CTG 0009

MULTIPLICATION

The longing to see the number of followers of Christ increase and to see Christian communities multiply (locally and worldwide) is very healthy. 

Jesus' parable about the sower teaches us that this takes place through spreading the message of and about Christ. As the message is heard, understood, accepted (believed), genuinely retained and propagated, multiplication occurs. Matthew 13, Mark 4 & Luke 8.

Consider the following quotes:

"And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith."

Acts 6:7

"So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied."

Acts 9:31

"... the word of God increased and multiplied."

Acts 12:24

"... not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere ..."

1 Thessalonians 1:8

"... pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honoured, as happened among you."

2 Thessalonians 3:1

"... reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks."

Acts 19:9-10

"... by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God - so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; ... to preach the gospel ..."

Romans 15:18-20

"... praying at all times in the Spirit, ... also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak."

Ephesians 6:18-20

Fruitfulness brings glory to God.

(All the above quotes are from the ESV.)