Top 10 Books on Being a Disciple and Making Disciples in 2024

Dear Discipleship-first Friends,

Each year we are pleased to publish our list of the top 10 books, created by myself and my co-worker, Curt Erskine, after researching for the top books, gaining recommendations from Outreach Magazine and our Discipleship.org subscribers.

The good news is that discipleship and disciple making are beginning to be discussed openly and regularly within the North American church. Subsequently, more and more books are being written on what it means to be and make disciples of Jesus. There are so many books, in fact, that it can be a little daunting to figure out which books you have time to read.

This year we have decided to divide the Top-Ten list into two categories, Being a Disciple of Jesus and Making Disciples of Jesus. The difference between these two categories has become more apparent as the discussion within the church about discipleship has broadened. Being a disciple of Jesus is one thing, knowing how to replicate yourself and make more disciples is another.

Being Disciples

Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did. by John Mark Comer

If you are just getting started learning and understanding what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, Practicing the Way is a great place to start. Practicing the Way is straightforward and easy to read, but at the same time, it doesn’t pull punches. Comer clearly states that to be a Christian is to be a disciple of Jesus. He then makes the plain argument that the point of being a disciple of Jesus is to learn from him and be conformed into his image. If you want a book that clearly and concisely explains what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and how to grow as a disciple of Jesus, we recommend this book as the best place to start from books in 2024.

Outreach Magazine asked me (Bobby) to recommend “the top discipleship book published in 2024,” and this will be the book that I recommend to them.

The Scandal of the Kingdom: How the Parables of Jesus Revolutionize Life with God by Dallas Willard

I (Curt) am a huge fan of Dallas Willard. Even though I don’t agree with him 100% of the time, most of the time, the things he wrote about being a disciple of Jesus cut me deep with both joy and conviction about growing in the likeness of Christ. There is now an entire generation to whom Dallas has given the permission to break away from our traditions and explore what it really means to be a disciple of Jesus. Admittedly, I was a little wary about a posthumous release of Dallas’ work. However, this collection of Dallas’ teachings on the parables of Jesus helped me to both understand and keep the teachings of Jesus. The greatest compliment I can give a book is if it helps me become more like Jesus, The Scandal of the Kingdom does exactly that.

Breakthrough!: 5 Essential Strategies for Freedom, Healing, and Wholeness by Marcus Warner

Holistic is the best word I can find to describe Breakthrough! In certain Christian cultures, we overemphasize spiritual warfare. Conversely, we will overemphasize the physical or psychological aspects of sin without acknowledging the spiritual aspect in other cultures. In Breakthrough!, Warner looks at spiritual maturity as a result of growth and understanding in all areas of life. Discipleship is not a set of rules, it is growing in maturity into the image of Christ in mind and spirit. Warner looks at all of these areas, from psychological to demonic that may be hindering that growth and how to overcome them.

What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus?: A Clear, Biblical Picture of Discipleship by Tim Wiebe

The title of this book gives an adequate description of the book. What Does it Mean to Follow Jesus? is another great first book to read on discipleship. It explains what it means to be a disciple and why we should be disciples of Jesus. Perhaps my favorite aspect of the book is that Wiebe focuses on conformity to the image of Jesus as the center of discipleship. As stated in the title, What Does it Mean to Follow Jesus? gives clear, biblical, memorial steps to maturity as a disciple of Jesus.

Soil & Roots: Cultivating Deep Discipleship by Brian Fisher

Soil & Roots is another book that takes a holistic approach to being a disciple of Jesus. What I appreciate the most about this book is its emphasis on disciples of Jesus living in and manifesting the Kingdom of God. Again, discipleship is not a list of rules, but a maturing process by which disciples mature into the image of King Jesus. Fisher looks at living in an overall culture while maturing mind and spirit into the image of Christ by living in the Kingdom of King Jesus.

Making Disciples

The Foundation of a Disciplemaking Culture: Building a CORE Team to Awaken a Movement by Justin G. Gravitt

Discipleship.org originally published Gravitt’s The Foundation of a Disciplemaking Culture as a free eBook. Later, Justin developed and expanded the material into a full book and we think it is to benefit of church leaders. It is a good book to read alongside Brandon Guindon’s Disciple Making Culture: Cultivate Thriving Disciple Makers in Your Church, which was written a few years ago. If you are a minister/pastor attempting to shift your church to a disciple-making church, you will find Justin’s book and advice to be practical and helpful. You will only succeed if you lay the correct foundation of a CORE Team of mature disciples to help you build a disciple-making culture.

GO MICRO: A Guide to Transforming and Multiplying Disciples of Jesus Through MicroGroups by Dr. Greg Ogden

If you are wondering what the difference is between a small group and a micro group and what the benefits of a micro group are, you need to read GO MICRO. In fact, this is another one of those must-read books before you begin to develop a discipleship plan for your church. Greg begins by explaining why disciple making is important, where we went wrong, and then gives a good solution for how to fix the problem. Before developing a groups ministry for your church, read GO MICRO and consider following the model presented by Greg.

His Way Still Works: A Fresh Look at the Life and Ministry of Jesus and Why It Matters Today by Craig Etheredge

Jesus was the greatest disciple maker to ever live. It would make sense then if we imitated His way of making disciples. His Way Still Works walks you through the disciple-making ministry of Jesus and then challenges you to follow it. Etheredge points out how we have missed the mark in modern churches and how we can return to the original design of disciple making.

One Eighty: A Return to Disciple-Making by Jeff Vanderstelt

One Eighty is another must-read book if you are attempting to shift your church to a disciple-making culture. Jeff lays out five important shifts that a church must make to fulfill the disciple-making mission of Jesus. One Eighty gives the explanation and definition of a disciple, but also the overarching structure your church must create to facilitate disciple-making.

The Discipleship Opportunity: Leading a Great-Commission Church in a Post-Everything World by Daniel Im

Again, if you are attempting to shift your church to a disciple-making church, you need to read this book. The world has changed a lot in the last few decades. Like it or not, you are attempting to make disciples in a particular culture. Do you understand that culture? Do you understand the people of whom you are attempting to make disciples? Daniel does a great job of assessing the current situation and laying out a path forward to reach the different groups of people within your church and how to make disciples of Jesus out of them.

For King Jesus,

Bobby Harrington and Curt Erskine

Discipleship.org