Discipleship as Holy Collaboration: Helping Others Follow Jesus in Real Life

by Yolanda Solomon, Ekemini Uwan (Foreword)

Many Christians don’t disciple others because they think it’s the church leaders' responsibility. But Jesus commanded all his disciples to go and make disciples. If we're honest, many of us hesitate to disciple others because we don't feel qualified, fear we'll do more harm than good, and think we don't have time for it. Yolanda Solomon provides a practical guide to help us become disciples who are empowered by Jesus to make disciples. Through biblical exposition and personal narrative, Solomon describes the beauty of discipleship in a way that will (re)ignite your passion to disciple others. Discipleship as Holy Collaboration describes the traits of a disciple and examines how disciples are made as people encounter a love that empowers and compels them to continue Jesus' mission. She walks us through the life of Jesus, pointing out numerous examples of embodied discipleship that we can implement in our own context. Solomon describes Jesus' call to make disciples as an invitation to collaborate with God in a sacred group project. The book also includes a discussion guide and multiple step-by-step praxis activities to encourage and equip you to answer the call.

Genres: Christian

192 pages, Paperback

Published May 14, 2024

Reviews

[Jillian B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yolanda Solomon balances humour and wisdom in this immensely readable book. She recounts her faith journey in a way that is profoundly relatable. Solomon’s book is a call to authentic discipling relationships, where mature believers mentor newer Christians while being open about their own sins and vulnerabilities. It’s also a call to a faith that resembles that of Jesus more than cultural Christianity, and to let ourselves be shaped by Scripture and mature Christian mentors, not ideological forces.

As the author writes: “Jesus invites anyone who has encountered the resurrection power of the Spirit to be united with other Spirit-filled people in their ‘newness of life’ as we help one another unwrap from anything that is untrue of God and of ourselves.”

If you haven’t been to church in a while, this book will remind you of the importance of community. And if you’re what the author calls a “busy but bored” believer, it might inspire you to be a safe person for those exploring their faith.

[Grace Prasetyo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not your normal “discipleship manual book.” This is the author’s personal story of a life of struggles and faith, striving to live into discipling others. She shares her own story of those who discipled her, inspiring her into a real faith that impacted her life in deep ways. And she shares of the joys and challenges over decades of ministry, working with youth and young adults.

“As we read the Gospel narratives and our hearts are transformed by the truth, beauty, and goodness that Jesus embodies in his life, we begin to believe that another world is possible… Christ whispers, This is true, sis and This is possible for you, brother to our souls.” (Page 178)

Thank you, Yolanda, for sharing your story. And thank you for calling us to be more than pew-warmers as church. Thank you for calling us to help disciple others.

[Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discipleship as Holy Collaboration by Yolanda Solomon is an inspiring and powerful book that magnifies what it means to follow Jesus. Through her writing, Solomon invites readers to see discipleship not as a one-sided journey, but as a deep, dynamic partnership with God. In this book, she explains how discipleship is about collaboration, where both God and humanity work together to fulfill God's purpose in the world.

I have the privilege of knowing Yolanda personally, and I can vouch for her character and the authenticity of the wisdom shared in these pages. The insights she shares are not just academic or theoretical, they come from a place of deep spiritual understanding, divine revelation, and lived experience. This kind of wisdom can only be taught by the Holy Spirit. It's a wisdom that invites readers to experience God's presence and teaching more intimately, as obedience and humility become the keys to unlocking deeper spiritual understanding.

What makes this book so impactful is Solomon’s ability to explain complex theological ideas in a way that is both engaging and accessible. She uses real-life examples and personal stories to show how discipleship isn’t just about learning, it’s about authentically living out God’s will in everyday life. By putting the principles she shares into practice, readers can experience firsthand the deepening of their relationship with God, allowing the Holy Spirit to teach even more profoundly.

For anyone seeking a fresh and reliable perspective on discipleship, Discipleship as Holy Collaboration is a must-read. It offers not just teaching, but an invitation to enter into a life-changing partnership with God, where healthy, Jesus-centered, community, obedience, humility, and the Holy Spirit’s guidance lead to transformation. Solomon’s heart for God and for people shines through every page, and her book is a testament to the power of living in collaboration with God and others.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read through this book with a small group of friends and LOVED it! We meet weekly and discuss one chapter at a time, so we read it slowly and got to savor it, and this book was wonderful for discussion-- challenging and convicting for all of us in our own walks with Jesus. She writes/talks TO us and not AT us. This was the most human and relatable discipleship book I've ever read, and I learned so much simply from her sharing her own story with us.

The highlight of the 3 months we read through this was when Yolanda herself showed up to participate in our meeting (We meet via Zoom because we are all over the country) She is wise, real, thoughtful and funny-- we all wish she would join our Saturday morning group forever. (hint, hint Yolanda if you are reading this) she shared with us her journey into writing this book, at the urging of her friends and colleagues and I'm grateful that she gave into their urging. I will be re-reading this one again and I am sure it will be one of the ones I refer to often.

The only thing that kept me from giving 5-star were some personal hang-ups I have about knowing the political views of any Christian leaders in my life, and I felt she crossed the line over to political things a few times. But a 4-Star is a "I really liked it" and a 5-Start is "it was amazing" if I could have given it 4.5 stars I would have, because it was close.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Discipleship as Holy Collaboration by Yolanda Solomon. From the very first chapter, it felt like she was speaking directly to me—she really "gets" the hesitations and struggles many of us face when it comes to discipleship. What truly inspired me was her exploration of John 4 and the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. Yolanda presents it as one of the best models of discipleship I’ve ever read. The way she unpacks that story not only deepened my understanding but also reignited my passion to disciple others.

Yolanda’s practical and insightful approach makes this book incredibly relatable. She doesn’t just describe discipleship as a task but as a holy collaboration with God—an invitation to join in something sacred. I found the biblical exposition and personal narratives throughout the book to be rich and empowering, and the step-by-step activities are practical tools that make you feel equipped to answer Jesus’ call.

If you’re looking for a guide that will inspire and motivate you to embrace discipleship, Discipleship as Holy Collaboration is a must-read!

[Grace Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not your normal “discipleship manual book.” This is the author’s personal story of a life of struggles and faith, striving to live into discipling others. She shares her own story of those who discipled her, inspiring her into a real faith that impacted her life in deep ways. And she shares of the joys and challenges over decades of ministry, working with youth and young adults.

“As we read the Gospel narratives and our hearts are transformed by the truth, beauty, and goodness that Jesus embodies in his life, we begin to believe that another world is possible… Christ whispers, This is true, sis and This is possible for you, brother to our souls.” (Page 178)

Thank you, Yolanda, for sharing your story. And thank you for calling us to be more than pew-warmers as church. Thank you for calling us to help disciple others.

[Brandi Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️s rounded up—I enjoyed how relatable and accessible this book on discipleship was. I also loved that it framed discipleship as holy collaboration with the Holy Spirit. Yolanda does a really great job of driving that home and reminding the reader that sanctification is the work of the Spirit and that one of our main roles in discipleship is abiding in Christ and praying for the person we’re discipling. I also enjoyed learning the author’s story.

A few personal pet peeves kept this from being a 4-star read (i.e., some references felt too casual—like Jesus turning up and one cuss words that felt unnecessary) for me, but I think it’s a good resource on discipleship—and grateful it’s from a WOC!

[Jadon Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pastor Yolanda straight up discipled me with this book. Her voice is so well pronounced and developed and is sure to both challenge and comfort those concerned with the task of discipleship in the church. I especially loved her concern with communicating that discipleship is not about reproducing one’s cultural ways of acting out faith but a holy collaboration, with God and one another, in the journey of learning to follow Jesus.

“Discipleship had more to do with participating in what God was doing in the lives of those teens and pointing them to follow Jesus rather than discipling them into a cultural gender construct.”

A big thank you to netgalley & IVP for the ARC

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book on my subway commute, I could almost hear Yolanda’s voice through the pages! Yolanda artfully wove humor, authenticity, and theological commentary throughout the book, and she gifted the reader with real-world tools to get out there and do something now. Finishing this book on Dr. MLK Jr Day against the backdrop of the inauguration of a divisive administration (to say the least) hit home the importance of putting these ideas into practice. I highly recommend this quick read to any wary Christians out there.

Signed,
A shamefully inadequate spades player

[Danielle Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of the best book on discipleship I have read. Not only did it give me some good advice, it also really encouraged me.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I eagerly sought this out due to a lack of books on discipleship in the market, not to mention written by a woman. Initially I enjoyed Solomon's relatability, her seemingly down-to-earthness that made her appear approachable, and I knew she was going to have a story to tell. I could understand why she would be adept at discipling others. But it seemed that perhaps I was not the target audience for this book. I began to read with more caution as some blanket statements seemed to be made about my perceived views and politics because of my race. Perhaps mine are just like the author's after all, but there didn't seem to be room for that possibility. I hope this was an over-simplified assumption on my part. I read on, embracing comments such as "When you're discipled into culture and not Christ, culture is exalted, not Christ." Excellent point, and yet it felt like our current divisive culture was more the focus in this writing than Christ at certain points. Continuing on, I did really learn things and enjoyed the personal stories and examples of actual discipling, not just pat statements or flowery language. For example, "If people are going to be drawn to something, let them be drawn by the beauty of God's grace, our gratitude for grace, and the power of the gospel." The included Appendices have practical exercises for the reader to implement as well. Finally to sum up, I'll include another quote that I wish was more indicative of the book as a whole, rather than the exception. "No matter what your race or ethnicity, there's someone who needs to see Jesus embodied in you with all your quirks and idiosyncracies. Just the way you are."