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Book Review Archives
 TITLE: The Disciple’s Comprehensive Toolkit
AUTHOR: Karen Edwards
GENRE: Christian Living
PUBLISHED: Lulu 2005 http://books.lulu.com/content/177137
ISBN: 1-4116-5744-6
REVIEWER: Jan Ackerson
In The Disciple’s Comprehensive Toolkit, author Karen Edwards uses the extended metaphor of a well-stocked toolkit to demonstrate what the well-equipped Christian needs in order to fulfill the Great Commission. She has chosen the tools wisely; believers who possess them all and who seek to use them skillfully will find themselves effectively making new disciples.
Edwards starts her toolkit with the most basic equipment: God’s Word and the love of Jesus. To those she adds such implements as hope, prayer, spiritual gifts, servanthood, boldness, and many others. Each tool is discussed fully in its own chapter, and is backed up with appropriate Scriptures.
Throughout the book, Edwards shares with her readers how fellow Christians have used their disciple’s toolkits to minister to her through difficult times—particularly through the death of her father. These practical applications of the concepts in the book help her readers to see how useful it can be to have their own toolkits completed. To that end, each chapter concludes with a series of helpful questions to aid readers in self-assessment. A chart at the end of the book is a handy device; readers fill it out to determine for which tools they need greater proficiency.
Mature Christians who are looking for a "how to" book on discipling others, should probably look elsewhere. As the author states, "…this book will not talk about how to disciple, [but] hopefully it will allow you to think about discipling in a new light and to go into the world better prepared to disciple." For seasoned Christians, there is very little new territory covered here. Younger Christians who are just beginning to think about Jesus’ exhortation in Matthew 28:18-20 will find this slim volume a good starting point. They may quickly discover, however, a need for an instruction manual more focused on the use of a Christian’s tools than on their acquisition.
At the end of her book, Edwards encourages her readers to "think about constantly enhancing [their] ability to disciple." A toolkit may contain laser levels and 80-piece ratchet sets, fine steel hammers and wrenches of every size, but by itself it will not build a home. Similarly, reading and following the advice of this book is a step toward discipling, but it is only a first step. Believers should look at The Disciple’s Comprehensive Toolkit as a book which may enable them to obey His call to discipleship.
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