The Great Omission

Reclaiming Jesus's Essential Teachings on Discipleship

By: Dallas Willard

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 7 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

The last command Jesus gave the church before he ascended to heaven was the Great Commission, the call for Christians to "make disciples of all the nations.

"But Christians have responded by making "Christians", not "disciples". This, according to brilliant scholar and renowned Christian thinker Dallas Willard, has been the church's Great Omission.

©2006 Dallas Willard (P)2007 christianaudio.com

Critic reviews

"Dallas Willard is a brilliant, modest, immensely experienced Christian older brother, calling to us." ( Christianity Today)

Am I Christian enough to make it to heaven?

I have always wondered that! Haven't you? Then there's the nagging question, what if one of my kids should be killed. Will I see them in eternity?

Many churchgoers just make the assumption
Just make the assumption that attending church and having gone forward once to except Christ as Savior is enough to get them there. If you own a home, but didn't take the time to open the envelope, read over the agreement, sign, Enclose a check, and mail the insurance agreement back to the insurance company, you'll have only yourself to blame if the house burns down the insurance carrier declines your claim.

A solid understanding of this book is more important than that! Get it! Read it! Do it! And get it into the hands of anybody you Love!

Critical for growth & challenge for my life

Willard gives an astounding overview of Matthew 5-7 in what I call "20 minutes that changed the world." He gives us simply an amazing understanding of the application of the context of our Lord's day as well a direct application to my life today. I highly recommend this life changing view of The Sermon on the Mount.

Would like it in print

I enjoyed listening to this book and feel it was beneficial for a better understanding of how to effect the great commission. He describes spiritual formation and its benefits, though more in theory with references to other sources on the disciplines. Basically, it helped me realize why I often just want to spend more time with Jesus and feel uneasy about evangelism the way I learned it 15 years ago.
The print version would be nice to make it easier to review and reference certain parts. In reality, I would have trouble getting though the whole book in print, though, so I enjoy listening even if I may not get as deep of an understanding. The audio version is very well done, so I think it depends on what you have more time for.

Great omission

It would be a great omission if you didn’t read this book by Dallas Willard.

Excellent Read, biblically solid.

I will certainly share this book with others. Truly captures the Good News and the cultural misdirection we are experiencing. God is good!

Dallas Willard on a crucial topic.

As usual, Dr. Willard's insights helped me see my walk with Christ more clearly. His observations about what Dietrich Bonheffer called "cheap grace" are timely. the Christian church in America is focused on making converts rather than on making disciples as Jesus commanded in His Great Commission.

Great for all Christians to read

loved the context. Much needed information to Christians in this day and age as we have not focused on Jesus's instruction the way we should.

A Rare Read

Mortimer J. Adler, in his classic How to Read a Book, refers to those few, very rare books that are well worth reading over and over. This is without reservation one of those rare gems. And not just to read, but to use as a faithful compass. Willard gathers and synthesizes millennia of the most cogent wisdom in the practical matter of following Jesus as He intended to be followed.

Transform in Christ or conform to Christianity?

One need only attend many local churches for any length of time to see why many find no use for church, or Christianity as most have experienced it. How deeply sad. I encourage all not to dismiss Christ based on the poor representation of some. He is most worthy of worship and truly amazing to know.

Comprehensively tackling the luke-warm problem

Willard explains brilliantly how there is a modern day problem of merely believing but not following Jesus. He comprehensively uses scripture as well as life examples to explore and offer remedies for this problem. He does this all while staying centered on our own personal need to be relating to God and trusting him within our own hearts and minds vs. is trying to fix this problem on our own.

Wonderful

I am simply amazed at the power of this book. I urge every follower of Christ to obtain a copy and be impacted by its wisdom and clarity.

discipleship is key

absolutely loved this book, I had to listen to most of it at least twice.