03 Don’t Just Collect, Multiply

Opening Song

“We gather to be formed in God’s presence so we can be sent into our community”

DECLARATION:

Ephesians 2:20–22 (ESV)

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Our church family is built by God, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.

We are joined together by union with Christ, we are growing, we are a dwelling place of God by his Spirit, and we are missionaries.

After greeting prayer: “Lord, open our eyes this week to those who are curious about faith.”

Announcements:

We’re not spectators here, we’re participants. Giving and filling out a Connect Card are practical ways to let us know you’re with us on mission.

You can complete a Connect Card at sangamonvalley.net/ConnectCard or by using a green outlined paper Connect Card today.

Giving: You can give in the box, online, through the app, or by mail.

NEW ANNOUNCEMENT: ____

Good Friday service 6:30 p on 4/3

Baptism’s next week 3/29

Team member training after service - 3/22

Kids in sanctuary today - 3/22

CHURCH SURVEY coming to you soon!

These are not events to attend — it is an environment to build relationships.

Prayer for...

Sermon

THE TENSION

Many churches measure success by activity.

Attendance

Programs

Events

Ministries

None of those are bad. But they can slowly shift our focus.

The danger is that we become very busy without actually multiplying disciples.

Jesus didn’t commission us to fill rooms.

He commissioned us to make disciples who make disciples.

The tension is this: We often measure growth by what happens in the church building, but Jesus measures growth by what multiplies through people.

MY STORY

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of walking with people in their faith—meeting regularly, opening Scripture together, praying, and talking through what God was doing in their lives.

And one of the most exciting moments is when something shifts.

At first someone is just learning. They’re asking questions, growing, figuring out how to follow Jesus.

But eventually something changes.

They start praying for others. They start sharing what they’re learning.

They start helping someone else grow.

And in that moment you realize something powerful:

The goal of discipleship was never just their growth.

The goal was multiplication.

And when that happens—even in small, quiet ways—you begin to see how the kingdom actually expands.

THE SCRIPTURE

2 Timothy 2:2 “2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” (4 Generations)

Paul is writing to Timothy, a young leader in the church.

Paul knows his ministry will not last forever, so he gives Timothy a clear picture for the future of the church.

Not programs.

Not structures.

People who disciple people.

Notice the four generations in this verse:

Paul → Timothy → faithful people → others.

This is the multiplication pattern of the early church.

THE DISCOVERY

1. God’s Mission Multiplies Through People

The gospel spreads through relationships.

One life influencing another.

Jesus modeled this with the twelve.

Paul modeled it with Timothy.

The early church multiplied because disciples made disciples.

2. Discipleship Is Reproducible, Not Complicated

Paul didn’t tell Timothy to create impressive systems.

He told him to entrust what he had learned.

Discipleship often looks simple:

Opening Scripture together

Praying together

Walking through life together

Encouraging obedience

What matters is not complexity, it’s faithfulness.

3. The Church Exists to Develop Missionaries

This is where our mission comes into focus.

We are not primarily building programs.

We are developing missionaries.

Missionaries who:

Pray for people

Share the gospel

Disciple others

Multiply the mission

Every believer becomes someone through whom the mission expands.

IDENTITY SHIFT

This passage reveals that God is a multiplying God.

He builds His kingdom through generations of disciples.

And it reveals who we are meant to be.

Not spectators.

Not consumers.

But participants in the mission.

We are not only followers of Jesus.

We are developers of missionaries.

People who help others follow Jesus.

PRACTICE OBEDIENCE

***Handout***

Jesus’ mission moves in a simple progression. It rarely begins with large structures. It usually begins with one life praying, one relationship growing, and one group multiplying. If we want to develop missionaries, we can think about the mission in three movements.

Start With Prayer

Before anything multiplies, we pray.

Ask God to place one, two, or three people on your heart—someone far from God or someone newer in faith. Pray for them by name. Pray for open doors. Pray for opportunities to encourage them.

Prayer keeps the mission rooted in God’s work rather than our pressure.

1. Multiply Disciples

As relationships grow, begin walking with someone spiritually. Open Scripture together. Ask simple questions. Pray together. Discipleship is not complicated—it is helping someone follow Jesus in everyday life.

What is God teaching you?

What are you wrestling with?

How can I pray for you?

Rhythm of S.O.A.P.S.

2. Multiply Leaders

As someone grows, encourage them to begin investing in someone else. This is where discipleship becomes multiplication. They are no longer just receiving—they are beginning to lead, encourage, and help someone else follow Jesus.

We learn to continue to go to Scripture - Chapter and Verse - Dialogue - Church History

Character, Calling, Competencies

Gifting and Talents are identified

EGG-SHIRT GAME

What just happened?

Everyone was focused on getting as much candy as possible… for themselves.

Nothing wrong with that, it’s fun.

But let me ask you something…

What if the goal wasn’t just to get candy… but to help someone else get candy too?”

Tie to Message:

This is often how we approach faith. We think:

What can I learn?

What can I get?

How can I grow?

And those things matter.

But Jesus didn’t say, ‘Go and collect as much as you can.’

He said, ‘Go and make disciples.’”

You know what would actually change that game?

If instead of just grabbing candy…

someone turned and said, ‘Hey—come with me. I’ll HELP YOU to collect them.’

Now the goal isn’t just collecting.

The goal is multiplying.

That’s the difference between: A disciple and a disciple-maker.

A disciple receives.

A disciple-maker helps someone else receive.

And when that starts happening…

the game changes.

The mission multiplies.

This is what we’ve been talking about:

We pray for people

We walk with them

And eventually…

We help them walk with someone else

That’s how missionaries are developed.

Not by collecting more…

But by multiplying through others.

TRANSITION: Following Jesus isn’t just about helping a few people find the candy, it’s about helping those people turn and help others, until it grows into something bigger than you ever could on your own

3. Multiply Groups

Eventually these relationships naturally grow into community group gatherings where people learn and practice together. One of the ways we do this at Sangamon Valley is through 3-Thirds Community Groups.

A 3-Thirds gathering keeps things simple and reproducible:

Look Back: Celebrate what God has done, care for one another, and pray.

Look Up: Read Scripture together and ask what God is teaching us.

Look Forward: Ask how we will obey what we learned and who we can share it with.

This Biblical-template keeps the focus on obedience, relationships, and multiplication, not just information.

***It not complicated so it can multiply easily.***

When prayer leads to disciples, disciples grow into leaders, and leaders gather people into groups, the mission begins to expand naturally.

That’s how missionaries are developed.

***Discovery Verses on Back with Disciple Pathway tracker

TRANSITION TO MUSIC

Imagine what would happen if every person in this church helped just one other person follow Jesus this year.

Not through programs.

Through relationships.

That’s how movements begin.

And that’s how missionaries are developed.

Worship Thru Music

Commissioning:

This week, build one relationship. Pray for one person far from God.

As you depart…Take one step toward discipling someone this week.