GCD Newsletter – Friday, March 11, 2022

Win a copy of Gospel-Centered Discipleship Revised and Expanded

Our church recently hired a pastor to focus on discipleship. The Pastor of Discipleship, we call him. He has only been on staff a few months, but I can see the differences he’s making and praise God for him. But at the same time, I confess, I find it a bit strange. Why do we need a pastor to help us do the very thing that all Christians should be participating in their whole life? Would we hire a “Pastor of Bible Reading?” I doubt it. But we hired Pastor of Discipleship because we need him. Our church needs his encouragement and pastoring to become the types of disciples God intends us to become.

I bring this up because this week is a special week for us at Gospel-Centered Discipleship. Our founder, Jonathan K. Dodson, teamed up with Crossway to release an updated and expanded version of the book that is our namesake: Gospel-Centered Discipleship: Revised and Expanded, with a foreword from Matt Chandler. But why, you might ask, do we need another book to help us do the very thing all Christians should be participating in their whole lives? Because we do. Christians need quality resources to help us become the type of disciples God intends for us to become. In Ephesians, God tells us that he gives the church teachers, which means all Christians should be learners. So around here at GCD, we’re thankful and excited to see Dodson’s work repackaged and improved to meet more needs and help more Christians.

More on GCD Revised & Expanded:

This week our Executive Director, Jeremy Writebol, had a conversation with Dodson about what was updated in the book, the state of discipleship in the church, and why this book still matters. Check out that conversation here or on our YouTube channel.

Additionally, we’ve published an excerpt from the new book where Dodson reminds readers of the importance of doing what Jesus commanded: making disciples. But “after most of the sermons I’ve heard on the Great Commission,” Dodson writes, “I’ve walked away feeling guilty for not making disciples.” There’s a better way. “The commission motivates us with the gospel by beginning with Jesus’s authority and ending with his presence.” Check out The Gospel Commission.

Also This Week at GCDiscipleship.com

Enter and Eat by Zach Barnhart | There is something about that tiny window of time between the “Amen” and those first bites of dinner that is sacred, perhaps even sacramental. In a similar way, our GCD staff writer helps us see the ways that God’s corporate meal is designed to bind his people together.

Win a Copy of GCD Revised and Expanded

We’d love to place a copy of GCD Revised and Expanded in your hands! In partnership with Crossway we’re giving away five copies. Enter below to win a copy or pick one up for you and all your friends over at Amazon.

Letters to the Editor

We’d love to hear from you. Please send me feedback about our articles (or anything else!) at Benjamin@GCDiscipleship.com. And if you’ll allow us, we’ll share your comments in future emails.

Thanks for reading,
Benjamin Vrbicek | Managing Editor