Forward In Multiplication
Moving Beyond the Sunday Service: God's Plan for Multiplication
There's something oddly comforting about background noise television—HGTV with its renovation dramas or Food Network with its cooking competitions. We've all been there, watching a chef expertly prepare a dish in thirty minutes, thinking, "I could totally do that." Then we try it at home, and reality hits. The chicken isn't searing properly, the timing is all wrong, and suddenly what looked effortless on screen becomes a kitchen disaster.
Here's the thing: watching chefs is fundamentally different from learning from chefs. And if we're honest, this is exactly how many of us approach our faith. We watch the experts, consume sermons, observe from a distance—but Jesus never invited us to be spectators. He said, "Follow me." Christianity isn't about observation; it's about participation.
God Is Always Doing Something New
The prophet Isaiah captured something profound about God's nature. After reminding Israel of their miraculous exodus from Egypt—the parted Red Sea, the toppled empire—God essentially says, "Forget about that. What I'm about to do next is even greater. I will make a path through the wilderness. I'm bringing rivers to the desert" (Isaiah 43:18-19).
Think about that. God isn't nostalgic. He's not sitting back polishing His trophy case, reminiscing about past victories. He's moving forward, reaching new people, making ways where there seem to be no ways. The question for us becomes urgent: If God is always moving forward, how do we move with Him?
The Blueprint for Multiplication
The apostle Paul laid out a clear pattern for how the church is designed to function. In Ephesians 4:11-16, he explains that Christ gave specific gifts to the church—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. But here's the critical part: these gifts weren't given so a few people could perform while everyone else watches. They were given "to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church."
This is revolutionary when you really let it sink in. The role of church leadership isn't to do all the ministry while everyone else spectates. It's to equip every believer to do the work of ministry themselves.
Recent research on church growth reveals something sobering. Churches can be categorized into five levels: subtracting (shrinking), plateauing, adding (growing in numbers), reproducing (starting new churches), and multiplying (churches that plant churches that plant churches). The heartbreaking reality? Only 7% of American churches reach levels four or five. A staggering 93% remain stuck in the first three levels.
Why? Because most churches operate under the assumption that only paid staff can make disciples. But if a church relies solely on its staff to make disciples, it will never multiply. The shift happens when every person in the church embraces their calling to make disciples.
Maturity Isn't What We Think It Is
Paul defines spiritual maturity in a way that might surprise us. He says we're working toward "measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ" through two specific markers: unity in faith and knowledge of God's Son (Ephesians 4:13).
But let's be clear about what "knowledge" means here. This isn't trivia about Jesus. It's not accumulating biblical facts. It's knowing Him—recognizing Him as a friend, as someone intimately familiar. And Paul tells us exactly what that looks like: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, and self-control. The fruit of the Spirit.
Maturity is measured by fruit, not information.
This is where many of us get tripped up. We think spiritual depth means complex theology and advanced biblical knowledge. We say, "I want to go deeper. Give me the meat." But Paul warns that "knowledge makes us feel important, but it is love that strengthens the church" (1 Corinthians 8:1). He even goes so far as to say, "Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much, but the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes."
Ouch.
The person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes—because they look like His Son.
Truth Plus Love Equals Transformation
Here's the balance: becoming people of love doesn't mean we abandon truth. Ephesians 4:15 gives us the formula: "speaking the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ."
Truth alone is harsh and judgmental. Love alone can become mushy and directionless. But truth bathed in love? That's how disciples are made. That's how transformation happens.
For some, especially men, "love" sounds soft or emotional. But consider this: Jesus hanging on a cross for people who hated Him wasn't weakness. Loving your enemies isn't weakness. Becoming a person of love is the most courageous and difficult thing you'll ever do. Anyone can have power. Love is power under control.
The Great Commission Is for You
When Jesus gave what we call the Great Commission, He was speaking to teenage, high-school-dropout disciples who had followed Him around for three years. He told them, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations" (Matthew 28:18-19).
He was saying it to them. And He's saying it to you.
Paraphrased, Jesus is declaring: "God made me King. Because of that, I'm sending you. Go do for others what I did for you. Teach them to live how I taught you to live. And remember—I'm going with you."
That last part is crucial. Just before ascending to heaven, Jesus promised, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8). The same power that raised Christ from the dead is available to you right now. Things that Old Testament prophets begged for, you have access to.
God's plan to save the world was always about giving ordinary people extraordinary power to multiply. You are God's plan A to reach your friends, family, and neighbors.
What's Your Next Step?
The future is waiting on your yes. Moving forward isn't just about fundraising or building programs. It's about formation—becoming the kind of people who naturally multiply because we're maturing in love and obedience to Christ.
Maybe your next step is giving your life to Christ for the first time. Maybe it's getting baptized. Maybe it's joining a small group where you can grow alongside others. Or maybe it's committing to disciple one person this year—showing them how you live, teaching them what Jesus has taught you.
Whatever it is, don't wait. The world doesn't need more people who know about Jesus. It needs people who know Jesus and look like Him—people of extraordinary love, equipped and empowered to multiply.
The question isn't whether God is moving forward. He always is. The question is: Will you move with Him?
Here's the thing: watching chefs is fundamentally different from learning from chefs. And if we're honest, this is exactly how many of us approach our faith. We watch the experts, consume sermons, observe from a distance—but Jesus never invited us to be spectators. He said, "Follow me." Christianity isn't about observation; it's about participation.
God Is Always Doing Something New
The prophet Isaiah captured something profound about God's nature. After reminding Israel of their miraculous exodus from Egypt—the parted Red Sea, the toppled empire—God essentially says, "Forget about that. What I'm about to do next is even greater. I will make a path through the wilderness. I'm bringing rivers to the desert" (Isaiah 43:18-19).
Think about that. God isn't nostalgic. He's not sitting back polishing His trophy case, reminiscing about past victories. He's moving forward, reaching new people, making ways where there seem to be no ways. The question for us becomes urgent: If God is always moving forward, how do we move with Him?
The Blueprint for Multiplication
The apostle Paul laid out a clear pattern for how the church is designed to function. In Ephesians 4:11-16, he explains that Christ gave specific gifts to the church—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. But here's the critical part: these gifts weren't given so a few people could perform while everyone else watches. They were given "to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church."
This is revolutionary when you really let it sink in. The role of church leadership isn't to do all the ministry while everyone else spectates. It's to equip every believer to do the work of ministry themselves.
Recent research on church growth reveals something sobering. Churches can be categorized into five levels: subtracting (shrinking), plateauing, adding (growing in numbers), reproducing (starting new churches), and multiplying (churches that plant churches that plant churches). The heartbreaking reality? Only 7% of American churches reach levels four or five. A staggering 93% remain stuck in the first three levels.
Why? Because most churches operate under the assumption that only paid staff can make disciples. But if a church relies solely on its staff to make disciples, it will never multiply. The shift happens when every person in the church embraces their calling to make disciples.
Maturity Isn't What We Think It Is
Paul defines spiritual maturity in a way that might surprise us. He says we're working toward "measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ" through two specific markers: unity in faith and knowledge of God's Son (Ephesians 4:13).
But let's be clear about what "knowledge" means here. This isn't trivia about Jesus. It's not accumulating biblical facts. It's knowing Him—recognizing Him as a friend, as someone intimately familiar. And Paul tells us exactly what that looks like: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, and self-control. The fruit of the Spirit.
Maturity is measured by fruit, not information.
This is where many of us get tripped up. We think spiritual depth means complex theology and advanced biblical knowledge. We say, "I want to go deeper. Give me the meat." But Paul warns that "knowledge makes us feel important, but it is love that strengthens the church" (1 Corinthians 8:1). He even goes so far as to say, "Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much, but the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes."
Ouch.
The person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes—because they look like His Son.
Truth Plus Love Equals Transformation
Here's the balance: becoming people of love doesn't mean we abandon truth. Ephesians 4:15 gives us the formula: "speaking the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ."
Truth alone is harsh and judgmental. Love alone can become mushy and directionless. But truth bathed in love? That's how disciples are made. That's how transformation happens.
For some, especially men, "love" sounds soft or emotional. But consider this: Jesus hanging on a cross for people who hated Him wasn't weakness. Loving your enemies isn't weakness. Becoming a person of love is the most courageous and difficult thing you'll ever do. Anyone can have power. Love is power under control.
The Great Commission Is for You
When Jesus gave what we call the Great Commission, He was speaking to teenage, high-school-dropout disciples who had followed Him around for three years. He told them, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations" (Matthew 28:18-19).
He was saying it to them. And He's saying it to you.
Paraphrased, Jesus is declaring: "God made me King. Because of that, I'm sending you. Go do for others what I did for you. Teach them to live how I taught you to live. And remember—I'm going with you."
That last part is crucial. Just before ascending to heaven, Jesus promised, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8). The same power that raised Christ from the dead is available to you right now. Things that Old Testament prophets begged for, you have access to.
God's plan to save the world was always about giving ordinary people extraordinary power to multiply. You are God's plan A to reach your friends, family, and neighbors.
What's Your Next Step?
The future is waiting on your yes. Moving forward isn't just about fundraising or building programs. It's about formation—becoming the kind of people who naturally multiply because we're maturing in love and obedience to Christ.
Maybe your next step is giving your life to Christ for the first time. Maybe it's getting baptized. Maybe it's joining a small group where you can grow alongside others. Or maybe it's committing to disciple one person this year—showing them how you live, teaching them what Jesus has taught you.
Whatever it is, don't wait. The world doesn't need more people who know about Jesus. It needs people who know Jesus and look like Him—people of extraordinary love, equipped and empowered to multiply.
The question isn't whether God is moving forward. He always is. The question is: Will you move with Him?
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2025
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