God doesn’t bless us to raise our standard of living. God blesses us to raise our standard of giving, and that’s where true joy is found. The New York Times bestselling author of Chase the Lion challenges us not to settle for half of what God offers when it comes to blessings—we are BLESSED to BLESS. His discovery started with a simple experiment. Whenever Batterson received a blessing, he … Batterson received a blessing, he would give a similar blessing away. If someone paid him a compliment or gave him a gift or went out of their way to help him, he would return the favor by doing something similar for someone else.
We flip the blessing by blessing others in the way God has blessed us. That’s how the blessing becomes a double blessing. It turns giving into a game—one we can’t win because God will always outgive us! It’s an ancient truth found within the Abrahamic covenant: “I will bless you . . . and you will be a blessing.”
In other words, we are blessed to bless. The first blessing is receiving, but it doesn’t end there. The second blessing is giving it away! That’s the double blessing. And that’s where double joy is found.
In a day and age where the idea of blessing has been reduced to a hashtag (#blessed), Batterson challenges readers to pursue true, God-glorifying blessing and experience an exponential impact by participating in the double blessing.
Don’t settle for half of what God offers. Discover how you can both get it and give it . . . in Double Blessing.
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A book that can change your life! Learn to “flip the blessing” by blessing someone else every time you are blessed! Mark Batterson will teach you to be a blessing to others! Learn how to make your church and yourself more generous. We know that the first ten percent belongs to God but can you imagine giving 90 percent and keeping ten for yourself! Double Blessing will make you want to be more generous! I recommend this book to all Christians and unbelievers! I received a complimentary e-book through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.
I love the premise of this book. In this world where many people are more concerned about getting, we are reminded that we get so that we can give. Don’t you love that you can’t out give God? It’s a constant cycle of receiving and giving. Sharing some very good stories from his own experiences we see examples of that in action.
Don’t be fooled by the title. Batterson makes it very plain that we are not given wealth to store it up for ourselves, but to give to others. And blessing isn’t always financial. Is there a way you can bless someone who needs help in other ways? And what about gratitude? Are we thankful? Is our church one that gives? We are challenged throughout!
Written in a very easy to read and understand manner, I highly recommend this book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
I wanted to like “Double Blessing”. And there is a lot to like about it, don’t get me wrong. But I felt like it was disproportionately focused on *us*—what we can do to get more blessing from God. Surface level, that sounds great—who doesn’t want more blessing from God?
But I felt the book focused too much on that, and much less on God and his glory. He is ultimately about spreading his glory to the ends of the earth…and we as Christians are invited to join in that. Yeah—seeing ourselves rightly before God is critical. Seeing self how he sees us. And making changes accordingly is also critical. But am I seeking blessing for pursuit of my own glory…or God’s?
Batters on repeatedly insists the book isn’t about the prosperity gospel, far from it…but it feels like it is at times, to me.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Batterson is one of my favorite authors and I was excited to be an early reader for this amazing book! In “Double Blessing,” pastor Mark Batterson shares his opinion on how we’ve misunderstood the blessings of God: “What is the blessing of God? It’s God—God with us, God for us, God in us. To reduce it to anything less dishonors God and devalues the blessing.”
Don’t expect a how to on prosperity gospel in “Double Blessing.” This book is about anything but! Often we attempt to place God in box, asking Him for what we call blessings, instead of trusting Him to supply our needs and bless us according to His will. If we are blessed with more than we can use or are given a way to bless another, that becomes a double blessing–we are able to help someone else because we’ve been blessed by God. It seems simple, doesn’t it?
Batterson writes in a relatable way and is easy to understand. He uses his years of experience in ministry, gathering examples from Scripture and applying those examples to real world situations. He walks with the reader, not using verbiage that is above the reader’s head or using “Christianese.”
“Double Blessing” would be an amazing book to read corporately as a church, small group or even for those in the non profit sector. Don’t miss this one if you’ve struggled with giving or receiving blessings. To give means to provide for another-and you can’t out give God!
I especially loved this quote: “Generosity is born of optimism. Optimism is an abundance of hope, an abundance of faith.” Batterson then speaks on the boy with the two loaves and five fish and his willingness to give to Jesus, inadvertently providing for thousands with his small gift.
I was an early reader, thanks to Waterbrook Multnomah. All opinions were my own and I was not required to leave a review.
RECEIVE THE BLESSINGS!
DOUBLE BLESSING (How to Get It. How to Give It.) is another excellent example of Mark Batterson’s inviting and easily understandable writing style. He is the best at making readers feel as though he’s sitting beside them, talking to them instead of them just reading a book. That’s a phenomenal gift!
Batterson writes “Blessing is God’s default setting—His first and foremost reflex. If you don’t believe that, you’ll doubt the goodness of God. And if you second-guess the goodness of God, you’ll forfeit His blessing. God wants to bless you beyond your ability to ask or imagine.” He continues by “threading the needle” of the blessing from Genesis to Revelation. Batterson reminds readers that “… the blessing of God is more than a mystery to solve. It’s a decision to make, a habit to form and a mindset to establish.”
He writes “The way we turn a blessing into a double blessing is by flipping the blessing. The secret of the double blessing is simply this: the way you get it is by giving it.
I received a complimentary uncorrected proof of this book. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
Mark Batterson has written an inspiring book with Double Blessings, How to Get It, How to Give It. This talented author gives readers a blessing with his book! Using stories from the Bible and real life Double Blessings shows readers the multitude of ways God blesses us and that we in turn can bless others.
This is an extremely well written and well planned book. The author’s writing style is easy to read and flows effortlessly. He gives examples of passing along a blessing he has received (double blessing) which are heartwarming to read.
He uses Scripture freely to illustrate and teach. He uses the stories of Elisha and Elijah as well as Abraham and Isaac to show that we can receive and also give blessings that are from God. Sometimes a kind word or deed is a blessing to someone.
This is a thought provoking, encouraging book that will change your view on receiving and giving blessings. I highly recommend it to everyone. It definitely receives 5 out of 5 stars from me. A copy was provided from the publisher, but these are my honest words.