A Community of Multiplication

I want to start out by asking a question? What is the purpose of an apple tree? Is it to produce apples?

When we read the account of God creating the world in Genesis chapter 1, we see something astounding. Plants have seeds that make more plants. Fruit trees bear fruit that have seeds that make more fruit trees. Creatures are created to not simply live, but to multiply themselves after their kind. And people are also designed to not simply live, but to multiply as well. Multiplication is built into the very DNA of our world.

When we read the account of creation in Genesis 1, we see something astounding. Plants have seeds that make more plants. Fruit trees bear fruit that have seeds that make more fruit trees. Creatures are created to not simply live, but to multiply themselves after their kind. And people are also designed to not simply live, but to multiply as well. Multiplication seems to be built into the very DNA of our world.

When we read the account of creation in , we see something astounding. Plants have seeds that make more plants. Fruit trees bear fruit that have seeds that make more fruit trees. Creatures are created to not simply live, but to multiply themselves after their kind. And people are also designed to not simply live, but to multiply as well. Multiplication seems to be built into the very DNA of our world.

The purpose of a fruit tree then is not simply to make fruit, but to produce fruit and make multiple fruit trees. The purpose of animals are to make more animals by multiplication, not simply addition. And the same holds true for people. God designed us to multiply. God designed the world to multiply…everything after its kind.

The purpose of a fruit tree then is not simply to make fruit, but to produce fruit AND make other fruit trees. The purpose of animals is to make more animals by multiplication, not simply addition. And the same holds true for people. God designed us to multiply. God designed the world to multiply…everything after its kind. So, what is our purpose as a disciple of Jesus? To multiply, to make more disciples.

Let’s think about this for a moment. What if we made 2 reproducing disciples every 3 years? And they did the same thing? In 30 years the number would be about the same size as Akron, Ohio! But, in 36 years it would be the size of the four largest cities in Ohio combined!

0 - 1

Does that seem too intense? Well, let's we made 1 reproducing disciple every 3 years. Though this is not mind-blowing, still, it would be half the size of the village of Middlefield in 30 years. But, in 36 years it would be about the size of Middlefield and Burton combined.

Today we are going to see that disciples exist and thrive in a community of multiplication, making followers of Jesus who in turn make disciples.

3 - 3

Today we are going to see that disciples exist and thrive in a community of multiplication, making followers of Jesus who in turn make disciples.

6 - 9

9 - 27

The life of a disciple of Jesus is like a tree. The roots are our identity as sons and daughters of God. The trunk is the servant’s heart of Christ. A disciple who is firmly rooted in their identity in Christ is so secure that they can love sacrificially, in service to others.

12 - 81

The branches and leaves represent our unique calling or mission from God. This calling is how we reach beyond ourselves and bring comfort to other members of Christ’s church and the world around us.

15 - 243

The fruit of a true disciple of Christ is a life that follows Jesus by loving God, loving others, and making disciples. It changes the world.

Today we will see that a disciple is part of a community of multiplication that invites others to follow Jesus so they can love God, their neighbor, and multiply themselves as they make disciples too.

18 - 2,434

Today we will see that a disciple is part of a community of multiplication that invites others to follow Jesus so they can love God, their neighbor, and multiply themselves as they make disciples too.

21 - 7,302

In verses 1-13, Mark has just shown us how John the Baptist prepared God’s people for the person and work of Jesus. He proclaimed a message of the coming kingdom. This message was simple. Repent of your sin and turn to God to find forgiveness. In other words, the King is coming…you better make sure you are on his side.

24 - 21,906

In verses 1-13, Mark has just shown us how John the Baptist prepared God’s people for the person and work of Jesus. He proclaimed a message of the coming kingdom. This message was simple. Repent of your sin and turn to God to find forgiveness. In other words, the King is coming…you better make sure you are on his side.

27 - 65,718

Jesus was declared by God to be perfect and pleasing in every way, and John declared him to be the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. In other words, John had claimed that Jesus was the way that everybody could make sure they were on God’s side. He made it possible to align with the King’s kingdom.

30 - 197,154

33 - 591,462

John couldn’t keep his mouth shut about the injustice and immorality of Herod, so he was arrested. He could no longer publicly preach the message of God’s coming kingdom. Now Jesus enters the scene.

36 - 1,774,386

So, what is our purpose as a disciple of Jesus? To multiply, to make more disciples. We are no different than any other species.

What does Jesus preach? God’s Good News. What is it? Mark 1:15 essentially says, “The time of waiting is over. God’s kingdom is here. Finally! Repent and believe in the good news.”

What does Jesus preach? God’s Good News. What is it? essentially says, “The time of waiting is over. God’s kingdom is here. Finally! Repent and believe in the good news.”

What is this Good News? The kingdom of God is at hand, it is near. But why is this Good News? Because the world was invaded by an evil enemy. Satan has brought evil, sin, and death to the world. They aren’t supposed to be here. People get hurt, sick, and ultimately die. Evil has been ruling, but it really isn’t supposed to be, God is.

Let’s think about something for a moment. What if you were to make 2 reproducing disciples once every 3 years? And they did the same thing? Let’s assume you have 30 years of this for the sake of easy numbers. Wow! In 30 years, that is about the same size as Akron, Ohio! Or, roughly four times the size of Mentor. But, in 36 years it is the size of Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo combined!

0 - 1

3 - 3

6 - 9

9 - 27

12 - 81

15 - 243

18 - 2,434

What is this Good News? The kingdom of God is at hand, it is near. But why is this Good News? Because the world was invaded by an evil enemy. Satan has brought evil, sin, and death to the world. They aren’t supposed to be here. People get hurt, sick, and ultimately die. Evil has been ruling, but it really isn’t supposed to be, God is.

21 - 7,302

24 - 21,906

27 - 65,718

30 - 197,154

33 - 591,462

36 - 1,774,386

Jesus’ Good News is that a new kingdom has come. God’s rescue plan is now ready to be enacted. God is re-invading his creation…in the person of Jesus. God is reclaiming this broken world from sin, evil, and death. Jesus has come to heal, restore, make everything new. Jesus has come to liberate this world from its slavery to this dark and evil kingdom. A new king is here, he will heal, bring justice, and establish peace in our world. He will make everything new.

0 - 1

What is the proper response to this? First, that we repent of our sin. we turn away from it; we despise it. We despise the person we are who could dare rebel against God. We humbly return to God and admit our rebellion. We have been on the wrong side of the battle, and don’t deserve his mercy, but we want to be a part of his kingdom. We want his mercy. We want to be a part of his new and amazing world.

3 - 2

What is the proper response to this? First, that we repent of our sin. we turn away from it; we despise it. We despise the person we are who could dare rebel against God. We humbly return to God and admit our rebellion. We have been on the wrong side of the battle, and don’t deserve his mercy, but we want to be a part of his kingdom. We want his mercy. We want to be a part of his new and amazing world.

6 - 4

The Good News then is that Christ died so sinners (rebels against God), like us, could be forgiven and welcomed into God’s kingdom and his restored world. We were rebels and we don’t want to be anymore.

9 - 8

The second part is that we believe this Good News, that God is making everything new. At the very core of the Gospel is that through Jesus Christ, we have a bright future and hope. The heart of the Good News is that Jesus is making a people who will one day live in a renewed world.

12 - 16

The second part is that we believe this Good News, that God is making everything new. At the very core of the Gospel is that through Jesus Christ, we have a bright future and hope. The heart of the Good News is that Jesus is making a people who will one day live in a renewed world.

At the heart of the Good News is Jesus Christ is our Lord and King. We want to see Jesus’ reign be perfectly fulfilled on earth. We want him to rid this world and us of sickness, sorrow, and death. God has made all things new through Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection.

15 - 32

At the heart of the Good News is Jesus Christ is our Lord and King. We want to see Jesus’ reign be perfectly fulfilled on earth. We want him to rid this world and us of sickness, sorrow, and death. God has made all things new through Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection.

18 - 64

God’s kingdom has come. Jesus has defeated those enemies that stood in the way of his glorious rule. Jesus’ kingdom is continuing to invade the world and he is reclaiming his kingdom one person at a time.

Jesus didn’t just speak about the kingdom of God, he demonstrated it through his power and authority. He demonstrates this authority right away in this story of his calling the disciples. Jesus has Authority over the hearts of humanity (vv. 16-20), he is redeeming one heart at a time.

21 - 128

Jesus didn’t just speak about the kingdom of God, he demonstrated it through his power and authority. He demonstrates this authority right away in this story of his calling the disciples. Jesus has Authority over the hearts of humanity (vv. 16-20), he is redeeming one heart at a time.

24 - 256

He is building his kingdom. How? By multiplication. One person who, in the power of Jesus, with his message, in turn calls another person.

27 - 512

He is building his kingdom. How? By multiplication. One person who, in the power of Jesus, with his message, in turn calls another person.

30 - 1,024

33 - 2,048

Notice that the very first people called to be disciples do not volunteer because they think it is a good idea…they are called to be disciples of Jesus. They are called from their occupation as fishers, actively catching fish, to be fishers, actively catching men.

In Jewish tradition pupils were not called by Rabbis. Rather, pupils chose their Rabbis. Why? Discipleship often would require someone to temporarily lay aside their livelihood and their family. Becoming a disciple was not something that someone just decided to do on a moment’s notice. Usually there was much thought and deliberation.

36 - 4,096

In Jewish tradition pupils were not called by Rabbis. Rather, pupils chose their Rabbis. Why? Discipleship often would require someone to temporarily lay aside their livelihood and their family. Becoming a disciple was not something that someone just decided to do on a moment’s notice. Usually there was much thought and deliberation.

Unlike normal Rabbis, Jesus simply gives them a command, “Come! After me!” This is emphasizing Jesus’ authority as King. He is the King who picks his disciples, not a rabbi who pupils adopt. He has the authority and power to call and his subjects obey.

Does that seem a like a little too much? That's ok, let's say you produce 1 reproducing disciple every 3 years. Though this is not mind-blowing, still, it is still a pretty big impact for one life. And, by the way, it is almost half the size of the village of Middlefield in 30 years. But, in 36 years it would be about the size of Middlefield and Burton combined.

0 - 1

3 - 2

6 - 4

9 - 8

12 - 16

15 - 32

18 - 64

Unlike normal Rabbis, Jesus simply gives them a command, “Come! After me!” This is emphasizing Jesus’ authority as King. He is the King who picks his disciples, not a rabbi who pupils adopt. He has the authority and power to call and his subjects obey.

21 - 128

24 - 256

27 - 512

30 - 1,024

33 - 2,048

36 - 4,096

Imagine with me for a moment. What if you had never touched a musical instrument in your life, couldn’t read music, and were tone deaf? What would you do if Bach came up to you and said, “Hey, I want you to know that you are going to be a great musician. Come and study under me. Actually, I want you to live with me. Go everywhere I go and do everything I do so you can become who I see you to be.” What would you do if one of the greatest musicians of all time told you that he saw humongous potential in you. You would go with him, right?

Today we are going to see that disciples exist to make new followers of Jesus who in turn make disciples.

Imagine with me for a moment. What if you had never touched a musical instrument in your life, couldn’t read music, and were tone deaf? What would you do if Bach came up to you and said, “Hey, I want you to know that you are going to be a great musician. Come and study under me. Actually, I want you to live with me. Go everywhere I go and do everything I do so you can become who I see you to be.” What would you do if one of the greatest musicians of all time told you that he saw humongous potential in you. You would go with him, right?

You see, Jesus wasn’t asking scholars, or people who had dreamed all their lives of being great teachers. Jesus was asking fishermen. Later he even called a tax collector. The irony of all this is that in order to be a disciple you had to be intelligent, book smart, and morally upright. Fishermen weren’t known for their intelligence and book smarts, and tax collectors weren’t known for their moral uprightness.

But why does he ask them to follow him? So that they would become fishers of men. He called them so that he could pour into them for three years and then send them out to do the same to others.

The life of a disciple of Jesus Christ is like a tree. The roots of the tree are our identity as sons and daughters of God. The trunk of the tree is the servant’s heart of Christ. A disciple who is firmly rooted in their identity in Christ is so secure that they can stoop to the lowest of places to love sacrificially, to love in the way of service.

But why does he ask them to follow him? So that they would become fishers of men. He called them so that he could pour into them for three years and then send them out to do the same to others.

The branches and leaves of the tree represent our unique calling or mission from God. This calling is how we reach beyond ourselves and bring comfort not only to the other members of Christ’s church, but also to the world around us.

But why did Jesus chose the people he chose? It seems to me that he wanted us to know that he is the one who qualifies us to be his disciples. Being a disciple who makes disciples, or fishers for men, is not the job of professionals. Jesus was showing what it means to be a Christian…not some book-smart, deeply intellectual person. A disciple is qualified, called, and empowered by Jesus to make other disciples.

Notice that Jesus doesn’t simply call one person. Jesus calls a band of people who are to be engaged in gathering others. They follow his call to be with him, obey his voice, and collect others to do the same. He says that he will make them to become. Jesus works on them, in them, and with them to make them a community of multiplication.

The fruit of a true disciple of Christ is a life that follows Jesus by loving God, loving others, and making disciples. The life of a disciple can’t help but change the world.

Notice that Jesus doesn’t simply call one person. Jesus calls a band of people who are to be engaged in gathering others. They follow his call to be with him, obey his voice, and collect others to do the same. He says that he will make them to become. Jesus works on them, in them, and with them to make them a community of multiplication.

Today we will see that a disciple is part of a community that invites others to follow Jesus so they can love God, love their neighbor, and make disciples too.

We see in verses 16-17 that Andrew and Simon leave their vocation and follow Jesus simply at his word. Then in verses 18-19 James and John leave their father and his business. Remember, however, that they did go back to fishing again, and they did see their family again. Yet, when Jesus called them, they were interrupted from their career and future. They followed Jesus simply at his command.

In verses 1-13, Mark has just shown us how John the Baptist has been preparing God’s people for the person and work of Jesus Christ. He had been proclaiming a message of the coming kingdom. This message was simple. Repent of your sin and turn to God to find forgiveness. In other words, the King is coming…you better make sure you are on his side.

Notice that in verses 18 and 20 both Peter and Andrew immediately leave their vocation behind and follow Jesus, and James and John immediately leave their family behind and follow Jesus. There is no hint of thinking, no bit of remorse, they simply up and leave and follow Jesus on his mission of making disciples.

Much of our lives as Christians is spent “softening” the hard sayings of Jesus in order to make them more palatable to us. Yet we see that when Jesus calls us he calls us to a life of radical service. In this passage we see two brothers leaving their vocation, and two brothers leaving their family in order to obey the call of their Master. In Luke 14:26-27 we see this as we hear Jesus speaking to the crowds: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”

Jesus was declared by God to be perfect and pleasing in every way, and John declared him to be the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. In other words, John had claimed that Jesus was the way that everybody could make sure they were on God’s side. He made it possible to align with the King’s kingdom.

Much of our lives as Christians is spent “softening” the hard sayings of Jesus in order to make them more palatable to us. Yet we see that when Jesus calls us he calls us to a life of radical service. In this passage we see two brothers leaving their vocation, and two brothers leaving their family in order to obey the call of their Master. In we see this as we hear Jesus speaking to the crowds: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”

What is Jesus saying? Is he saying that we must literally hate our family to follow him? No, as one pastor says, “Jesus wants us to follow him so fully, so intensely, so enduringly, that all other attachments in our lives look like hate comparatively.” We can’t say, “I’ll obey you if…”. Whatever is on the other side of the “if” is our real master. Jesus cannot be a means to an end. Jesus is the Maker, the King, and he will not be used by us. Jesus must be the goal of our life.

And so, Jesus is driven into the wilderness to prove that he could pass the test that Adam failed. Jesus did!

What is Jesus saying? Is he saying that we must literally hate our family to follow him? No, as one pastor says, “Jesus wants us to follow him so fully, so intensely, so enduringly, that all other attachments in our lives look like hate comparatively.” We can’t say, “I’ll obey you if…”. Whatever is on the other side of the “if” is our real master. Jesus cannot be a means to an end. Jesus is the Maker, the King, and he will not be used by us. Jesus must be the goal of our life.

This is radical discipleship. Our culture today probably wouldn’t have a problem with leaving family, but career… Jesus says that we are to radically follow him. We are to know him, love him, look like him, and serve him with such passion that everything else in life will come second. We are to be people that the world calls “fanatics”.

John couldn’t keep his mouth shut about the injustice and immorality of Herod, so he was arrested. He could no longer publicly preach the message of God’s coming kingdom. Now Jesus enters the scene.

So, let’s get real, if we want to take Jesus’ commission seriously, where do we start? If we want to replicate ourselves and make 1 or 2 disciples every 3 years that commit to replicate themselves, what should we do?

What does Jesus preach? God’s Good News. What is this Good News? It is found in , “The time of waiting is over. God’s kingdom is here.” Finally! “Repent and believe in the good news.”

First, we must ask ourselves a question. Am I following Jesus myself? Am I learning to follow Jesus more and more? If so, who is helping you?

What is this Good News? The kingdom of God is at hand, it is near. But why would this be Good News? Well, because the world was invaded by a dark and evil enemy. Satan has come and brought with him…evil, sin, and death. They aren’t supposed to be in this world. People are hurt and hurting, they get sick, and ultimately die because of this evil. Evil has been ruling, but it really isn’t supposed to be, God is.

We aren’t going to grow as a follower of Jesus simply listening to a 45 minute sermon each week. We need is a group of people, a missional community, around us. This group can take God’s word and help us apply it directly to our life. We need people who can call us out when we need it, encourage us, help us to go farther, help us learn what we can do. They will teach us how to love the one we can’t stand. Is this scary? How can we leave our fear behind?

If we look at the book of Acts, it seems as if the church did much of its work through existing friendships and relationships. In Acts we see people who live in community with each other and have deep friendships where they spur each other on. Paul disciples Timothy. Then, Paul leaves Timothy behind in Crete to disciple others just like Paul discipled him. This is why Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2, “…what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” We are meant to pass what we know from person to person.

Jesus’ Good News is that a new kingdom has come. God’s rescue plan is now ready to be enacted. God is re-invading his creation…in the person of Jesus. God is reclaiming this broken world from sin, evil, and death. Jesus has come to heal, restore, make everything new. Jesus has come to liberate this world from its slavery to this dark and evil kingdom. A new king is here, he will heal, bring justice, and establish peace in our world. He will make everything new.

If we look at the book of Acts, it seems as if the church did much of its work through existing friendships and relationships. In Acts we see people who live in community with each other and have deep friendships where they spur each other on. Paul disciples Timothy. Then, Paul leaves Timothy behind in Crete to disciple others just like Paul discipled him. This is why Paul told Timothy in , “…what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” We are meant to pass what we know from person to person.

Second, there is no formula for radical and exponential growth. There is simply devotion. They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers, all while they were living in a community on mission, and talking to one another privately as well.

What is the proper response to this? First, that we repent of our sin. we turn away from it; we despise it. We despise the person we were who was a rebel against God. We must humbly return to God and admit that we were or are a rebel. We have been on the wrong side of the battle, and don’t deserve his mercy, but we want to be a part of his kingdom. We want his mercy. We want to be a part of his new and amazing world.

Third, we know that these four men already knew Jesus or knew about him. God leveraged existing relationships. But, at some point, prompted by the Holy Spirit, Jesus looked at them said “Follow me.”

Fourth, pray for the people that are in your life that may one day be disciples. Or, maybe people who need to become more committed followers. It might be the time to invite them to come and follow Jesus with you, or you may just need to be more intentional at engaging them. They may be watching you to see whether you love them and care for them for who they are, not what you want them to become. So, you may need to ask them, “Would you like to learn about Jesus with me, discover what he taught, and how we can know him better?”

The Good News then is that Christ died so sinners (rebels against God), like us, could be forgiven and welcomed into God’s kingdom and his restored world. We were rebels and we don’t want to be anymore.

Fourth, pray for the people that are in your life that may one day be disciples. Or, maybe people who need to become more committed followers. It might be the time to invite them to come and follow Jesus with you, or you may just need to be more intentional at engaging them. They may be watching you to see whether you love them and care for them for who they are, not what you want them to become. So, you may need to ask them, “Would you like to learn about Jesus with me, discover what he taught, and how we can know him better?”

Fifth, notice how Jesus tailors the invitation to who he is talking to. Jesus invites the fishermen to catch fish. He invites himself into the tax collector’s (probably starving to find acceptance) house to have dinner with them. Jesus gave him this. If Jesus did this, why would it be any different for us. We have to know people well enough, and we have to be praying for the Holy Spirit to show how to specifically invite them.

The second part is that we believe this Good News, that God is making everything new. At the very core of the Gospel is that through Jesus Christ, we have a bright future and hope. The heart of the Good News is that Jesus is making a people who will one day live in a renewed world.

Everyone is different. Someone may struggle with guilt, and needs to see their identity in Christ as a child of God. Another struggles with abandonment and needs to be reminded that they are adopted children of God whose love for them can never be taken away. Another can’t see the unique way God shines through them. Listen to them. Try to hear and see their servant’s heart. Help them identify what their gifts are and help them put them into practice. This is about what God wants them to do, not what you want them to do. Prayer is required.

Sixth, help people establish their roots in their identity in Christ. Look for ways to help them live out the servant’s heart of Christ as the trunk. Look closely and help them determine what Christ wants to do through them as the branches and leaves of the tree. Spur each other on to loving God and neighbor more to see the fruit. And also make sure they know how to do the same thing you did for others as multiplication.

Sure, forgiveness of sins is an amazing part of the good news, but at the heart of the Good News is that Jesus Christ is our Lord and King. We want to see Jesus’ reign be perfectly fulfilled on earth. We want him to come and rid this world and us of sickness, sorrow, death, and sadness. God has made all things new through Jesus’ life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.

Sixth, help people establish their roots in their identity in Christ. Look for ways to help them live out the servant’s heart of Christ as the trunk. Look closely and help them determine what Christ wants to do through them as the branches and leaves of the tree. Spur each other on to loving God and neighbor more to see the fruit. And also make sure they know how to do the same thing you did for others as multiplication.

Finally, we need a way to integrate all the stuff we are into our lives so that we are not just a hearer of the word, deceiving ourselves, but a doer of the word. We need our life structured around practices that enable us to be a community of multiplication.

God’s kingdom has come. Jesus began the invasion, defeating those enemies that stood in the way of his glorious rule. Jesus’ kingdom is invading the world and he is reclaiming his kingdom one person at a time.

Finally, we need a way to integrate all the stuff we are into our lives so that we are not just a hearer of the word, deceiving ourselves, but a doer of the word. We need our life structured around practices that enable us to be a community of multiplication.

Jesus didn’t just speak about the kingdom of God, he demonstrated it through his power and authority. He demonstrates this authority right away in this story of his calling the disciples. Jesus has Authority over the hearts of humanity (vv. 16-20), he is redeeming one heart at a time.

The kingdom of God grows through multiplication…we love others the way God loves us, make disciples, and multiply ourselves as we are making disciples.

He is building his kingdom. How? By multiplication. One person who in turn calls another person.

Notice that the very first people called to be disciples do not volunteer because they think it is a good idea, rather, they are called. They are called from their occupation as fishers, actively catching fish, to be fishers, actively catching men.

In Jewish tradition pupils were not called by Rabbis. Rather, pupils chose their Rabbis. Why? Discipleship often would require someone to temporarily lay aside their livelihood and their family. Becoming a disciple was not something that someone just decided to do on a moment’s notice. Usually there was much thought and deliberation.

Unlike normal Rabbis, Jesus simply gives them a command, “Come! After me!” This is emphasizing Jesus’ authority as King. He is a king who picks his disciples, not a rabbi who pupils adopt. As a king, he has the authority and power to summon and his subjects obey. He turns the Rabbi thing on its head.

Imagine with me for a moment. What if you had never touched a musical instrument in your life, couldn’t read music, and were tone deaf? What would you do if Bach came up to you and said, “Hey, I want you to know that you are going to be a great musician. Come and study under me. Actually, I want you to live with me. Go everywhere I go and do everything I do so you can become a great musician.”

What would you do? If one of the greatest musicians of all time told you that he saw humongous potential in you. You would go with him, right?

You see, Jesus wasn’t asking scholars, or people who had dreamed all their lives of being great teachers. Jesus was asking fishermen. Later we see that he even called a tax collector.

The irony of all this is that in order to be a disciple you had to be intelligent, book smart, and morally upright. Fishermen weren’t known for their intelligence and book smarts, and tax collectors weren’t known for their moral uprightness.

But why does he ask them to follow him? So that they would become fishers of men. He called them so that he could pour into them for three years and then send them out to do the same to others.

But why did Jesus chose the people he chose? It seems to me that he wanted us to know that he is the one who qualifies us to be his disciples. Being a disciple who makes disciples, or fishers for men, is not the job of professionals. Jesus was showing what it means to be a Christian…not some book-smart, deeply intellectual person, but rather, a person who is qualified and called by Jesus and who is empowered by Jesus to make disciples who make disciples.

Notice that Jesus doesn’t simply call one person here. Jesus calls a band of people, who are to be engaged in gathering more people. They follow his call to be with him, obey his voice, and collect others to do the same. He also says that he will make them to become. Jesus works on them, in them, and with them to make them into people who make followers.

We see in verses 16-17 that Andrew and Simon leave their vocation and follow Jesus simply at his word. Then in verses 18-19 James and John leave their family and friends. It should be noted that they did go back to fishing again, and they did see their family again. Yet, when Jesus called them, they were interrupted from what they were doing and how they were living and followed Jesus. Simply at his command. It seems like all four of these men had a good career and a bright future.

Notice that in verses 18 and 20 both Peter and Andrew immediately leave their vocation behind and follow Jesus, and James and John immediately leave their family behind and follow Jesus. There is no hint of thinking, no bit of remorse, they simply up and leave and follow Jesus on his mission of making disciples.

Much of our lives as Christians is spent “softening” the hard sayings of Jesus in order to make them more palatable to us. Yet we see that when Jesus calls us he calls us to a life of radical service. In this passage we see two brothers leaving their vocation, and two brothers leaving their family in order to obey the call of their Master. In the Gospel of Luke we can see this as we hear Jesus speaking to the crowds:

If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. ()

What is he saying here? Is he saying that we must literally hate our family to follow him? No, as one pastor says, “Jesus wants us to follow him so fully, so intensely, so enduringly, that all other attachments in our lives look like hate comparatively.” We can’t say, “I’ll obey you if…”. Whatever is on the other side of the “if” is our real master. Jesus cannot be a means to an end. Jesus is the Maker, the King, and he will not be used by us. Jesus must be the goal of our life.

This is radical discipleship. Our culture today probably wouldn’t have a problem with leaving family, but career… Jesus here says that we are to radically follow him. We are to know him, love him, look like him, and serve him with such passion that everything else in life will come second. We are to be people that the world calls “fanatics”.

So, let’s get real, if we want to take Jesus’ commission seriously, where do you start? If we want to replicate ourselves and make 1 or 2 disciples every 3 years that commit to replicate themselves, what should we do?

First, we must ask ourselves a question. Am I following Jesus myself? Am I learning to follow Jesus more and more? If so, who is helping you?

You aren’t going to grow as a follower of Jesus simply listening to a 45 minute sermon each week. You need is a friend, a group of people, a missional community to be around you. The missional community can take God’s word and help you apply it directly to your life. We need people who can call us out when we need it, encourage us, help us to go farther, help us learn what we can do. They will teach us how to love the one we can’t stand? Is this scary? How can I leave my fear behind?

If we look at the book of Acts, it seems as if the church did much of its work through existing friendships and relationships. In Acts we see people who live in community with each other and have deep friendships where they spur each other on. Paul disciples Timothy. Then, Paul leaves Timothy behind in Crete to disciple others just like Paul discipled him. This is why Paul told Timothy in , “…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.” We are meant to pass what we know on from person to person.

Second, there is no formula to seeing radical and exponential growth. There is simply devotion. They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers, all while they were living in a community on mission, and talking to one another privately as well.

Third, we know from the another Gospel that Jesus already knew all four of these men. He called people that he already knew! At some point, prompted by the Holy Spirit, Jesus looked at a person or two and said “Follow me.”.

Fourth, pray for the people that are in your life that may one day be disciples. Or, maybe they just need to go deeper with Jesus to become committed followers. You may want to invite them to come and follow Jesus with you, but right now you may just need to be their friend and become engaged in their life. They may simply be watching you to see whether you actually love them and care for them for who they are, or what you want them to become.

So, you may simply need to ask them, “Would you like to learn about Jesus with me, discover who he was, what he taught, and how we can live like him?”

Fifth, notice how Jesus tailors the invitation to who he is talking to. Jesus invites the fishermen to catch fish. Jesus invites himself into the tax collector to have dinner with them. The tax collector was probably starving to find acceptance and not rejection. Jesus gave him this. If Jesus did this, why would it be any different for us. We have to know people well enough, and we have to be praying for the Holy Spirit to show so we khow to specifically invite them.

All of us are different. Maybe someone struggles with guilt, and you need to show them that their identity is found in Christ, as a child of God. Maybe someone struggles with abandonment, you may need to remind them that they are adopted sons and daughters of God whose love for them can never be taken away. Maybe someone can’t see the unique way God shines through them. Listen to them. Try to hear and see how and when they demonstrate a servant’s heart. Help them identify what their extraordinary gifts are. And help them put them into practice. This is about what God wants them to do, not what you want them to do. Prayer is required.

Sixth, help people to establish their roots in their identity in Christ. Look for ways to help them live out the servant’s heart of Christ as the trunk. Look closely and pray to help them determine what Christ want to do through them as the branches and leaves of the tree. Spur each other on to loving God and neighbor more to see the fruit. And also make sure they know how to do the same thing you did for others as multiplication.

Finally, we need a way to integrate all the stuff we are into our lives so that we are not just a hearer of the word, deceiving ourselves, but a doer of the word.

The kingdom of God grows through multiplication…we love others the way God loves us, make disciples, and multiply ourselves as we are making disciples.

A Community of Multiplication

Introduction

The series

The series

The series

Background

Background

Background

Exposition

Exposition

Exposition

The Good News

The Good News

The Good News

Repent

Repent

Repent

Believe

Believe

Believe

Multiplication

Multiplication

Multiplication

Come, After me

Come, After me

Come, After me

The series

Fishers of men

Fishers of men

Fishers of men

What happened

What happened

What happened

Background

Exposition

Application

Application

Application

The Good News

Repent

Believe

Multiplication

Come, After me

Fishers of men

What happened

Application