Review: The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus’s Essential Teachings on Discipleship

I’ve read pretty much everything Dallas Willard ever wrote.  The Divine Conspiracy might be one of my most marked up, starred, underlined, dog-eared books.  Renovation of the Heart and The Spirit of the Disciplines are right on its heels.  I’ve bookmarked websites.  I’ve printed reams of articles…and they’re just as marked up as any of the books.

Last week I finally picked up a copy of The Great Omission.  Containing “several previously published articles and addresses on discipleship, spiritual growth and formation,” I can tell you that my copy is now no different than anything else I’ve ever worked my way through of Willard’s.  Lots of notations, underlined passages, and dog-eared pages!

Unlike Willard’s other books, The Great Omission is a collection of articles.  Especially when read straight through, there are sentences and sections that have a familiar ring.  Clearly, the ideas and themes in these articles played significant roles in his speaking and writing.  Rather than feeling that he was repeating himself, I found myself with a deepening sense that I had uncovered a long lost treasure.

I came across too many memorable phrases and quotes to mention here.  I have no doubt that many of them will end up in our small group leader and small group coach’s development materials.  Very rich ideas that will be so helpful to unpack with out team.

In addition to the collection of articles, the book also includes a set of very informative reviews of many of the major works of other writers in his field including Laubach’s Letters of a Modern Mystic and The Interior Castle by Teresa of Avila along with several others.

Is Dallas Willard’s The Great Omission part of your library?  I’m really enjoying this book and finding myself very challenged by a number of key ideas.  If you’ve never read it, I highly recommend it!