Customer Reviews

The Multiplying Church: The New Math for Starting New Churches

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This is a must read book for church planters. Bob Roberts writes in a very easy to read style but the content is deep. As I was preparing my own book on church planting, I felt compelled to read all the church planting books on the market. This book stood out. It's excellent--pure and simple. I found myself going back to it again and again. Not only is Bob Roberts a successful practioner (having planting approximately 100 churches), he's also a great teacher. His passion can be seen on every page. I also like the way the book is laid out. You won't be disappointed by this book.

Took this book w/ me to Nigeria; it was so good that I gave it away to friend who lives there. Here are a couple of notable quotes that stuck with me (I literally left the book with a friend, so these quotes are coming from the 6 pages of notes that I took)...
1. (pg. 43) we are fixated on the harvest, but have forgotten how to water.
2. (pg. 123) mission of the church = mobilizing believers to serve every domain of society.
3. (pg. 129-ish) a feature of the global church is a long term commitment to a specific place in the world until it becomes a sending place...(YES YES YES!!)
4. (pg. 161) give time to what really matters.

Great book Bob...can't wait for #4, my co-workers are waiting on it!

scott b

For years I was searching for some sort of "Acts 2" movement. This book, along with Transformation & Glocalization gives me hope that others are not only thinking the same way as I am, but many are doing it.

Most books on church planting begin and end with a sort of organizational feel. Build a core, raise some money and do some marketing. These things aren't bad per se...But they don't necessarily change the world.

This book give me hope that the Kingdom can be real and tangible. We can make a "glocal" impact, become friends with others with whom we don't share the same theological beliefs and yet not compromise our own beliefs in the process.

So if you want to be convicted, challenged and inspired, do yourself a favor and pick up this book and start walking in the new "flat" world.

The real key to a church planting movement doesn't lie in the individual church that is planted, but in the incubators that produce churches, according to Bob Roberts in this book. Roberts argues that church planting movements are second-tier movements to Jesus movements. Jesus movements travel through social networks, and they take time to establish themselves. They are led by disciples, not church planters, and they are led by the young.

According to the author, none of the usual reasons for planting a church is sufficient in itself: obedience to the Great Commission; conducting evangelism more effectively; communicating more relevantly; conducting research and development in new church styles; establishing bases to reach more people; reaching future generations; and impacting existing churches. The only real reason worth starting a church is to achieve transformation in the lives of people and communities. So the dreaming should start not with the church, but with the people outside the church.

I found the book hard to follow in parts, as the author seemed to leap from idea to idea; nonetheless it is a very worthwhile read as it contains some attractive ideas. Chapter 8 encourages us to start with the society, not the church, and to think like a community developer. We need to know what is going on in the society in the domains of economics, agriculture, education, medicine/science/technology, communication, arts/entertainment, governance/justice and family. Churches emerge when the gospel intersects these domains and people begin to follow Christ.

I love how Leonard Sweet says that any book by Bob Roberts is an event. Well said! I have a feeling that knowing Bob Roberts is an event as well. I read many books and there is no author that I have come across who practices what he preaches more than Bob. When you read his words you know that you are hearing his heart and that you can trust what he says because he has lived it time and time again. I am a church planting wife who loved the book and I would recommend this book not only to pastors but to the entire church. It's not just enough for the pastor guy to get the vision. Get the book and pass it around!

Bob Roberts has written a compelling case for churches to reproduce more churches. He calls for churches of all sizes to be sending out people to start all sorts of churches to reach all sorts of people. His book isn't just a book of theories, but he speaks from the position of a man who has been there and done that.

He gives both practical advice and impassioned pleas. This book should be read by everyone in church leadership interested in expanding God's Kingdom here on earth.

Here is an exciting book on church planting by someone who has 100 church plants started and some of these overseas. Most of his ideas are outside the box but they do stimulate your thinking and previous ideas.

The book is in three parts, 1) "The New Math," 2) "The Prime Numbers," and 3) "The Sum Total."

Roberts "New Math" is the way he gives a resume of each chapter. An example is the first chapter entitled "Made in Asia--Jesus Movements." For this chapter his math is "CPM-CP+J=JM" which translated is "A church planting movement (CPM) minus church planting (CP) leaves a movement. But what kind of a movement do we want? Add to that Jesus (J) and you get what we are all after--a Jesus movement." (Roberts 2008, 38) Roberts is simply thinking outside of our models and saying that when believers discover the Lord Jesus they are filled with fire and many people come to Christ and new churches are planted as in China.

You will want to read each of these chapters and get excited by the ways God works in grace by his Holy Spirit.

Here are some key quotes:
"Better to be a mother who produces ten than a church planter who produces one. The real key to a church planting movement doesn't lie in the individual church that is planted but in the incubators that produce churches." (17)

And again,

"Upon examination, the movements that are exploding often have poor systems, little control, and massive fruit." (25-26)

You will want to think through the eight discoveries that he details on pages 29 to 38 to having your vision of church planting challenged and stimulated.

On page 62 he lists five reasons why churches do not multiply. Look at these and ask yourself which of these six hinder your church from multiplying.

Church planting movements are springing up all over the world, notes author Bob Roberts. Surprisingly, the Chinese are leading the way with their "Back to Jerusalem" movement.

Whether in Asia, North America or elsewhere, Roberts believes a church planting movement requires local churches to be planting churches. Glocalnet is the network formed by Robert's Northwood Church in Fort Worth, Texas. Glocalnet has planted as many as 75 churches in one year. Roberts believes any church that doesn't multiply is dead.

Starting new churches is not enough. These new churches need to be transformational, that is churches that are dramatically transforming communities, cities and even nations.

Roberts advises starting new churches for the world. Northwood Church not only requires their church plants within the first year to help start another new church, but also to adopt another nation and begin working in that country. In this way do you instill the vision that each new church is started not just for a community, but for the world.

Roberts offers other parameters for new churches. They should be classless and raceless. They should also be missional, incarnational, organic, contextual, glocal and evolving. Every Christian should be part of at least one new church plant.

A new church doesn't have to start from scratch. Existing churches can be restarted. First Baptist Church in Houston, Texas has restarted 24 dying churches, resulting in 24 thriving churches. There are many advantages to restarting an existing church.

Roberts also advises choosing a domain of society such as the arts or education and having the church serve as a connection center for that domain. For example, if your church is heavy with medical talent the focus of transformation can be medical, science and technology with the church serving as a connection center for members of the church and society at large.

Excellent resource for the church and all who want to see the church really impact the community and reach the world for Christ