Multiply

GOOD MORNING ROCK FAMILY!!!

up your bibles to Acts 18:1-11

Intro:

As we open up this text…4W Recap (SHORT)

Matthew 28:19 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

As a new Pastor, wanting to see people place their faith in Jesus through the Gospel…

I was constantly asking

“IS THERE ANYWHERE IN THE BIBLE THAT SHOWS ME HOW TO DO THIS PRACTICALLY?”

I see its importance in the Bible, but how do we do it?

I need step by step instructions on the best way to multiply disciples…

And one day I was listening to this Pastor… A guy by the name of Vance Pittman…

And he led me to these step by step instructions in God’s word how to do this effectively.

In Acts chapter 18

So this morning the apostle Paul is going to answer this question for us…

What is an effective way to multiply disciples?

PAUL IS GOING TO SHOW US 3 STEPS THAT LEAD TO GOSPEL EXPANSION, AND DISCIPLES BEING MULTIPLIED..

READ V1-6

After these things (Paul just finished preaching the Gospel in Athens)

Now in Corinth

Corinth in this time was a Port town, a highly trafficked trade area…

And they had a culture there steeped in paganism, Sexual sin, depravity, greed

Paul is in a desolate place

But he is called to spread the Gospel

So what does he do first, whats his first step?

P1- Engage the Community

Paul shows us 4 ways we can ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY:

(1) V2 He starts connecting with people in the community (Meets Aquila and Pricilla, same trade, Jews, Kicked out of Rome)

(ILL 1) Interacting with people in our community (Coffee shops, clubs, little league, community events) GET OUT OF THE HOUSE, OUT OF COMFORT ZONE!!

(2) V3 Works in the community (tent maker)

(ILL 2) Impact at work, in our jobs, let them know who you are (a Christ follower). Live in a manner worthy of glorifying the Lord

(3) V4 Identifies where the Gospel is needed (synagog full of unbelievers)

(ILL 3) Are you interacting with those who need the gospel?

(4) V5 Paul Witnesses for Christ (Occupied with the word)

KJV “pressed in the spirit”

HE WAS COMPELLED to share the gospel even though he was getting push back (V6)

Witness W…

(SHARE THE GOSPEL HERE)

OT points to Jesus (Biblical Proof)

Testimony…

The 1st step to see disciples being multiplied is…ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY WITH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS!

Paul shows us the second step in V7-8

READ V7-8

P2- Focus on Discipling

(V7) Paul joined a group of likeminded disciples

(V8) Solely focused on Matthew 28:19 (multiplying disciples)

THROUGH THE PREACHING OF THE WORD PAUL IS SEEING… THE LOST SAVED…THE SAVED MATURED…AND THE MATURED MULTIPLIED

Now you have a centrally located growing group of disciples of Jesus, who are dedicated to living out the command of Jesus (GO MAKE DISCIPLES).

Dedicated to living life WORSHIPPING JESUS, WALKING WITH JESUS, WORKING FOR JESUS, AND WITNESSING FOR JESUS…

SMALL GROUPS!!!

LOOK WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!!

READ V 9-11

P3- Jesus Plants the Church

The Lord tells this body of believers “I WILL ESTABLISH YOU IN THIS CITY, I WILL PROTECT YOU, AND I WILL SEND MY PEOPLE TO YOU”

And for A YEAR AND A HALF PAUL STAYED THERE…teaching them the word

Teaching them how to be obedient to God’s commands

THIS IS WHY WE ARE ALL ABOUT CHURCH PLANTING HERE AT THE ROCK

TH METHOD OF SPREADING THE GOSPEL THROUGH PLANTING CHURCHES IS RIGHT HERE IN ACTS 18!

But one thing we have to see here is that we don’t plant churches…JESUS PLANTS CHURCHES!

Matthew 16:18 ESV

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Notice Jesus says “I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH”

This is confirmed in verses 9-11

Jesus builds the church…we are commissioned to disciple, He does the rest!!!

THAT IS WHY WE ARE LEANING SO HEAVILY INTO THE 4W LIFE!!!

THE GOSPEL GETTING SPREAD TO PLACES THAT IT DOESN’T EXIST STARTS WITH OUR OBEDIANCE AS CHRIST FOLLOWERS TO BOTH BE A DISCIPLE AND MULTIPLY THEM!!!

Here at The Rock we have seen God plant His Church through His disciples here in Greensburg

But its happening all over!!!

In fact I want you to hear from 2 church plants in our family of churches who have seen how living out the life of a disciple (4W LIFE) has multiplied disciples all around them!!!

VIDEO (Church Planting Video)

CHURCH PLANTING GRAPHIC

ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY

SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY/ THE GOSPEL (Share my testimony)

MATURE DISCIPLES

AND GET INVOLVED IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF GODS KINGDOM

SO THAT EVERY EAR IN THIS CITY, THIS COUNTY, THIS STATE, THIS NATION WILL HEAR…

JESUS IS LORD!!!!

PRAY!!