Dysciples
If you are happy in your Christian walk with God, can easily share your faith, and you have your spiritual life under control, then this book is not for you. If, however, your walk with God is more of a ramble, you come out in a cold sweat when trying to share your faith, and you feel your spiritual life is erratic, then this book will fill you with hope.
There are thirteen short chapters each containing a study on a passage from Matthew's gospel focussing on Jesus' disciples. Krish Kandiah, in his inimitable down-to-earth style, explains how the disciples were just like most groups of Christians, ie a motley, dysfunctional group prone to making mistakes, getting confused, and forgetting what they were told. Like the word 'disciple', each chapter bears a title beginning with the letters 'dis' (except for chapter 2 which is entitled 'despairing'!). There is also a subtitle to each chapter relating to a 'dysfunction'. For example chapter 12, Disloyal, is sub-titled 'Why I can't tell people about Jesus'. This makes it easy to re-visit any chapter when you need to.
After each chapter are questions: some are for personal reflection whilst others are for group discussion. The questions are thought-provoking, and relevant to problems faced by many Christians today in their own church situations. Therefore this book is designed both for personal reading and for provoking discussion in gatherings such as homegroups. It affirms that the reader is not alone with his or her doubts, fears, and feelings of spiritual inadequacy. Krish reminds us that discipleship is a constant state of learning where we can never dispense with our L-plates this side of heaven. Indeed, I found myself identifying with some of the everyday situations described by Krish, and motivated to examine and work on my own relationship with God. I also used some of the ideas when leading my church homegroup.
My only criticisms are that I would have liked to have had an easy way of seeing which Bible passage was used in each chapter; and I found the cover design (both picture and typeface) not particularly attractive. However, this book examines in a contemporary and readable style what it means to be a disciple in today's world, and can easily be dipped into, revisited, or shared in groups. Well worth a read!
David Wright is Business Manager of Global Connections.
Krish Kandiah is Executive Director: Churches in Mission at the Evangelical Alliance.
Purchase the book at multiple Christian book websites including eden.co.uk
EAUK.org
