Multiply

Jesus set clear expectations and instructions for His Church.  “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:19-20 [emphasis added].

Jesus’ clear expectations set forth include:

• Go (or “as you are going”)
• Make disciples of all nations
• Baptizing them
• Teaching them to obey

Music is such a strong and powerful aspect of worship in so many cultures across Africa and around the world, sometimes we get worship music confused with worshipping God. But when the Apostle Paul taught the new church in Colossae about worship, he said, let the word of Christ dwell richly among you.

Today’s episode clarifies what it means to let the word of Christ dwell richly in our worship experiences

When we pray, we worship when we worship, we pray.  When we talk to the Lord God, it is a heart communication to Him, this is prayer. In worship, it is an adoration and still a heart communication of our love and adoration to the Savior of our Souls, our King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

Worship is a wonderful experience. To worship God is to give glory to God who is great and who is holy. To worship God is to honor God and to recognize his goodness.

To help others honor the Lord and magnify Him, they must know who he is and what he has done. Today’s podcast encourages church planters be great worship leaders by telling God’s big story well.

One of the most difficult responsibilities of a leader is to know when to intervene when a follower is having difficulty and when to allow someone to struggle.  In such situations I would offer these guidelines.

• Firstly, the mission must come first. If the mission is in danger of failure, the leader must intervene.
• Evaluate, is the follower capable of figuring things out?
• Consider, is there enough time to wait for them to figure things out?
• Ask yourself, what problems will be created or worsened if you do not step in?
• Are there valuable lessons for them to learn through their struggle?

Today’s Multiply podcast episode calls on worship leaders and pastors to help worshippers know and remember God’s big story as they worship him.  It is so easy for us to get caught up in Bible details, that we fail to remember the works of God, the will of God, and ways of God described from Genesis to Revelation. But it doesn’t have to be that way. If we follow a simple guideline highlighted in today’s podcast.

When we look at the parts of worship all of them have one thing in common, it’s not about who does what. It isn’t about how good the worship music is. The most important part of worship is a humble heart that says I need you Lord and all I want is to serve you in my worship.

A glorious theme of the Scriptures is the theme of organic growth and multiplication. Jesus loved the theme of organic growth.  He said, “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about 27 kilos of flour until it worked all through the dough.” 

He loves to see things that start small grow into a huge blessing.  Jesus loves cell groups.

A great way to start a new church is to start a multiplying cell group in a village where there is no church, a village that is more than a 30 minute walk from your church. Let the cell group multiply until there are 3 or 4 cell groups.  Then bring the small groups together for large group worship.

“Facilitate Equipping”.  The word “facilitate” implies that the leader does not have to do all the equipping himself or herself.  He/she simply needs to ensure that equipping one’s followers takes place.

Firstly, he “called to him those he wanted”.  Leaders equip others by invitation; they invite others to follow.  It is a selective process. 

Secondly, he appointed twelve that they “might be with him”.

Thirdly, he “sent them out”.  Notice that for Jesus, discipleship was not learning information and passing a written exam.  Jesus’ model was that of apprenticeship.  This is how we also do things in Village Church Planting.  He taught (and demonstrated), and then he sent them out to do ministry. 

In cell groups, God our heavenly Father uses the intimacy of a home, the warmth of a small group, the light of his Word, and the faith of brothers and sister in Christ to strengthen his children.  Cell groups can help your church grow. Today’s podcast answers the question, “Who can lead a cell group?”  The answer may surprise you.