Positives Dana Allin's book is widely praised for offering a clear, practical, and step-by-step approach to discipleship, making it accessible for a broad audience from laypeople to church leaders. Reviewers appreciate its valuable perspective on assessing current discipleship practices within churches and proposing actionable solutions. Many found the book effectively simplifies complex concepts into manageable steps, providing a solid foundation and resources for both individual spiritual growth and congregational development. Specific strengths highlighted include the emphasis on personalized plans, viewing discipleship as coaching rather than traditional mentoring, and the importance of asking questions to foster genuine growth. The book is also lauded for its insightful advice on what constitutes a true disciple and how to cultivate transformative relational discipleship. Its inclusion of self-assessment tools and thought-provoking questions is frequently noted as a helpful feature.
Negatives However, the book also drew significant criticism, particularly concerning its perceived corporate or social-science approach to discipleship. Several reviewers felt the book's heavy reliance on an associated online assessment tool made portions feel commercialized or "clickbaity," and some found the author's references to being an "ICF-Certified coach" and corporate analogies to be "unspiritual" or impersonal. Critics also noted that the book's structure, with numerous lists of characteristics, could be confusing or surface-level, and some desired more visual aids for clarity. A point of contention for some readers was a perceived lack of emphasis on the Holy Spirit, while others felt the book did not fully illustrate what practical, everyday discipleship truly looks like. Additionally, a few reviewers expressed discomfort with the author's denominational context, specifically the inclusion of examples involving female pastors, which felt "foreign" to their ministry perspectives.
Conclusion Overall, the book elicits mixed reactions, with some considering it a "stellar" and "highly recommended" resource, while others, despite acknowledging some good advice, would hesitate to recommend it. It is generally regarded as a useful guide for initiating or re-evaluating discipleship efforts. This book would likely appeal most to church and small group leaders, pastors, and individuals who appreciate a structured, pragmatic, or "coach-like" methodology for spiritual growth. However, readers preferring a less corporate, more traditional, or deeply theological exploration of discipleship, or those sensitive to assessment-driven models, might find it less suitable for their needs.
