4MAT – Book Review
Multiply: Disciples Making Disciples
Gaspar A. Cortez
DSMN 660 – D01 Leading the Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Church
Aug. 15, 2025
Contents
Introduction............................................................................................................................1
Abstract..................................................................................................................................1
Concrete Response and Reflection..........................................................................................4
Action.....................................................................................................................................6
Conclusion..............................................................................................................................7
Bibliography............................................................................................................................9
ii
1
Chan, Francis and Mark Beuving. Multiply: Disciples Making Disciples. Colorado Springs, CO:
David C. Cook, 2012.
Introduction
Another fantastic book by Francis Chan; this time along with Mark Beuving. Multiply:
Disciples Making Disciples is both a theological overview of Scripture and a personal summons
to return to the simplicity yet significant call of Yeshua the Messiah. As I read and even heard
the whole book through Chan’s voice, I found myself challenged, not only to absorb the
information, but to truly examine whether my own life mirrors the biblical pattern of
discipleship from Genesis to Revelation (Ja. 2:18). The book’s five sections unfold like a journey,
from the personal call to follow Yeshua, to the shared life of the Assembly, to the practical
discipline of studying Scripture, and finally to the sweeping redemptive plan that frames the
entire biblical narrative.
As a Jewish believer in Messiah, this review is engaged through a Messianic Jewish lens.
It will include an abstract summarizing the book’s themes, a concrete analysis of its
fundamental ideas, some personal reflection on its implications for discipleship, some action
steps drawn from the reading, and conclude with a brief summary.
Abstract
From the outset, Chan and Beuving define discipleship not as a label but as a life. A
disciple is a talmid, one who walks after the Rabbi, learning His ways, imitating His actions, and
surrendering entirely to His authority.1 Following Yeshua begins with repentance and faith, but it
does not end there. In a culture where the contemporary church’s belief is often separated from
obedience, the authors’ insistence that allegiance to Yeshua is costly felt, like a needed rebuke.2
1 Francis Chan and Mark Beuving, Multiply: Disciples Making Disciples (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2012),
15.
2 The terms church and assembly carry distinct meanings. In this writer’s view, the church is not the same as the
original Assembly. The original Assembly never altered the appointed times, feasts, or set aside the Torah and its
2
They echo Yeshua’s own words that a disciple must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow,
no matter the cost.3
This leads naturally into the Great Commission, which the authors present not as an
optional ministry program, but as the defining mission of every believer. In reading their call to
“go and make disciples,” I could not help but think of the Torah’s own pattern of רֹודָ וA רֹודְלC
(l’dor v’dor), passing covenant faith from generation to generation.4 In both frameworks, the
responsibility rests on ordinary people empowered by Hashem, not a professional religious class
(Dt. 7:6; Isa. 61:6); 1 Pet. 2:9). I appreciated the reminder from Ephesians 4 that pastors are
called to equip the saints for ministry, not to do the ministry on their behalf.5
The second section turns to the life of the Assembly, both local and global. Discipleship,
Chan and Beuving insist, is impossible in isolation.6 Here I saw clear parallels to Israel’s identity
as a “kingdom of priests” (Exodus 19:6), called to bear Hashem’s name and character before all
nations not in covenant (Isa. 49:6). The Assembly should be continuation of this calling, diverse
in culture and even geography, yet all unified in the Messiah, charged and commanded to
demonstrate the Good News through love and holiness. The authors conclude Part II with the
challenge to confront the temptation in choosing comfort over mission, urging believers to
instructions. By contrast, the church has done so through man-made traditions, faulty interpretations, and, at
times, even deliberate mistranslations. See, many writings of the church fathers.
3 Ibid., 23.
4 My Jewish Learning, “What does L’dor Vador Mean? An Emotional Jewish Catchphrase Explained.,”
myjewishlearning.com (online), no date given, accessed Aug. 8, 2025,
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/what-does-ldor-vador-mean/.
5 Chan and Beuving, Multiply, 19.
6 Ibid., 51.
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embrace the global scope of Hashem’s plan, that believers from every tribe, tongue, and nation
would be brought into covenant relationship with Him.7
Part Three, on how to study the Bible, was perhaps the most practical. The authors
remind us that Scripture is not merely a textbook, but the voice, the inaudible and sometimes
even audible logos of our Father and King. Study must be done prayerfully, humbly, and with the
intent to obey.8 This aligns closely with the greatest of all commands in the Scriptures, to
‘Shema,’ the command and action call to “hear” and “do.” Knowledge without application is
self-deception (Ja. 2:19), but knowledge paired with obedience becomes transformation (Ro.
2:13; Ja. All). Their balance between careful, logical study and dependence on the Ruach (Spirit)
echoes with my own conviction that Torah study (Ro. 7:7) and Spirit-led insight are not in
tension, but in harmony (Eze. 36:26-27).9
The final two sections place discipleship within the grand sweep of Hashem’s redemptive
plan. The Tanakh is presented not as a prelude to be discarded, but as the essential foundation
for understanding the Good News10. The narrative begins in creation, moves through the Fall and
the covenants with Abraham, Moses, and David, and anticipates a [re]new[ed] covenant and
perfect King. The sacrifices, priesthood, and presence of Hashem in the tabernacle and temple
are all revealed as shadows pointing to Messiah Yeshua, the true Lamb and ultimate High Priest.
The New Testament brings this arc to fulfillment. Yeshua is shown as the promised Son of
David, inaugurating the kingdom of Hashem not through force but through service, healing,
teaching, and sacrificial death. His resurrection confirms His kingship and seals the [re]new[ed]
7 Ibid., 87.
8 Ibid., Part III-Ch.2.
9 Ibid., Part III, Ch 3.
10 Ibid., 139.
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covenant, a covenant written on hearts, empowering obedience through the Spirit. The early
Assembly emerges as a Spirit filled, Torah honoring, mission driven community, embodying the
life of the kingdom in real time. This, Chan and Beuving argue, is the pattern we are called to
recover.11
The book concludes with a call to action. They argue that it is what the reader does from
here that really matters. His Word is living and active (He. 4:12), so commit “to following
Yeshua and taking seriously His command to help other people follow Him more fully.”12
Concrete Response and Reflection
As usual Chan’s (and Beuving) book, Multiply has been convicting for me. Chan and
Beuving don’t just present disciple making as an optional add-on to the life of a believer, they
make it clear that it is the only life we should live. They strip away the clutter, the excuses, and
the layers of church culture that sometimes distract from the simple truth; Yeshua has called
every believer to go and make disciples (Mt. 28:19-20). This isn’t a task for a select few with
special training (higher education) or titles (i.e. pastors and the like), it’s for all of us. This reality
as Chan usually does, forces me to look in the mirror and see how I walk out my faith, not just
how I “participate” in the Assembly.
One of the most striking aspects of the book is how it consistently connects making
disciples to obedience. The authors do not portray disciple making as a program or curriculum,
but as a lifestyle that flows out of a deep love for Yeshua. Knowledge alone isn’t enough. We can
study the Bible, memorize verses, and attend countless sermons, but if we are not living in
obedience to what we learn, we are missing the whole point, the telos. As someone who values
11 Ibid., 327.
12 Ibid., 333.
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study and deep theological engagement, it was reminder for me as I am about to wrap up this
degree, where my focus must always be, His Kingdom.
For me, the thought of “success” in ministry has never been about numbers, attendance,
or budget growth. Yeah, those things can be useful tools, but they are not the goal. True success
is measured by faithfulness to Yeshua’s command, to make disciples who make more disciples. It
should be understood that this kind of ministry will be slower, messier, and far less predictable
than a program driven model. It is deeply relational, reflecting the very way Yeshua ministered,
investing in a few (12+1) who would in turn reach many. This is why I have committed myself to
walk closely with people, to let them into my life, to share in their struggles, and to be honest
about my own walk. Patience and intentionality are not just strategies; these are a way of
walking in real disciple making.
A section that really stood out to me was in Part III, Chapter 1, “To Teach Us about
Himself.” From Genesis to Revelation, the story is centered on Him, not humanity; it centers on
what He is doing for His creation. This perspective has shaped how I approach Scripture. I am
not mining for a gem to make self-help tips or personal validation but seeking to know the
Elohim who reveals Himself in its pages.13 His holiness, power, mercy, justice, and love are not
concepts for me to redefine; they are truths for me to receive and submit to. And this thought
always makes me question the contemporary church; why do they redefine His ways (Dt. 6:25)
and change His rules (Dan.7:25) which are to last forever for all people trying to enter into His
Kingdom (Ex. 12:49)?
And finally, I was also challenged by the book’s straightforward honesty about cost.
Following Yeshua and making disciples will cost us time, comfort, convenience, even
13 Ibid., 95.
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relationships.14 The authors remind us that Yeshua never promised an easy road. And this forced
me to ask hard questions: Am I willing to be inconvenienced for the sake of someone else’s
growth in Messiah? Am I ready to rearrange my schedule, my home, and even my personal
goals so that others can know Him? I don’t think anyone can read this book honestly without
wrestling with those questions.
Action
The journey begins with a disciplined, ongoing relationship with Hashem’s Word.
Reading about the Bible is not enough, Multiply calls me to immerse myself in the Scripture
daily, allowing its living and active power to shape and transform me day after day. I need to
begin every approach to reading with these vital questions. What is Hashem saying here? and
how will I respond? This intentional posture will turn my daily Bible reading from a passive task
into a vibrant encounter with Hashem that fuels obedience and spiritual growth.
Disciple making is not a solo endeavor or a program to complete, it’s a relational journey
meant to multiply life and faith across generations, רֹודָ וA רֹודְלC . In discipling others, I can start
simply by reading Scripture together, sharing insights and struggles, and encourage faithful
obedience to one another. This shared path, modeled on Shaul’s instructions to Timotiyos
(Timothy), honors the truth that disciple making is less about having all the answers and more
about faithfully walking with others toward Yeshua.
Multiply reminds me that our mission extends to the end of all things. The hope of
Yeshua’s return, the final judgment, and the restoration of all creation aren’t distant theological
ideas, they are urgent realities that compel how I live today. This eternal perspective calls me to
14 Part I. Ch 1.
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be a better and bolder witness, to have an unwavering faithfulness, and have a compassionate
perseverance, knowing that every disciple made advances His kingdom until His Son returns.
In embracing these steps, I can join the heartbeat of the Good News and become a
faithful participant in His redemptive plan; living out the calling to make disciples who make
disciples, and until the very end walk in humility, be just, and to love with kindness (Mic. 6:8).
As I got to end of the book, I felt a strong sense of personal responsibility. Multiply
doesn’t let you walk away thinking, “Great book, maybe I’ll apply someday” or, what my wife
hates, “this is a good book to leave on the shelf…in case.” The tone is urgent, the call is clear,
and the next step is obvious, start now. I can’t wait for the perfect moment or for more training.
I have people in my life right now who need to be discipled, and I have enough of the Word and
the Spirit to begin. The call is not to perfection, but to obedience.
Conclusion
Reading Multiply, and again as Chan normally does every time I read or listen to his
sermons, has reignited my own sense of calling. Discipleship is not a private pursuit, it is
relational, missional, and is designed to reproduce. Just as Genesis commands humanity to “be
fruitful and multiply,” Messiah commands us, His talmid, to multiply spiritually, to make disciples
who make disciples. From a Torah/Word/Yeshua centric perspective, this is nothing less than the
heartbeat of Hashem’s telos. His image bearers will walk in covenant faithfulness, know His
Word, live by His Spirit, and draw others into the same life-transforming journey.
In conclusion, Multiply has pushed me to move from intention to action. I am convinced
that the Great Commission is the third greatest of the commands because it is a byproduct of
the first two; love Hashem with everything we have and to love your neighbor with everything
we have. The way forward for me is to intentionally invest in a few people, teach them the
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Word, model what it means to follow Yeshua, and send them to do the same. It’s simple, but it’s
not easy. And yet, this is how the Kingdom grows, not through programs or platforms, but
through ordinary believers faithfully multiplying disciples, one relationship at a time.
This isn’t just a book I have now read; it is now a part of my bigger blueprint for how I
want to live. Now, it’s my turn to multiply.
Bibliography
Chan, Francis and Mark Beuving. Multiply: Disciples Making Disciples. Colorado Springs, CO:
David C. Cook, 2012.
My Jewish Learning. “What does L’dor Vador Mean? An Emotional Jewish Catchphrase
Explained.” myjewishlearning.com (online). No date given. Accessed Aug. 8, 2025.
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/what-does-ldor-vador-mean/.
