There were three of us. We sat in the back room of my house week after week, and talked about life and the Bible and anything else that came to mind. As an Evangelical Christian, I was working hard to help my “unsaved” friend find salvation. And the other had just recently turned control of his life over to God. We built a strong foundation for their faith during those times of study and prayer. My memories of those conversations are some of the most precious memories I have as a Christian.

It was discipleship in its purest form.

I’ve come to believe that consistent, regular discipleship is how the church should be building its foundation. And this isn’t the job of pastors and other paid ministry staff. It’s the job of every Christian in the church. Every one of us should look not only to how we can be discipled, but also how we can disciple another.

Enter Francis Chan’s new book, multiply: disciples making disciples. It’s a book that’s designed, “not to be read, but to be taught.” The goal of the book is the help the reader understand the Scriptures for himself, and then to have the tools in hand to help others understand them too. That’s one of my favorite things… reading and studying the Bible in community with others.

Chan has structured the book so that each chapter is a weekly study guide. The experience also uses extra pdf, audio, and video resources at the Multiply Movement website to help you along this journey of discipleship. So this is more than a book, it’s a toolkit for building a strong, reproducible foundation in the Word of God.

Chan has always had a knack for hitting readers right where they need to be hit. His teaching resonates deeply with many, and I expect that this resource will continue to do the same. He always brings things back to the Word, and helps us find the balance we need. His teachings have helped many better understand how we all fit into His story.

The world today doesn’t need more people coming to church on Sunday mornings. What it needs is more people discipling others into everything that God has called them to. The growth of the church depends on people like you and me discipling people like the two guys I used to sit with, so that they can go out and do the same thing with others. You don’t have to be a minister to be a minister.

So get this book… and go multiply.

Review for the Patheos Book Club Roundtable Discussion on Francis Chan’s Multiply: Disciples Making Disciples.

For more information about the Patheos Book Club, click here.