From my reading in John 12:1-26 in the One Year New Testament.
Ministry multiplication is popular these days.
Church planting and multi site churches are the in thing. But what most people don’t realize is that it takes leaders who have died to themselves to make these ministries work.
Many pastors and ministers are more interested in their little kingdom than God’s kingdom.
They are so focused on growing their church that they forget why they started in ministry in the first place, advancing God’s kingdom.
Often instead of releasing money and leaders they seek to hold on to them. This self serving leadership stops the potential multiplying of ministries.
But Jesus taught s a profound principle about how to have a multiplying ministry.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John 12:24
Death is a prerequisite for a multiplying ministry.
We must die to ourselves. When a seed goes into the ground it dies so that it can resurrect as a plant that will multiply more seeds. That plant then can multiply many more seeds.
For a ministries, seeds are leaders. One goal a multiplying ministry has should be to raise up and send out as many leaders from their church as possible. Not just to make our church stronger but to start new ministries.
To send leaders out who you poured your blood sweat and tears into is a form of death. Death is separation and to be separated from these leaders is painful but necessary.
I lead a college ministry and this separation happens naturally after 4 years (or 6 depending on the student). But I have the joy of knowing that if we did our best at investing in them that we get to multiply our impact as we send them out all over the world.
To have a multiplying ministry you must die to yourself.
“He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.“If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” John 12:25–26
We can not serve ourselves and serve Jesus. We must make a choice. True multiplying ministry fruit comes only after we die to ourselves.
Jesus is the ultimate example of multiplication by death.
His death allowed us to die to our sins and live for him. He died so that we might life. After his resurrection he sent out the apostles as “seeds” and through multiplication the world was changed. Still today he is sending out his followers as “seeds” to go bear much fruit.
Don’t keep all your leaders and resources for yourself.
Die to your small plans and send them out to plant churches, ministries, and the gospel all over the world. You will have the joy of seeing many more lives changed than your one ministry could ever imagine possible!
If you want to have a multiplying ministry… Die!
davidworcester.net 