I loved this book by Alister McGrath! While at times a bit repetitive, it was very readable and presented a unique view on Discipleship, particularly through the lens of C.S Lewis' work. I really enjoyed the portion of the book where he engaged with four key figures in recent Christian history, discussing how exactly they can teach us about Discipleship! Very good read!

Mere Discipleship is a different kind of book than many books on discipleship. McGrath is broaching a side of discipleship seldom discussed, but valuable nonetheless. I’ve been reading on discipleship lately and much of what I read are ‘how to books’ and practical suggestions – but are very valuable to read! McGrath slows that process down and forces us to reflect on the discipleship of the mind. This is a topic that is less practical, but equally important.

McGrath wants us to explore the concept of discipleship through how we think and the focus of his writing is on the ‘renewing of the mind’. McGrath, a strong writer himself though, humbly points us to other authors who can in fact mentor us and speak into our lives. Authors such as C.S. Lewis and John Stott, or Dorothy Sayers and J.I. Packer are brought into the mix where we can engage and wrestle with their view of theology so we be blessed and exposed to them and their content.

With a focus on the discipling of the mind, one should not expect a light and easy read. This book has good ‘meat’ to it and at times is fairly densely packed with good things to consider. If you are exploring the topic of discipleship this book is something I’d encourage you to grab ahold of and dive into.. I believe you’ll be blessed, and discipled, by doing so.

I couldn't help but hear Paul's voice while reading Alister's book on discipleship. May we grow in knowledge and understanding....may we train to godliness...work out your salvation with fear and trembling. As we walk through the tough reality called life, it is critical that we know who we can put our trust in and why. I love books like these that just simply point on the beauty and depth of what it means to not only love Jesus, but what it looks like to follow Him. If you are into pressing your faith deeper or just want to learn more about discipleship, this is your kind of book.

In this fairly short book (under 200 pages) Alister McGrath looks at the issue of discipleship although the book actually looks further afield as well. Anyone familiar with McGrath's writings will find the same logical and rigorous thought patterns that characterise his written ministry. While there is some overlap with his other writings (understandable given his output!) this is a very good book both for someone relatively new to the Christian faith and those with a deeper understanding. That's one thing I love about McGrath, his ability to explain sometimes complex subjects in simple ways and leave you wanting to dive deeper yourself. While the style is largely academic it's what I'd call 'accessibly academic' and there are plenty of moments of reflection as well. I feel McGrath is underrated as a reflective writer, less well known titles like The Journey testify to this.

Perhaps the core of McGrath's own thoughts are best summed up in his own words, "...we need to appreciate that, although Peter and Andrew's journeys of faith may be said to have begun on the shores of Lake Galilee, they certainly did not end there. As we read the gospels, we recognise that the disciples' faith deepens, both in terms of its intensity and its substance, as they gradually come to understand more about the identity and significance of Jesus of Nazareth and respond to him accordingly."

The first part of the books offers five reflections on the discipleship of the mind. I personally loved the section on Books and the Discipleship of the Mind (but then I'm a book nerd) and their value as a window into other viewpoints whether to agree or disagree. McGrath then turns to fairly short but still informative examinations of the thoughts of Dorothy L. Sayers, C. S. Lewis, John Stott and J. I. Packer. Finally he concludes with what are effectively four sermons or reflections (although still in a reader friendly academic style) which offer hope in times of darkness.

I also loved his emphasis on getting to know someone's views in their totality rather than just snapshots which can be taken out of context, "Whether I am reading C S Lewis or Emil Brunner, I feel myself called on as a scholar to read them properly, carefully, and fully." He goes on, "Even when reading someone I know I will end up criticising - such as Richard Dawkins - I still take care to read his works in their totality, not making myself dependent on the kind of disembodied and decontextualized textual snippets that now circulate on the internet." Of course not everyone has time to do that so at least I know McGrath has more likely than not done the wider groundwork for me although McGrath would be the first to advise deciding for ourselves.

I love that despite his academic credentials McGrath retains a deep love for Jesus at the heart of his thinking, "Let me return to Stott's landmark statement: "God's good news is Jesus." When I first read those words, I was thrilled. I was getting fed up with dry and overintellectualised theories about Jesus Christ....Stott's reflections on some passages on early Christian evangelism in Acts led him to this powerful conclusion, which I hope is uncontroversial: "Jesus Christ is the heart and soul of the gospel."

I shall be buying a hard copy as there is much I want to look at again in this book. I shall post to Amazon and Goodreads.

Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and Baker Books for ARC.