3.5 ⭐️s rounded up—I enjoyed how relatable and accessible this book on discipleship was. I also loved that it framed discipleship as holy collaboration with the Holy Spirit. Yolanda does a really great job of driving that home and reminding the reader that sanctification is the work of the Spirit and that one of our main roles in discipleship is abiding in Christ and praying for the person we’re discipling. I also enjoyed learning the author’s story.

A few personal pet peeves kept this from being a 4-star read (i.e., some references felt too casual—like Jesus turning up and one cuss words that felt unnecessary) for me, but I think it’s a good resource on discipleship—and grateful it’s from a WOC!

I liked how the author brings in her experiences in discussing aspects of discipling. You know she practises what she preaches. This then is a practical, real life guide on how we can collaborate with God in helping others to grow spiritually. She speaks very much from the POV of a black woman so this is very much from an American perspective. Still, it will be useful in situations when we are interacting with others in other cultural situations.

4 stars.

This is not your normal “discipleship manual book.” This is the author’s personal story of a life of struggles and faith, striving to live into discipling others. She shares her own story of those who discipled her, inspiring her into a real faith that impacted her life in deep ways. And she shares of the joys and challenges over decades of ministry, working with youth and young adults.

“As we read the Gospel narratives and our hearts are transformed by the truth, beauty, and goodness that Jesus embodies in his life, we begin to believe that another world is possible… Christ whispers, This is true, sis and This is possible for you, brother to our souls.” (Page 178)

Thank you, Yolanda, for sharing your story. And thank you for calling us to be more than pew-warmers as church. Thank you for calling us to help disciple others.

Note to the editor: The author cites Beth Jones blog at one point and describes her as a "new testament professor." As one of Beth's students I thought it might be worth mentioning she is a theology professor not a new testament professor. You might consider changing that designation!

Review:

Pastor Yolanda straight up discipled me with this book. Her voice is so well pronounced and developed and is sure to both challenge and comfort those concerned with the task of discipleship in the church. I especially loved her concern with communicating that discipleship is not about reproducing one’s cultural ways of acting out faith but a holy collaboration, with God and one another, in the journey of learning to follow Jesus.

“Discipleship had more to do with participating in what God was doing in the lives of those teens and pointing them to follow Jesus rather than discipling them into a cultural gender construct.”

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

This was one of the best book on discipleship I have read. Not only did it give me some good advice, it also really encouraged me.

I eagerly sought this out due to a lack of books on discipleship in the market, not to mention written by a woman. Initially I enjoyed Solomon's relatability, her seemingly down-to-earthness that made her appear approachable, and I knew she was going to have a story to tell. I could understand why she would be adept at discipling others. But it seemed that perhaps I was not the target audience for this book. I began to read with more caution as some blanket statements seemed to be made about my perceived views and politics because of my race. Perhaps mine are just like the author's after all, but there didn't seem to be room for that possibility. I hope this was an over-simplified assumption on my part. I read on, embracing comments such as "When you're discipled into culture and not Christ, culture is exalted, not Christ." Excellent point, and yet it felt like our current divisive culture was more the focus in this writing than Christ at certain points. Continuing on, I did really learn things and enjoyed the personal stories and examples of actual discipling, not just pat statements or flowery language. For example, "If people are going to be drawn to something, let them be drawn by the beauty of God's grace, our gratitude for grace, and the power of the gospel." The included Appendices have practical exercises for the reader to implement as well. Finally to sum up, I'll include another quote that I wish was more indicative of the book as a whole, rather than the exception. "No matter what your race or ethnicity, there's someone who needs to see Jesus embodied in you with all your quirks and idiosyncracies. Just the way you are."

Yolanda Solomon balances humour and wisdom in this immensely readable book. She recounts her faith journey in a way that is profoundly relatable. Solomon’s book is a call to authentic discipling relationships, where mature believers mentor newer Christians while being open about their own sins and vulnerabilities. It’s also a call to a faith that resembles that of Jesus more than cultural Christianity, and to let ourselves be shaped by Scripture and mature Christian mentors, not ideological forces.

As the author writes: “Jesus invites anyone who has encountered the resurrection power of the Spirit to be united with other Spirit-filled people in their ‘newness of life’ as we help one another unwrap from anything that is untrue of God and of ourselves.”

If you haven’t been to church in a while, this book will remind you of the importance of community. And if you’re what the author calls a “busy but bored” believer, it might inspire you to be a safe person for those exploring their faith.

This is an excellent book for any and all believers. We put so much emphasis on getting others in, but not on training them up. The topics discussed and the grace in which it is discussed makes this a must read for all Christians.