I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Two thumbs up! A wise and practical look at the modern church, especially post Covid. Daniel Im writes with urgency and a call to change without completely disregarding past movements that were positive in their time. I found this book to be spot on and incredibly helpful & challenging.

This is one of the great new discipleship books that addresses the post-Covid19 world.

One of Daniel Im's primary premises is that our churches are largely following a seeker-sensitive model to one degree or another and there needs to be a shift in both our thinking and practices. Two major illustrations commonly used in the old model would be a funnel or a series of concentric circles (like an archery target). These illustrations would use labeling like: "Community, crowd, congregation, committed, core" with the goal of funneling everyone toward the center "core". Instead, Im uses a quadrant divided by Christian/nonChristian and interested/disinterested. He then talks about how we can effectively reach each of these quadrants.

Although I would not agree 100% with what is shared here, I do appreciate the fresh way of looking at Church leadership and discipleship. He contributes a lot to what should be an ever-evolving discussion of how we can apply the eternal truths of God to the shifting currents of culture. His methods deserve consideration as his heart is clearly pastoral, discipleship focused, and God centered.

I’m not quite the right audience for this book but can see how it would be a very worthwhile, practical and useful one for pastors or leaders of churches .

While I'm not the target audience for this book, I found it very helpful to learn some about some of the research & thought processes that might go into changes made in a church. I'm also really interested in getting better at prioritizing discipleship. The author starts by getting his readers familiar with his fundamental philosophies that he's working from. Then, he identifies 4 groups of people & how to reach them-sleepers, seekers, consumers, & disciples. Sleepers & seekers aren't believers, but churches should still find ways to minister to them, especially the seekers. Consumers & Disciples are believers at varying degrees of warmth or apathy in their spiritual life. As I read the chapter about consumers, I was tempted to list out all the people that I feel are just apathetically consuming. However, the Holy Spirit did a lot to point out to me that I can very much fall into that consumer mindset. "What can my church do for me?" "If they make that change that doesn't serve me, I won't participate." I think these & embarrassingly more thoughts throughout my week. This book had some really practical ideas about how to make discipleship ministries running well at any local church.

The Discipleship Opportunity: A Guide for Churches in a Changing World
In "The Discipleship Opportunity," Daniel Im tackles the challenges facing churches in the modern world. Im argues that clinging to traditional methods of evangelism and leadership may no longer be effective in a society characterized by indifference, impatience, and political division.

The book is aimed at church leaders seeking to revitalize their congregations. Im equips them with practical strategies for:

Reaching those who are spiritually disengaged: Im acknowledges that many within the church itself might be going through the motions without a deep connection to their faith. The book offers guidance on rekindling a passion for Jesus within the existing congregation.
Discipling for a deeper faith: "The Discipleship Opportunity" goes beyond simply attracting new members. Im emphasizes the importance of nurturing existing believers and helping them grow in their understanding of Christianity.
Effective preaching in a new era: The book acknowledges that traditional preaching styles might not resonate with contemporary audiences. Im offers suggestions for crafting messages that are relevant and engaging in today's world.

I am so happy for this new book in the new direction about discipleship opportunity in the Christianity era. I hope that many will read this book.