with my failings. Some have abandoned me.
Some have even written me out of the kingdom.
After observing that "practicing failers seem to be an
embarrassment to today's upwardly mobile Christians," Yaconnelli writes
that when failers come to their senses, "we do not expect a group of
accusers and theology monitors. We do not expect to jump through hoops
to prove we're repentant. No. We expect a party. That is what
Christians do with failers. We are irresponsible just like Jesus. We
do more than instruct, we surprise. We do more than pray, we party. We
do more than correct, we dance. And we do more than love, we
celebrate. Just like Jesus."
People who are serious about reconnecting with those who
are taking a break from church will benefit from this handbook. Readers
will also better understand how to create programs that will feed people
who seek to reconnect with our Lord.
Reprinted with permission from the Together Again newsletter for January
2004, published by the Center for Creative Ministry,
www.creativeministry.org/
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