Spiritual Multiplication

It’s important that we take our instructions for the way we do ministry from the Bible.  I talked about the New Testament’s instructions for evangelism a few weeks ago.  This week I want to talk about the way we are to go about discipleship.

In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus instructs us that as we are to make disciples of all the nations as we are going out to take the gospel to everyone in the world.  Evangelism and discipleship are of equal importance and are interconnected.  All non-believers need to be given a chance to respond to the gospel, just as all believers should be involved in discipleship. 

Discipleship is meant to be multiplying:

2 Timothy 2:22 gives us a picture of how to make disciples:

The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Paul, Timothy’s disciple, tells Timothy what the discipleship process looks like.  It is for one believer, in the power of the Holy Spirit and through the wisdom of God, to spend time with several other believers in helping them to grow to maturity in Christ (Col.1:28-29).  These believers are, in turn, to continue the process by helping other believers to grow, all the while helping them to find even more believers to help to grow in Christ.  The goal here is to envision and equip believers to disciple others who will disciple others who will disciple others until Christ returns. 

The main characteristics of people you want to disciple:

It’s interesting the description that Paul chooses to use for the disciples Timothy and his disciples are to look for those who are:  ‘faithful’ and ‘able to teach’( or ‘pass onto others’).   Paul is telling Timothy to disciple those who are serious about their walk with Christ and who are willing to continue the process of multiplication. 

Addition versus Spiritual Multiplication:

Addition is when a person simply focuses on sharing the gospel without taking time to spend with those new converts to establish them in their faith and help them grow in Christ.  Addition also happens when one person builds into the lives of others (such as in leading a Bible study) without envisioning and helping them learn how to do the same.   Spiritual addition will not greatly add to the numbers of mature, equipped and faithful disciples who are, in turn, building into the lives of others.

So why is discipleship vital to reaching your campus? 

Spiritual multiplication, the idea of discipling others to disciple others, is how movements are built.  I’m sure you have noticed that starting and leading a movement is far too much for just one or two people to do (even with God as your source of power!).  The constant need I hear is for more believers to be involved in local ministries so that a larger team of student believers can work together to bring the gospel to everyone on their campus.  The process of spiritual multiplication is what God uses to provide more laborers for the harvest. 

The diagram below gives a numerical picture of the difference between spiritual addition and spiritual multiplication.  I also use this diagram to challenge students to enter into the discipleship process with me and the faithful others who m I’m discipling. 

Addition:  (the line on the left side of the diagram)
    If 1 person preached to 100,000 people each day and was twice as effective as *Billy Graham               (he sees 2% of his audience receive Christ):
           4% = 4,000/day receive Christ
           350 days/year (preached with only 5 days off)
           1 year = 1,460,000 converts
          16 years = 23,360,000 converts 

*Billy Graham, a famous American evangelist: preached to audiences of 215 million in 48 years.  During his ministry 4.3 million have ‘stepped forward’ [indicated that they received Christ].       (from Wikipedia)

These are impressive numbers, aren't they?!  But, look below for even more impressive numbers!


Multiplication: (2 Tim.2:2)  (the set of connected circles on the right side of the diagram...you can label the top circle "Paul", the next line of circles with "Timothy, Tutus, etc", the third line with "faithful men" and the last line with "others")

If one person (convert) becomes a believer through your ministry and if you spend the next 6 months with him in discipleship (teaching how to grow in Christ, share the gospel and how to disciple others):
          1 convert (6 months) (disciple + you)
          1st year: double (4 disciples)
          2nd year: double (16 disciples)
         15th year: double (over 65,000)
         30th year: double (over 2 billion disciples)

        (Every disciple who doesn’t reproduce cuts the results by one half!)

This is the power of one person used by God!  Just think how He can use you!!!