I recently decided to start an account on Goodreads, which my wife has used a lot. I discovered that my book is listed there (I guess because Goodreads is owned by Amazon), and I even had a couple of reviews. One of the reviewers had participated in a men's small group using the book, and gave a very positive review (thank you Simon, if you are reading this!).

I am currently working on a small group study guide to go in the book in a new, updated edition. I hope to have that project done before Christmas and have the new edition online and ready to go before the new year. I am also currently leading a small group study of the book myself in Hungary with some staff at the International Christian School of Budapest. Every time I teach this material I feel like I gain new insights myself into the process of discipleship. This time around, the importance of having close fellowship with a group of other believers has particularly been hitting home to me. 

While many things in the book can be done individually, many others cannot. Discipleship involves both individual and corporate elements. Importantly, the attribute of brotherly kindness can only develop in close community with other believers. I think this is an increasing challenge in our modern world where it is easy for people to live isolated lives. I myself have personally struggled with this issue for several years, as a lot of my current work is done remotely.

In addition, a lot of the people that I know are missionaries who have very busy schedules and not much time or bandwidth for adding another meeting into their schedule. I am in the process of trying to work out a solution to this dilemma, but it is not easy. Our fragmented social situations carry a strong pull away from fellowship with other believers and into isolation. In some ways this has been the case for a long time. In today's world, however, one can "attend" church online and watch preaching and teaching from pastors around the world without having to leave the house or even change out of pajamas. And who doesn't like a nice, relaxing Sunday morning lounging around in pajamas?

Of course, the book of Hebrews is very explicit about this: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Heb. 10:24-25). So this pull of isolation goes all the way back to the early church. Having a group of like-minded believers for encouragement (as opposed to the opposite) is a great blessing. May we have fellowship in that kind of encouraging environment.