Life: The Missing Dimension in Discipleship

This new book by YouthTRAIN Director Murray Brown focuses on the word “Life” – the spiritual life awakened in us by the Holy Spirit at the point of new birth.

In a nutshell the thesis is that God disciples us through this “Life” within and our role as leaders in discipling people is to co-operate with what God is doing in their life, helping them to discern his voice and leadership within the constraints of Biblical teaching. Along the way this approach to discipleship is contrasted with another approach that seeks to simply fill people’s minds with rules to follow – rules devoid of relationship with God.

The concept is developed by working through Scripture beginning in the Garden where we have these two trees – one of the knowledge of good and evil and one of Life. Throughout the Old Testament the book points out the continued dichotomy of knowledge without relationship and Knowledge in the context of Life (the tower of Babel vs. the Ark, Hagar vs. Sarah etc.) and proceed on to the “Tree of Life” on which Christ died, and then through the Gospel of John, Acts, the Epistles and finally Revelation where we see the Tree of Life once more. The book is not so much a practical description of how to disciple as it is a call to recognise this “missing dimension in discipleship” – the process by which God seeks to have relationship with us and mature us through this relationship.

The book will be available in Christian bookshops soon or can be purchased off our website whn available. To view a sample click here.

Recommendations

"Murray has a great gift of synthesis and exposition and deserves congratulation for his fine study of this theme. In this book he shows what a central place Life occupies in the Bible. The Bible describes how all who desire to can experience God’s life. If we believe in Jesus, we receive God’s life. ‘God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.’ If we open our hearts to God’s Spirit, we experience God’s life personally. ‘God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.’ You will be rewarded by the study of this book. Through it you can experience God’s life personally, yourself."
- Rob Yule, Senior Minister, Greyfriars Presbyterian Church, Auckland, New Zealand and former Moderator, Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

"I often say to my students “unless we are opening the Scriptures and discussing themes of theology and church we are not discipling young people”. In ‘Life’ Murray is discipling us all. Too often we lack the ability to open up an idea as it unfolds in the biblical story, here Murray has unpacked a theology of Life as it unfolds through the characters and events of the Bible. If you are looking to rediscover what solid biblical discipleship is then start here. If you have run out of ideas for discipleship then this book is the place to explore further. If you are questioning the notion of discipleship then engage this book and explore the wonderful depths of Life. If you are struggling to figure out Jesus' faith and Life for yourself start a conversation with the biblical characters as Murray presents them in this book."
- Dave Wells, B.Min, MTh, Senior Lecturer Laidlaw College (formerly Bible College of New Zealand).

"Life” is something we all long for. We are continually being offered “life” through purchasing, preforming and products. In this insightful book Murray takes another path. I came away from reading it deeply refreshed, inspired, invigorated and challenged. Refreshed at seeing God’s purposes for “Life” throughout scripture more clearly. Inspired by God’s invitation to “Life” through Jesus, invigorated to encounter more of God’s life through His Spirit and challenged by the many substitutes for God I place in life.
- Mark Grace Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship: Head of Development and Central Team Leader Palmerston North