Later this fall, Jason Abbott (my co-pastor) and I are launching a book. It’s called, More People to Love: How the Bible Starts in a Garden and Ends in a City and What That Means for You. I’m really excited about it.

More People to Love is a book about The Big Story of the Bible. It’s about God’s plan, as revealed from Genesis to Revelation, to “make [his] name great among the nations” (Malachi 1:11). At times, our lives can be very difficult. But seeing our lives in light of The Big Story—the beautiful story of God’s unfolding plan of redemption—gives us the perspective we need to carry on with purpose and joy.

Brant Hansen wrote the foreword. He’s a nationally syndicated Christian radio host and author of Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better. I just read a draft of his foreword. Here’s a few quotes from it:

Growing up in country churches, I’d sing along with songs about heaven. And they all evoked the countryside. “I want a mansion, just over the hilltop . . .” and “Just give me a little cabin, in the corner of Gloryland . . .”

Of course Heaven would be rural. It’s obvious. And Hell? Well, I’m just saying it’s overcrowded. Probably has a subway. So draw your own conclusions. . . .

I still love small towns, and still yearn for the familiar. But God has changed my heart on this one. Like Jason and Benjamin point out in this book, Heaven is going to be a city. The old hymns steered me wrong on this one.

I can’t wait to share the whole thing with you.

How Can You Help?

Would you like to help us with the project? In a few weeks, I’ll say more about this. For now, I’ll just mention two ways.

First, we’ll need a dozen or so “beta readers”—people to read and comment on the manuscript before it’s published.

Second, we’ll also need people (hopefully quite a few people!) to promote the book on social media.

If you want to help with either of these, please send me an email (benjamin@fanandflame.com or click here).

The book launch won't be until sometime in December, but below is a sneak peak at the table of contents.

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CONTENTS

Foreword, Brant Hansen

Preface, Benjamin Vrbicek

1 | A Man into a Multitude, Jason Abbott, Genesis 1–12

2 | Letter to Exiles, Benjamin Vrbicek, Jeremiah 29:1–14

3 | A Stunning Victory, Jason Abbott, Matthew 4:1–11

4 | The Good Shepherd, Benjamin Vrbicek, John 10:1–16

5 | Not Too Light a Thing, Jason Abbott, Acts 10:1–8

6 | The Death that Killed Hostility, Benjamin Vrbicek, Ephesians 2:11–22

7 | The New Harrisburg, Jason Abbott, Revelation 21:22–27

Epilogue, Benjamin Vrbicek

Notes

[Picture by Anthony Delanoix / Unsplash]