The Trellis and the Vine: The Ministry Mind-Shift That Changes Everything Paperback – October 15, 2013

I have been a pastor for 30+ years and I have tried many approaches. Obviously, this is Christ's way and offers the only true way of making disciples. Personally, I am wrestling with reinventing myself to finish well in a church culture that I have helped to create. A culture which separates clergy and laity and feeds my ego and my desire to please people. This book offers inspiration and hope that we can change, adapt and actually thrive!

God works in wondrous ways. For the first time in my life, I realized that a Christian is nothing more than a person who follows Jesus, a disciple. This may seem to be common sense, but I just never believed it deep down, confining a Christian rather to a list of doctrinal beliefs. That all changed. Then God brings this book to my life. You of course see how the dots connect. First, I see Christians are disciples and then God brings a book in my life to show that ministry is simply disciple-making. Truly a paradigm shift. As a small group leader and interested church planter, I am gripped by this vision. I am praying the Lord brings disciples in my life to train.

Making disciples. It is the church’s mission. Nothing new in that. What is said in this book has been said before—but when all is said and done, there is more said than done. That is one of the strengths of this book. It does not just stress what the church ought to do, but points to how to do what we ought. It is a clarion call to make the main thing the main thing, and offers practical help in getting it done.

little lacking. Book is great. Only issue was with Kindle version. Kindle only has location option, no page numbers. Page would have made it easier to keep up with our group study.

Si nos ubicamos en el contexto estadounidense de las "big churchs", encontramos una critica necesaria y constructiva. Marshall, al tener que repensar estar estructuras tan asentadas en su geografía, queda sin fuerzas para abordar fundamentos mas criticos y fundacionales, valga la redundancia. No lo hubiera comprado, Keller en Centered Church aborda las problematicas en gran profundidad y con implicaciones mas extensas, abarcativas y tangibles. Agregando el breve libro de J. Piper, We are not professionals, tenemos un mayor peso pastoral, haciendo de este libro (Marshall) irrelevante, para mi.

There's a lot to think about in this book. The nice part is the inclusion of practical application and action. Every church is different, but we have the same mission. Works best when many people in your church are reading and applying, especially leadership!Reading this alone may make you restless and frustrated. Reading this as a church with commitment to optimization will help lead to positive results.

This is a great book to help one think about church growth as members growing closer to God rather than just having a bunch of people in a building. This is something that I want to see in my church that individuals are becoming mature believers.

Our pastors recommended this book to me! They are contemplating making major changes in our church so that many more of us can become "disciple-making disciples." The title put me off at first--the word "trellis" doesn't seem very masculine to me. But the analogy is right on! If you're like me, you know that something is significantly wrong with most of our churches. AND you know that the never-ending stream of faddish books and suggested changes have all fallen far short of expectations! This book takes a hard look at the discipleship Jesus modelled and taught, as well as our major distortions. Informative and transformational--highest recommendations!

After reading this book I've been encouraged to think about every person in a local fellowship, that they are Christ's disciples and need discipling and to go onto disciple others. It is filled with insight into how it is possible to build a team ministry.One preacher once said. "I'd rather had ten men doing the work of one man, than one man doing the work of ten men."People being taught God's word is the most important thing, either the preached word, one on one work or reading scripture together, it is important not only to preach but also to put into the hearts of our hearers how to be a disciple of Christ

A very stimulating book - challenging us to think about the whole purpose of Christian Fellowships and the structures that support them. My only reservation is the ultra-conservative evangelical stance of the authors which rather down-plays the ministry of Women and of Charismatic Holy Spirit ministry. Having said that, I found it a good read.

A really good discussion on the need to ensure there is conscious balance in the life and witness of the church.

A useful resource for reflecting on local ministry practise. The book has in sight the crucial aim which is making 'disciple-making-disciples.

A brilliant book, every minister should read this to release the gifts God has placed within each congregation!