Summary and Review of Discipling in a Multicultural World
Title: Discipling in a Multicultural World
Author: Ajith Fernando
Summary
Discipling in a Multicultural World by Ajith Fernando is exactly what the title says. Ajith Fernando describes discipleship from a Biblical perspective while also taking other cultures into account. While being familiar with the U.S. and western way of making disciples, Fernando uses his roots of Sri Lanka and experiences in other parts of the world to bring a wholeness to discipleship that many American churches are missing.
Fernando, a long-time partner with Youth For Christ, introduces disciple-making as spiritual parenting. He then moves into the process of sanctification, touching on topics such as prayer, forgiveness, healing and more.
Interesting Pieces
Page 16 – Fernando references dozens of books on the topic of discipleship, many of which have been a blessing to me personally.
Page 63 – In discussing the value of the community aspect of spiritual parenting, Fernando says, “Our community life could become one of the greatest attractions of Christianity in this present age. People in the postmodern West (and also the rapidly changing East) are looking for authentic community.”
Page 142 – Fernando introduces the “Three Agents of Change:” The Word of God, the work of the Spirit, and the fellowship of believers.
Page 175 – As spiritual parents, disciple-makers can pray that their disciplees experience the full joy of Jesus, just as He prays for his own disciples in John 15:11. Fernando says, “…the joy Jesus wishes for his disciples is HIS joy, and his joy is connected to his teaching. Jesus is a joyous person, and his teaching is intended to ignite joy in his disciples. The same should be true of all disciplers.” This doesn’t mean we’re always happy happy happy, but Jesus is joyful! His teaching is joyful! His disciples should be joyful!
Page 255-256 – Fernando recommends a healing process for those who have experienced sexual abuse. This process includes saying and/or writing down what the person experienced, the disciple-maker interjects healing words through this process, they pray for God’s healing, and when the person is ready to forgive the wrong-doer, they are asked to do it verbally. Then, the paper (if the testimony is written) is burned as a declaration that its power has ended through God’s grace, love and sovereignty. A check for demonic influence may also need to be done.
Review
Overall, Fernando’s book on discipleship is extremely thorough. His approach is more academic than authors such as Daniel Im, Jeff Vanderstelt or John Mark Comer. There’s value to both, but this book certainly adds to the conversation of discipleship and systems/environments that local churches use to accomplish the goal of making disciples that make disciples. This book’s strong suit is the inclusion of non-western thinking in disciple-making. As our world rapidly becomes more multicultural, thinkers like Ajith Fernando will be increasingly beneficial to the Kingdom of God.
Where to buy
Here, you can purchase Discipling in a Multicultural World
