The Drama of Discipleship - by Gregory R Perry (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

How do Christ's followers reach across the dividing lines of our culture to offer hospitality and hope? How do local congregations worship God faithfully on Sunday and bear witness to their neighbors with fitting words and deeds during the week? Christ has called his people to follow the ways of his kingdom in their homes, workplaces, schools, churches, and neighborhoods. The Drama of Discipleship is a resource for being and making disciples of Jesus in the everyday tasks of being human. Each episode offers at least one group activity that is designed to catalyze group action on your local stage and build your congregation's practice of taking off the old ways of being human and putting on the true image of God--Christ. The Drama concludes with additional tools for those who lead small groups in the heartwork of discipleship, as well as a neighborhood survey for those who lead congregations in the fieldwork of discipling the nations.

Review Quotes

"The Drama of Discipleship is Greg Perry's long-awaited group training resource for making disciples committed to gospel show-and-tell in everyday settings. Drawn from multiple local contexts and from listening to learned global voices, Greg's work accessibly combines the metaphor of dramatic performance with a missional hermeneutic and a medley of image-bearing roles. Bravo! Here are contextually wise and biblically faithful directions for gospel performances I'm excited to see creatively staged by innumerable congregations."
--Mark P. Ryan, Director, Francis A. Schaeffer Institute, Covenant Theological Seminary

"Christian discipleship is broken, and this brokenness is global. Fortunately, Perry has written a timely volume to help the church course correct. The Drama of Discipleship is appropriately titled, because Christian discipleship is not only grounded in the grand drama of Scripture but is riddled with suspense . . . . The reader will be hospitably treated to in-depth exegesis and much-needed 'rubber-meets-the-road' application that can be used in the here and now."
--Luke Brad Bobo, Vice President of Networks, Made to Flourish

"The Drama of Discipleship explains the narrative of Scripture and invites us to enter into this story in the company of others in ways that will bless our communities. Depth of theological insight is conveyed in a simple and artistic manner that results in a book that is accessible to all. It bridges the gap from knowledge to application. I highly recommend it."
--Ian Smith, Principal, Christ College

"Western spirituality often takes an individualistic approach to discipleship, but this book presents a holistic perspective of discipleship with an emphasis on forming communities who live out the biblical story in all domains of life. This is a book I want to read with our entire church family, as I believe the application of this book will allow us to more faithfully love our neighbors and each other."
--Dennae Pierre, Codirector, Crete Collective, City to City North America, and Surge Network

"Greg has been training our students with this paradigm-shifting content for years. Finally, it is published, so more of the church can be challenged to take up our roles in the biblical story!"
--Chris Gonzalez, President, Missional Training Center

"What a gift! Greg has provided us a biblically rich, theologically informed, humanly hospitable, globally envisioned, hands-on manual for helping everyday followers of Jesus fulfill their daily purpose. Ready-made for use in Bible studies and small groups, I'm eager to utilize this book for our local congregation and when equipping leaders in ministry."
--Zack Eswine, Lead Pastor, Riverside Church, Missouri

"We don't get a word-for-word script for life, though we might wish that we did. In this book, Greg helps us understand how the Bible informs who we are and how we can redemptively engage in a constantly changing world in a way that's genuinely profound, yet understandable and practical. I trust that the wisdom and insights in the book will be foundational for the church's ongoing work of making and training disciples of Jesus."
--Ryan Brown, Pastor of Discipleship, Perimeter Church, Georgia

"Perry has provided a good gift to all who desire to be . . . sustained in the pursuit of God's purposes of shalom in Christ for the flourishing of our world! The conceptual frameworks, practical tools, Scriptural engagement, and community-based processes embedded within The Drama of Discipleship make it a strategic resource for equipping ministry leaders to equip all of God's people fo

About the Author

Gregory R. Perry is an ordained minister and seminary professor, who has one foot in the local parish and one foot in the academy. For fourteen years, he served on the New Testament faculty of Covenant Seminary, where he directed the City Ministry Initiative. Whether living in Atlanta; Sydney; Washington, DC; St. Louis; or Orlando, Greg has reread Scripture and local cultures together with congregational leaders in God's mission. Currently, Greg serves on the faculty of the Missional Training Center in Phoenix, and as President of Thirdmill Seminary, an academic partner in the Thirdmill Global Network.