Robby Gallaty

Title: The Forgotten Jesus
Author: Robby Gallaty
Pages: 224
Year: 2017
Publisher: Zondervan
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars.
Why read this book? Well, I can give many reasons why. One of the main reasons I read the book was because I wanted to have my understanding of Jesus and the Bible stretched. I didn’t want to open a book that would just rehash things I have learned before. I wanted to be challenged to think.
Robby Gallaty’s book, The Forgotten Jesus, challenged me to think, understand and consider who Jesus was as a Rabbi. The book starts with an introduction titled, How Have We Lost the Jewishness of Jesus, and from there the journey to discover Jesus from a Jewish mindset begins. The author is a Baptist pastor. He isn’t Jewish, but the depth of understanding that comes from discovering Jesus from an eastern mindset instead of a western one was thought-provoking and life-changing!
While the book “looks” like it might not have much in it when one considers there are only 9 chapters. Perhaps folks might even be tempted to pass it by. Don’t. Please don’t. I found the insights into the culture, history and original language very eye opening. I know I will not look or read the Scriptures the same way again. As with all authors there are points made, I didn’t necessarily understand or conclusions that I agree with, but the point for me was to broaden my understanding.
As I read, there were many pages I marked so I can go back and consider again what was written or share with friends what I learned. Books are great tools that help us learn, think and grow. I hope that readers will grab a copy and read what the author shares. There were many times in talking with others I would share an insight or a question I thought of as I read. I hope you consider reading this with others and having a conversation.
I am not revealing much about what the author specifically shared because I think that what would be helpful is a reader discovering for themselves what is written. If you approach the book with an open mind and heart, you will come away with a deeper love for God, Jesus, His Word, His people and the world. I will share what the author states on page 204 for you to consider as a reason to read the book and the Bible, “Ultimately, the goal of knowledge is not to fill your head with useless facts, but to instill in you a hunger to read and study God’s Word. In particular, I hope that you begin to see how we cannot truly grasp the message of the New Testament without an understanding of the Old. As the two complement one another and only make sense when they are studied together.” Makes sense doesn’t it? After all the Bible is one book from Genesis to Revelation.
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.… (mer)

Jesus last words to his disciples (as recorded in Matthew 28:16-20) instructs them 'to make disciples of all nations...'. Yet many Christians are not actively involved in discipleship relationships where they are being challenged to grow in relationship with Jesus, and challenging others as well. In Rediscovering Discipleship: Making Jesus' Final Words Our First Work, Robby Gallaty makes a impassioned plea for Christians to get on with the task of discipleship making.

9780310521280_1Gallaty's book divides into two parts. In part I, Gallaty presents a biblical model of discipleship in the way of Jesus and attempts to answer some of the reasons why discipleship is not practiced more broadly in the church today. Gallaty begins by examining Jesus' model of relational discipleship (chapter one). He goes on to explore the Word-oriented spirituality of the Hebrews, historical examples of disciplemakers (i.e. Augustine, Luther, Baxter, Edwards and the Puritans, John Wesley and the early Methodists) and how an uninspired comma in the KJV translation Ephesians 4 obscured that the ministry was the purview of the whole people of God.
Part II focuses on discipleship methods. Gallaty urges a slow-cooker method of discipleship instead of fast-food and quick fix methods (chapter eight). He argues for "D" groups of 3-5 people as the most effective way to disciple people(chapter nine). He deals with 'road blocks'to discipleship and encourages us to move forward with intentionality and growing competence. He instructs us to invest in the faithful and available and teachable, "Look for those who are hungry and eager to learn. Seek out evidence that God is at work in their heart and in their life. Disciple those that know Jesus and want to know what it means to follow them" (174).

In his final chapter he gives a five principles for 'D-groups.' The groups should be (MARCS):

Missional (encouraging participants in personal evangelism)
Accountable
Reproducible
Communal
Scriptural.
I appreciate Gallaty's relational, intentional and systematic approach to discipleship. I liked that he roots his discipleship model in the methodology of Jesus (reminiscent of Robert Coleman's Masterplan of Evangelism). This is good stuff.

Nevertheless I have a couple of critiques. His MARCS typology is really helpful, but I wish his concept of 'missional' meant more than just evangelism though certainly it means this. Mission should include mercy, justice, advocacy and other ways believers have enacted the Kingdom. Also his concept of accountability focuses completely on the sin/holiness domain. Certainly group members should ask hard questions and call one another to task, but in the context of accountability, I think we need to share the positive word of where we see God's Spirit at work in each other's life. I have been in too many 'accountability groups' that taught me more about being a good legalist than being a gracious saint. At other points in the book, I thought he was too flippant with traditions he disagrees with (i.e . where he disparages the lack of discipleship of lay people in Catholic history).

On the whole, Gallaty's passion and thoughtfulness on discipleship are inspiring and he give practical advice on implementing a discipleship program. I give this four stars and think that it is a good read for pastors, ministry leaders and mentors.

Note: I received this book from Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for my honest review.






… (mer)

Robby Gallaty is a man that takes discipleship seriously.

Growing Up is a essentially a manual for how to do small discipleship groups. It begins by laying a biblical foundation of why we need to do discipleship more effectively. The second half of the book is a "how-to" for those wanting to be a part of a "D Group."

The genius of this book is its simplicity.

I lead a weekly discipleship group of 5 men. I have led multiple discipleship groups over the last 20 years. I read Growing Up and thought, "Man, I wish I had this book decades ago!" Many of the things I have learned through trial and error and mentioned. From group size to the basic building blocks of discipleship, Galatty mentions them all. He is not so rigid that an existing group could not adapt some of his concepts to their group life. Nor is he so nebulous that the book is unhelpful.

As a pastor who is trying to foster a discipleship culture in my church, Growing Up is now required reading for all small groups!… (mer)