Institute of Christian Growth, William P Wilson, MD

The Nuts 'N Bolts of Discipleship
Tools for Living Out Our Faith — A Primer
By William P. Wilson, M.D.

The Nuts & Bolts of Discipleship — Tools for living out our faith: A Primer
is written for the committed Christian (new or longer-term) who has recognized the need to mature and become a competent worker in the Lord’s vineyard” (page 11). The problem is so many philosophic Christians who are actually not actively growing in the Kingdom. These are persons who received Christ with joy and thanksgiving, but fail to grow or mature in the local churches where they worship.Is the problem due to a lack of healing community in most churches?

The book describes the attributes of a healing community: what these must be. Is some of the problem based on the failure of 60% of the ministers in this country to recognize that each Christian is in spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6), and that Satan and his entities of spiritual deception consistently surround us? Or, is it that church-lay and other leaders do not want to know what the steps are, that help all of us to mature as Christ-followers?Are so many Christians in pews as philosophical Christians only -- with no growing intimacy with the person of Christ -- in part due to the failure of the church community to articulate the need? Or resulting from the failure of seasoned members to demonstrate their own translucency?

Dr. Wilson not only poses these key questions but also provides insights which startle, but also enable, us to become part of the solution. “The Christian Community” (Chapter 8) is a gem: the unique integration of the psychiatric theory of healing communities and the Christian church as it should be now, and was in the early Christian church era. This integration is a unique and stunning analysis and all serious churches should consider it carefully. “Communication is possible only if a person is available to the other person and willing to converse” (page 73). Dr. Wilson, in this book, shows for individuals and for a church, the important organizational steps prerequisite to help us grow in Divine intimacy with Christ.

— Dr. Elisabeth McSherry, formerly of Dartmouth Medical School, and currently consultant to the VA chaplain services.

"I highly recommend this book (The Nuts & Bolts of Discipleship) because I have learned that only 5% of people in our church today have been discipled -- and these have often remained spiritual midgets."

Discipleship is almost a lost concept in the church today. There is a lot of emphasis on conversion, church membership, church activity -- but little emphasis on building authentic Christian disciples. And yet "making disciples" is the heart of the Gospel and the purpose of the Great Commission. In many seminaries today men and women are taught about church theology, church polity, church administration, church worship -- but little about discipleship. As a result, most ministers are poorly equipped to lead people to the Lord -- much less disciple them in their faith to maturity in Christ.Dr. Bill Wilson is a discipler of people. Ever since his own dramatic conversion, he became a mentor and builder of disciples -- in the medical field as well as in the church. The same practical skills he successfully used in mentoring medical students, clinicians, and psychiatrists in the integration of faith into their medical practices, he later used in discipling people in the church. I highly recommend this practical book on The Nuts 'N Bolts of Discipleship from a dear friend, mentor, and partner in the Gospel.

This book sells for $12.00 plus $ 8.00 for shipping and handling (US postage — out-of-country may cost more). We are now taking orders! The book will be sent to you once the order is here. Make the check out to William P. Wilson, M.D. and send orders to:

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