Multiplying Churches: Exploring God’s Mission Strategy

by Steve Timmis

For many church leaders, struggling to cope with internal problems, church planting does not even appear on the agenda of things to be considered. But – how do we reach this lost generation in which we have been placed? Multiplying Churches , written from Acts 29’s years of experience, unpacks how church plants can be used not only to reach people with the Gospel, but to encourage an entire church family to be actively involved in doing so. This serves as a timely reminder that mission needs to be our identity rather than our event.

192 pages, Paperback

First published July 6, 2000

About the author

Steve Timmis has many years of experience with churches both large and small. He is currently part of the Crowded House initiative in Sheffield. He is married to Janet and has four children.

Reviews

[Bob O'Bannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book makes a bold claim: "Every church should be a church-planting church; every church without exception." (71). While one might quibble with this statement for one reason or another, there is no denying, as this book so persuasively argues, that the Great Commission is fulfilled not just in one-on-one, individualistic evangelistic encounters, but primarily through the planting of local congregations.

Given the evidence presented here, primarily from the book of Acts, it is indeed peculiar that so many churches, especially large churches with masses of people and abundant resources, for some reason do not give themselves to the task of church planting (177). Certainly there is sorrow and sacrifice in sending people out (Acts 13:1-3), but if the Holy Spirit is indeed a "church-planting Spirit" (71), can we afford to do otherwise?

If you wonder why church planting is important, especially since so many churches already exist, read this book. "The fruit of the gospel is communities of light invading the darkness and dispelling the oppressive gloom of chaos and disorder. This is church planting and this is how glorious it is." (68).

[Andrzej Stelmasiak · Rating 1 out of 5]

The greatest thing about this book is that it is so poor in meaningful content, that it reads very quickly, so not much time was wasted on it.
Less than a handful of good insights spread across boring mediocrity results in 1.5 stars maximum.

[Kristopher Schaal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short book on church planting by several authors affiliated with Acts 29. It's not earth-shattering, but I did glean some helpful insights. Chapters 1, 3-5, and 10 were especially helpful.

[Lauren Prevett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Timmis and fellow authors left much to be desired when it comes to the practical nature of church planting.