Multiply - Francis Chan
The Bible is clear that sharing the gospel and encouraging Christians is not only the job of the pastor, paid ministers or missionaries. Jesus commissioned his followers to make more followers of Jesus and the book by Francis Chan takes its cue from that. The title Multiply communicates Jesus’ teaching on this matter, but also very practically and simply lays out the basics of Christian living.
And the way Chan accomplishes that is through the method Christians have used through the millennia: reading the Bible together. There are many books that make great study companions, but ultimately the Bible is best. It is God’s effective and clear word to us, answering difficult theological questions while also providing us with the practical direction and guidelines for following Christ.
But the Christian life isn’t lived alone, despite many of us trying to do just that, so Multiply is written in a format that instructs Christians to read together, to disciple each other, understand the Bible in community, and be mutually encouraged.
There are many books like this one, so why should you read it? Perhaps its biggest selling point, apart from rich simplicity and use of Scripture to teach, is this: Multiply is an excellent tool that empowered me to read with others.
The book is laid out chapter by chapter, to work from the ground up in discipling others. It provides passages to be read, questions to be discussed and points for reflection. If we believe that the responsibility to make and mature other followers of Christ isn’t only the role of those employed by the church, then this book is an invaluable resource to read with someone else and do just that.
The following hymn was softly sung by a 17-year old girl in hospital as she was being treated for a snapped neck that resulted in her becoming a quadriplegic. Years later she was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer.
If you have been reading the Bible continually, you would have noticed that Jesus promised suffering to His followers, on this side of eternity. In chapter 8 of Mark’s Gospel, not long after Jesus had revealed His purpose to His disciples, He says the following:
When I finished reading this book, I was in awe.
The Bible is clear that sharing the gospel and encouraging Christians is not only the job of the pastor, paid ministers or missionaries. Jesus commissioned his followers to make more followers of Jesus and the book by Francis Chan takes its cue from that. The title Multiply communicates Jesus’ teaching on this matter, but also very practically and simply lays out the basics of Christian living.