Great Omission, The

The last command Jesus gave before he ascended to heaven was the Great Commission, the call to "make disciples of all the nations." But Christians have responded by making "Christians," not "disciples." This, according to renowned Christian thinker Dallas Willard, has been the church's Great Omission.

Drawing upon previously published articles from magazines such as Christianity Today and Leadership Journal as well as remarks given at various conferences, Willard challenges the thought that we can be Christians without being disciples. He calls on believers to restore what should be the heart of Christianity - being active disciples of Jesus Christ. Willard shows us that in the school of life, we are apprentices of the Teacher whose brilliance encourages us to rise above traditional church understanding and embrace the true meaning of discipleship - an active, concrete, 24/7 life with Jesus.

This collection includes 20 of Dr. Willard's articles and lectures relating to intentional discipleship, with a new Introduction and Parting Word written specifically for this book. If you have done much reading on our website, you may have already read portions of the book. Click here to learn more and see the Table of Contents.

"If you have any desire to find the life God offers you, read this book."
- John Eldredge, author of Wild at Heart

"Dallas Willard is insistent, relentless and tireless in his message to us: he keeps calling us to take this life of Jesus seriously as disciples, as apprentices to a Master. 'Christian' is following Jesus, not just talking about him."
-Eugene Peterson, author of The Message

"The Great Ommision is, simply put, great. I recommend it highly."
- Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline

"I know no one like Dallas Willard who can express profound things so simply and simple things so profoundly. I never fail to benefit from his writings."
-Os Guinness, author of The Call

"There is NO one like Dallas. Finding more of his words is like getting hidden treasure. Read and grow!"
- John Ortberg, author of God is Closer Than You Think

"Another classic from the pen of this remarkable writer. Inclusive and insightful, this book issues a compelling call for the rediscovery and renewal of Christian discipleship."
-Alister E. McGrath, Professor of Historical Theology, Oxford University

DALLAS WILLARD (PhD., University of Wisconsin) is a Professor in the School of Philosophy at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He has taught at USC since 1965, where he was Director of the School of Philosophy from 1982-1985. His philosophical publications are mainly in the areas of epistemology, the philosophy of mind and of logic, and on the philosophy of Edmund Husserl, including extensive translations of Husserl's early writings from German into English.

He also lectures and publishes in religion. Renovation of the Heart received Christianity Today's 2003 Book Award in the category of Spirituality. The Divine Conspiracy was selected Christianity Today's "Book of the Year" for 1999. The Spirit of the Disciplines appeared in 1988, and Hearing God (1999) first appeared as In Search of Guidance in 1984 (2nd edition in 1993). His latest publications are The Great Omission and Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice.