Multiply

Complete in Christ

The Apostle Paul gives us what is needed for Spiritual fruits to be harvested: the fruits
of love, joy, peace, hope, strength and the ability to be a witness to who Jesus is in our
life. Church Planters are witnesses to the world that is in great need and that need is to
see Jesus at the center of our lives.

Church Planters Magnify Jesus

Many temptations come to church planters. One temptation is to make our own name great. Another is to make the church we have planted famous. I’m sure Paul, a model church planter, was tempted in those same ways too. But he overcame them by constantly giving honor to Jesus.  He did just that when he wrote to his spiritual grandchildren in Colossae. What a great example for church planters to follow today.

Church Planters Identify with People

Most people think that God is far away and unconcerned about the problems they are going through. Animists spend a lot of time trying to protect themselves from evil spirits. They use charms and curses to try to influence the spirit world because they believe that God the creator is very far away and won’t protect them. Muslims believe that God is transcendent and unknowable. Even many people who take the name Christian think that God is far away.

But when God sent his only Son, Jesus, to live among us, Jesus identified with the people.  As a disciple-maker, some of the most important steps you can take are the steps you take to identify with the people you know outside your church and inside your church.  When you spend time with them, listen to their stories, eat meals together, work together, and play sports together, you identify with them.  You say without words, “I know you, I like you, I respect you, I want what is best for you.”

Church Planters Don't show Favoritism

Paul had learned not to show favoritism based on what people look like, where they come from, or what language they speak.  He understood that all people have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. Paul the church planter knew that only Christ could save people and that every person needs to turn from sin and trust Christ

Church Planters Spread the Gospel through Multiplication

Good News is for sharing.  Jesus entrusted the Good News of salvation to eleven of his followers just before he ascended into heaven.  He commanded them to proclaim the Gospel to all creation and to every person.  What an impossible task!  How were 11 Jewish men from Palestine going to spread the Good News to two or three hundred million people all over the world?

It's great to help people experience the new birth and begin to follow Jesus!  But if we want to spread the Gospel across Africa and around the world, we dare not be content with just this kind of ministry.  We need to move on to empowering disciples to make disciples and churches to plant churches.

We Proclaim Him

Colossians 1:28-29

²⁸ We proclaim Him, warning and instructing everyone in all wisdom [that is, with comprehensive insight into the word and purposes of God],

As church planters the most important goal is, to point people to Jesus, not to others or ourselves but the focus is on the Savior of the World.

Church Planters Need Teammates

We have a saying in English; it goes like this: “It’s lonely at the top.”  We say, “It’s lonely at the top” when we see a leader who is struggling to make hard decisions and take difficult action.  At that point, many times his friends, co-workers, and associates leave the leader at the top alone to struggle to make a decision or confirm a plan.

The Apostle Paul was a top leader, but he found a way to keep things from being lonely at the top.  If you are a leader or love one, be encouraged that leaders need teammates.

Church Planters Need Prayer

Church planters need prayer. Church planter Paul knew how much he needed the prayers of others.  Paul needed prayer so much, he asked people he had never even met to pray for him.

Who is praying for you?  Who knows your hopes and dreams, your hardship and struggles?  Who is praying for you?  If you do not have at least 12 faithful men and women of God who are praying for you, you probably need to stop what you are doing and find them. 

Knitted Together

 Colossians 2:2, the Apostle Paul’s message is victory: “That our hearts would be comforted and knit together in love, we are not alone. But knitted, woven together as one, we are knitted together in RELATIONSHIP.

The Suffering Church Planter

It is not easy being a church planter.  There are many ways church planters suffer.  The church planter we call the Apostle Paul suffered by being beaten, arrested, and imprisoned. He suffered crossing rivers and at the hands of bandits. Both Jews and Gentile mistreated him. 2 Corinthians 11:26 tells us that pretty much everywhere he went, he was in danger.

As a follower of Jesus, you may be asking yourself, “God, if you are with me and if I am doing your will, why am I suffering?” 

Paul believed his suffering had a purpose.