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Rating: 
Summary: Reference and then some.
Review: George Barna continues to put out meaningful books that meet the need to cram statistical knowledge with christian insight. His personal desire to see the church mature and become healthy is evident and refreshing. This book is no exception. Mr. Barna has provided the data and included his personal insight for our evaluation of meaningful ways to help the Body become more like Christ. Do you want a successful church? The information compiled in this book will make you think. I believe that is the number one goal here. What you did last year to disciple the Body will most likely not be good enough for this year. Whether you adopt one of the models in the book or simply enhance your current system because of them your church will benefit. Try it on a small scale and see if it brings meaningful growth. If not, tweak it again and keep praying. I know that the Father want's us to grow in the likeness of His Son and we need to be leading thers in that same growth. Enjoy Growing True Disciples, it offers much and may be the catalyst your church needs.
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing new about this
Review: I was dissapointed that many of the practices and strategies Barna says in this book is almost identical with strategies of the church I know. Regrettably, he fails to mention about the church.
There is nothing new or surprise about the standard of disciple Barna says in the book as it is same standard required to the church where I belong to.
Barna did not mention anything about this nor listed in bibliography. I am sure he has researched the church before he wrote this book and I would like to know the reason he did not mention it.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing new about this
Review: I've read several of George Barna's books, and have great respect for him as an author. He brings integrity and fresh insight into all he writes. Having made those statements, Barna has had much better showings than he makes in this volume. Barna shines when he gathers statistical data regarding the church in America and presents it in eye-opening fashion. In this work, he tells us what we already know -- the church needs to do a better job at making disciples. He does offer some helpful insights regarding Christian nurture and development, insights that are described better in other titles. I give this book a "three" because it is Barna. If you're a Barna fan, read it and you won't be disappointed. If you are wanting a volume that is truly more "how to" rather than "this is the way things are", your money would be better invested elsewhere.
Rating: 
Summary: Not One of Barna's Best
Review: I've read several of George Barna's books, and have great respect for him as an author. He brings integrity and fresh insight into all he writes. Having made those statements, Barna has had much better showings than he makes in this volume. Barna shines when he gathers statistical data regarding the church in America and presents it in eye-opening fashion. In this work, he tells us what we already know -- the church needs to do a better job at making disciples. He does offer some helpful insights regarding Christian nurture and development, insights that are described better in other titles. I give this book a "three" because it is Barna. If you're a Barna fan, read it and you won't be disappointed. If you are wanting a volume that is truly more "how to" rather than "this is the way things are", your money would be better invested elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: A Refreshingly Practical Book on Discipleship for Churches
Review: The case for discipleship is made clearly by Dallas Willard and Robert Coleman, among others. The day-to-day implications of discipleship's importance for churches is not so obvious. George Barna provides an invaluable service by, first, establishing via a survey of spiritual maturity that there is little spiritual growth happening in American churches and, second, profiling many churches that have been effective at discipleship. Did you know that the majority of Christians believe that the Bible says, "God helps those who help themselves."? It's true. And did you know that, according to Barna's survey results, the only issues on which Christians hold a statistically significant difference of opinion from non-Christians are alcohol, profanity and homosexuality. Therefore, we (Christians) are rightly perceived by others as gay-bashing prudes who can't have a good time. Discipleship, Barna makes clear at the beginning, is focussed on having only one goal in life: to become more like Jesus, to grow into Christlikeness. And churches that are effective at discipleship produce Christians that are light and salt in the world, not mean-spirited critics. Barna then assesses the programs used by those churches that are intentional about discipleship, and are effective at it. Pantego Bible Church is a very interesting example. Their pastor, Randy Frazee, wrote The Connecting Church, which lays out their philosophy of ministry in more detail. This book is essential reading for those on church staffs and boards.
Rating:
Summary: A Refreshingly Practical Book on Discipleship for Churches
Review: The case for discipleship is made clearly by Dallas Willard and Robert Coleman, among others. The day-to-day implications of discipleship's importance for churches is not so obvious. George Barna provides an invaluable service by, first, establishing via a survey of spiritual maturity that there is little spiritual growth happening in American churches and, second, profiling many churches that have been effective at discipleship. Did you know that the majority of Christians believe that the Bible says, "God helps those who help themselves."? It's true. And did you know that, according to Barna's survey results, the only issues on which Christians hold a statistically significant difference of opinion from non-Christians are alcohol, profanity and homosexuality. Therefore, we (Christians) are rightly perceived by others as gay-bashing prudes who can't have a good time. Discipleship, Barna makes clear at the beginning, is focussed on having only one goal in life: to become more like Jesus, to grow into Christlikeness. And churches that are effective at discipleship produce Christians that are light and salt in the world, not mean-spirited critics. Barna then assesses the programs used by those churches that are intentional about discipleship, and are effective at it. Pantego Bible Church is a very interesting example. Their pastor, Randy Frazee, wrote The Connecting Church, which lays out their philosophy of ministry in more detail. This book is essential reading for those on church staffs and boards.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing Like It
Review: This book is not quite like what some accuse Barna of. He gets to the point of true discipleship and what it looks like. This is not a book for the religionist.
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