This is one of the very few full-length book responses to church planting movements. Matt Rhodes critiques CPM and DMM in Chapter 3—and if you're only looking for critique, you only need to read that chapter. The book, however, is not merely a critique; it positively advocates for professionalism in missions. This includes learning to be ambassadors…
Brooks Buser is the president of Radius International and a vocal critic of CPM and DMM. In this episode of the Defend and Confirm Podcast, co-hosts Sean DeMars and Russell Berger ask Brooks the following questions (paraphrased): Brooks, tell us a little about who you are and what you do.What does training missionaries at Radius look like?Have…
Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford, co-hosts of The Missions Podcast, discuss the concept of obedience-based discipleship that is found in CPM/DMM resources. They acknowledge the importance of obedience in discipleship but express concerns that it is related to works-based righteousness. The podcast references Alex Kocman's article posted here. Listen here.
In this episode of the Defend and Confirm podcast, Sean and Russell critique obedience-based discipleship. Key points include: Obedience before conversion isn't possible. Only regenerate people can obey.Obedience before conversion results in nominalism and false conversions.The priority is on "doing" rather than knowing or believing. This is unbiblical. Theological consideration: when were the disciples converted? Did Jesus…
In this article, Alex Kocman, Director of Advancement and Communications for ABWE, critiques obedience-based discipleship (OBD). In it, Kocman affirms the importance of obedience but takes issue with OBD because it conflates law with the gospel, separates discipleship from conversion, and means that the unconverted may still be obedient disciples—among other issues. Read it here.
Robert Kelbe critiques disciple-making movements from the perspective of a Reformed Presbyterian. He does so using the outline of the seven elements of disciple-making movements as found in David and Paul Watson's book Contagious Disciple Making (2014, Thomas Nelson). Kelbe concludes: "As Reformed Presbyterians, we might rather have to sacrifice explosive growth on the altar of Biblical…
Russell Berger and Sean DeMars, co-hosts of the Defend and Confirm podcast, begin their series critiquing church planting movements with this episode. This episode is meant to introduce the issues, but they actually jump in with their critique. A couple of their points seem slightly off base—namely, that nearly all IMB missionaries are applying the CPM methodologies…
Caleb Morell, currently the Senior Pastoral Assistant for Research at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., reviewed Steve Addison's 2019 book, The Rise and Fall of Movements: A Roadmap for Leaders (100Movements Publishing). Morell takes issue with several DMM elements featured in Addison's book, including obedience-based discipleship, definition of church (or lack thereof), and Discovery Bible…
The Missions Podcast co-hosts Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford interview IMB Vice President for Global Training Zane Pratt. The interview addressed disciple-making movements (DMM), syncretism, and obedience-based discipleship. Questions included: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your ministry.What is a disciple-making movement?What about the Great Commission's inclusion of teaching?Why is it important to discuss disciple-making…
Chad Vegas' A Brief Guide to DMM has been one of the most popular critiques of DMM. Propempo International called it the "best critique of DMM to date." Vegas is the pastor of Sovereign Grace Church in Bakersfield, CA and the chairman of the board of Radius International. His DMM critique was originally posted on the Radius…