NSB Daniel Im-Foreword Ch1.Pdf
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While discipling others who will then disciple others is Jesus’ master plan, defining maturity is sometimes tricky. I’m grateful that Daniel outlines a research-based, yet practical way, to understand and move people toward Christlikeness. Don’t miss this. Robert E. Coleman, distinguished senior professor of Evangelism and Discipleship, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Daniel Im is a brilliant young thought leader who in No Silver Bullets offers hope to every leader by showing us five micro shifts that can bring macro changes in our churches. This book is a reality check reminding us quick fixes will not bring lasting change; but a change in perspective can usher in a new day. If you are done with easy solutions and ready for a clear path to lasting change this is the book for you! Dave Ferguson, lead pastor of Community Christian Church and author of Finding Your Way Back to God and Starting Over No Silver Bullets is as good a read as the title is honest. Finally a new, young voice enters the fray with clear thinking, rational conclusions, and a radical call. I felt lit up, called out, and calmed down all at the same time. Hugh Halter, US Director of Forge America and author of The Tangible Kingdom and Flesh While God will complete in us the good work that He began, there are no silver bullets in our spiritual growth. And there are no silver bullets in dis- cipling and shepherding a church. There are, however, important perspec- tives we may adopt that will greatly impact how we lead and the direction and development of those we lead. I am grateful for Daniel’s work and believe this book will challenge and encourage you. Eric Geiger, vice president of LifeWay Christian Resources I’ve often said that the quality of a church’s leadership is directly propor- tional to the quality of discipleship. If you fail in the area of making dis- ciples, you will fail in the area of leadership development. Daniel gets this as he examines the systems and pathways for discipleship in the local church. Don’t miss out on this important work. Alan Hirsch, author of numerous books on missional Christianity including The Forgotten Ways and 5Q and founder of 100Movements and Forge No Silver Bullets is a refreshing effort to help church leaders guide the local church to more effective ministry. Far too many books offer over-simplified solutions and over-reaching promises. In this incredible work, Daniel reveals the necessity for church leaders to focus their efforts to faithfulness to the timeless practices of healthy churches. Every leader church should read and reread this book! Kevin Peck, lead pastor, The Austin Stone Community Church and coauthor of Designed to Lead If the central command of the Great Commission is to make disciples, and you have a plan for marketing, facilities, and organization, but not a plan for discipleship, you have missed the point. Don’t miss this important work by my friend, Daniel. In it, he will help you develop a discipleship pathway for your church by leveraging research that I was a part of. Ed Stetzer, Billy Graham Distinguished Chair of Church, Wheaton College In this important book, Daniel returns discipleship to the center of the church’s ministry. The discipleship process begins in evangelism and pro- gresses all the way through healthy involvement in a local church. Daniel, who practices what he preaches, offers practical, inspiring stories and steps to guide you through every step of this process. J.D. Greear, Ph.D., pastor of The Summit Church, Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina and author of Gaining by Losing: Why the Future Belongs to Churches that Send Maybe there is a silver bullet—the understanding that small, careful, shifts in a disciplemaker’s posture and direction can yield major outcomes. This book has benefitted me as a change agent. Ralph Moore, founder, Hope Chapels I’m so excited about Daniel Im’s new book. He’s honest and right—there really are no silver bullets. When we do have new ideas, they take time and don’t automatically happen without a price. Daniel’s book deals with some- thing that very few people really talk about—how to effectively bring about change. This is critical for every pastor, because there are so many ideas, directions, and new ways of doing ministry that all promise to grow your church or be “the” secret—and they all leave you disappointed. But if your church has a healthy process for change, as the seasons and culture and context come and go, you can implement new ideas to be more effective. A church that cannot change will not last until the next generation! Bob Roberts, senior pastor of Northwood Church and author of several books, most recently Lessons from the East Daniel Im is a sharp thinker and keen observer. Both traits show up again and again in No Silver Bullets. This is a hyper-practical book that can help you and your team rethink its discipleship pathway or create one in the first place—all of which can help you prepare your church for future ministry. Carey Nieuwhof, founding and teaching pastor, Connexus Church In our fast-food, instant download, immediate gratification, consumer driven culture, we often fall prey to copy-cat Christianity. And yet, no matter how much we try to force it, laboring for the harvest has never been about instant gratification. Daniel Im speaks powerfully to this truth, challenging us to change the way we think about our church so that we can ultimately shift our practices to better align with an eternal Kingdom mind-set. His work is timely, practical, and a powerful application of biblical principles for our time. Dhati Lewis, lead pastor of Blueprint Church and director of BLVD There may not be a silver bullet when it comes to discipleship, but this book is a must-read bullet to put in the barrel of your disciple-making environ- ments. Daniel Im has created an incredibly insightful and practically help- ful work that I will read several times over both alone and with our team. If you’re wondering how you or your church can become effective at the mission Jesus gave us, this book is for you. Jeff Vanderstelt, pastor at Doxa Church, visionary leader of Saturate and The Soma Family of Churches, and author of Saturate and Gospel Fluency We live in an age of killer apps and quick fixes for nearly every problem we run into. Is it any wonder that we look to the latest and greatest silver-bullet program or Bible study to fix the discipleship problem in our church? In this book Daniel doesn’t offer a microwave approach, but five micro-shifts to break down the complex problems surrounding discipleship. He accu- rately diagnoses the key issues and prescribes these practical steps that help you move from great discipleship intentions to great implementation and better equipping of the saints you are called to serve. Todd Adkins, director of leadership at LifeWay Leadership and host of the 5LQ Podcast Daniel is one of the brightest young minds in the church. God has given him a unique discernment into the tensions and transitions facing the church. You’ll be better prepared for the future if you read everything he writes. I sure do! Shawn Lovejoy, founder and CEO, CourageToLead.com; author of Be Mean about the Vision: Preserving & Protecting What Matters Leadership is more than hard work; it is habitual work. The five shifts outlined in this book will help you develop the habits required to take your church to the next level. So stop working hard and start working smart by inviting Daniel to be a guide for you and your team. Brad Lomenick, author of The Catalyst Leader and H3 Leadership and former president of Catalyst Even though Daniel writes about “five small shifts that will transform your ministry,” there is nothing small about his book! His ideas, seasoned with years of ministry experience and theological rigor written afresh, will impact you personally and leave an imprint on your ministry. I highly rec- ommend this much-needed book! Derwin L. Gray, lead pastor of Transformation Church and author of The High Definition Leader: Building Multiethnic Churches in a Multiethnic World While many are looking for the next BIG thing, Daniel Im shows us how small, micro-shifts can lead to macro-fruitfulness in fulfilling Jesus’ co-mission. When the disciples couldn’t catch any fish, Jesus told them to throw the net on the other side and they caught a boat load. One small change led to one big difference. Likewise, employing the small shifts recommended in this book can make a big difference in your ministry of multiplying missional disciples. JR Woodward, national director of The V3 Church Planting Movement, author of Creating a Missional Culture, and coauthor of The Church as Movement Daniel Im has captured some of the most insightful, biblically-based and well-researched ministry concepts to help both younger and older leaders guide churches toward their full kingdom potential. A must read! Keith Taylor, lead pastor of Beulah Alliance Church Most leaders don’t have the luxury of slowing down or considering if what they are doing is truly the most effective route. Daniel Im has had the rare opportunity to observe thousands of churches and leaders and to see the small shifts that make the difference between an effective or ineffective church. While there is no simple and easy solution, small shifts and small steps can drastically change the trajectory of your church, for the glory of God.