Foreword

by David Kinnaman

HOW CAN WE GROW followers of Jesus who love God with their whole heart, mind, soul and strength when nearly every force in our rapidly changing culture seems arrayed against this outcome?

Making and growing disciples is challenging in any setting, but it seems especially tough in a narcissistic and pleasure-seeking age such as ours. For example, one of the prevailing ideas of our time is that people can find the best versions of themselves by looking inside themselves. Nine out of ten US adults (91 percent) and three-quarters of practicing Christians (76 percent) agree with this notion. The idea that the self is the “center of meaning” holds sway over our culture and has gained surprising traction within today’s Christian community. Thus, many Christians view internal inputs —feelings, perceptions, and so on —as equal to or more valid than external sources of authority such as the Bible, church tradition, or the wisdom of their Christian brothers and sisters. This view is the very essence of the lone-wolf, choose-your-own-spiritual-adventure mind-set. You know what’s best for you. Look inside to find yourself and be fulfilled. Be true to yourself. These lies about humanity have been widely embraced by a selfie-obsessed generation.

The truth of the gospel stands in stark contrast: We find ourselves in a fixed point outside of ourselves, in Jesus Christ revealed by the Scriptures.

Following this Jesus is not a solo pursuit. The practices that shape us into people who love God with our whole selves and our neighbor as ourselves can’t be done by lone wolves —yet so many would-be disciples are distracted by the self-centered demands of our age that work against communion with God and others.

True discipleship is the only way out.

Go: Returning Discipleship to the Front Lines of Faith is unique. This is partly because this book is more than the author’s opinions. It is informed by a major research study commissioned by The Navigators and undertaken by Barna to explore the current state of discipleship. In other words, what you’re going to read isn’t just random ideas from a (terrific) guy with theories about discipleship; Preston’s observations are anchored in a broader set of findings discovered by Barna researchers. (Learn more about that study and our findings by downloading the full report at http://www.barna.org/discipleship.)

This book is also unique because Preston Sprinkle is just the person to guide us. Uncovering orthodox yet fresh ideas about discipleship requires someone like Preston: willing to ask real questions, to surface unpleasant realities, and to wrestle down durable answers. His writing can help to move discipleship from the dusty library of spiritual theory to the daily reality of our lives with Jesus.

Here’s one last thing before we officially hit Go. I’ve known Preston for a couple of years. He lives this stuff in every way that matters: in his church, with his students and colleagues, with his friends, within his family, and in his soul.

Preston also grows an awesome beard and named his dog Tank. He’s the real deal.

Following Jesus matters. I hope you use Go to bring discipleship into sharp focus, growing in your love for Christ and your joy in the journey with others.

Let’s Go!

David Kinnaman

President, Barna Group

Ventura, California

May 2016