The Multiplication Factor

I have come across people trying to categorize their church as either evangelistic or discipleship-oriented. However, it’s important to note that churches tend to emulate the personality and strengths of their pastors. Discipleship, on the other hand, is a deliberate process of spiritual growth that involves a mentor-student relationship. This process entails evangelism, brotherhood, faith-building, sanctification, and reproduction or bearing fruit for the glory of God. Therefore, if a church is solely focused on evangelism, it would have overlooked some essential aspects of the discipleship process that Jesus instructed the Church to undertake.

It not evangelism or discipleship. Discipleship is the umbrella that covers all aspects of the great commission. evangelize, baptize, exercise.

Matthew 28:19–20 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

John 15:8 ESV

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

“Relational Evangelism in the context of Discipleship leads to multiplication.”

The American Church has confused organizational growth with discipleship. Organizational Growth is the process of incorporating people for the purpose of scaling your business which would include:

Leadership development (Leaders)

Workforce expansion (Serve teams)

Revenues (Giving)

Organizational Reproduction (Scaling)

I am not against the idea of organizational growth. It would be great to spread the message of our church, increase our influence, and even see growth in numbers. However, we need to be honest and acknowledge that just because someone attends, serves, gives, or invites others to our church, doesn't necessarily make them a disciple of Christ." I believe people see right through this facade of the church and see it as a business. But when you build an organization that is intentional about Discipleship, you create a kingdom-building machine that produces fruit for the glory of God.

King Jesus established the church and gave Himself for it. He commanded us to go into all the nations and preach the Gospel. He also appointed the offices of Apostle, Evangelist, Prophet, Pastor, and Teacher. However, we should be careful not to create an organization just for the sake of having one.

So, we are an organized Church with the purpose of “producing Jesus followers of faith that expand God’s kingdom.”

Introduction:

Today as we look at Acts 18 we are going to follow a couple that were displaced from their home and moved to a new city. They were tent makes by trade so they set up shop in their home and started making a new life for themselves. Let’s see how relational evangelism changed the lives of man named Aquila and his wife Priscilla.

Lifestyle Evangelism

Acts 18:1–3 ESV

After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.

Start looking at your work as a mission field.

Begin to B.L.E.S.S.

Dave Ferguson and John Ferguson, B.L.E.S.S. (Publisher: Salem Books, 2021)

Begin Praying for them.

Listen

Find the common ground of pain and struggle.

Let the Holy Spirit guide the conversation.

Eat (You can break bread at lunch, after work at a restaurant, or in your home.)

Serve

Story

Personal Discipleship

Acts 18:9–11 ESV

And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Discipleship takes time and effort

Acts 18:18–19 ESV

After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow. And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

Cenchreae = “king-cry-a”

Priscilla and Aquila joined Paul on his journey of faith.

They left their home and business again but this time for the sake of the gospel.

Paul empowered them for ministry.

The Power of Multiplication

Acts 18:24–26 ESV

Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

Teach what you have learned.

Acts 18:27–28 ESV

And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

Repentance vs. Relationship

Acts 19:1–3 ESV

And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.”

The Baptism of John for Repentance

Acts 19:4 ESV

And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.”

Physical baptism identifies with a message of John that the kingdom is at hand.

A physical act of repentance toward God.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Acts 19:5–6 ESV

On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.

A Spiritual baptism of entrance into the kingdom.

A Spiritual sealing of the children of God.

Ephesians 1:12–13 ESV

so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

A Spiritual power to overcome the trials of life.

R-Group Questions

Have you had an opportunity to use the B.L.E.S.S. principle with anyone on your impact card?

What is the next step you can take to B.L.E.S.S. someone this week?