Summary: Are you ready for future growth? Would be you ready if 19 new volunteers came to you saying they wanted to be plugged in right now? Most say they would be overjoyed...until they realize they would not know how to effectively plug them in right away.

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As I shared before, ministry multiplication is the biggest win. But, if you have been in ministry for any amount of time, you might run some “Objections” to multiplying ministry. You might say, “it is easier to just do it myself.” It IS easier right now. But not for long. The wise and master builder plans for future growth now by building into other leaders, thus multiplying the ministry.

Have you ever been to Arizona? When I visited Arizona, I was shocked to see the massive man made river beds. These cement channels were installed for the anticipation of the one time in the year when the rains hit hard. Intelligent leaders thought ahead and built for the future of a downpour. They calculated and pre-directed the surges of water and mapped out just where they should go.

Are you ready for future growth? Would be you ready if 19 new volunteers came to you saying they wanted to be plugged in right now? Most say they would be overjoyed...until they realize they would not know how to effectively plug them in right away.

Arizona city planners made decisions NOW for a future when the blessing of rains would come. Working hard now - pulling double duty for a season - makes tomorrow’s anticipated downpour of waters a welcome thought. The key is to build systems, structures and teams to support future growth. By building into others now, you are ready for the future, whatever it holds. Build now what you hope you will need in 5 years.

Summary: A doer of ministry is addition. A builder of others is a multiplier. Ministry multiplication is the biggest win.

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Ministry multiplication is the biggest win. However, I know the obstacles that stand in the way of multiplying ministry. One of those obstacles might be, your very own self. You might fall prey to the common pitfall of thinking, “It is my job to be the pastor and not others”.

This is an interesting one. I want to examine the assumption in the statement. The statement reads, “It is my job to be the pastor and not others”. This is actually not a true statement. As we have talked about before, the role of a pastor is to build up the body to do the work of the ministry. You - as a pastor - are a trainer, a multiplier and a developer. You - as a pastor - are NOT to be a doer.

Your church will NEVER be able to hire enough staff to meet all the needs of the ministry. The smartest churches and the smartest leaders seek to hire leaders who are builders of others and not just doers themselves. Bottom Line: A doer of ministry is addition. A builder of others is a multiplier.

Do you need to make a mental shift today? Do you need to start viewing yourself as a multiplier and not so much as a doer? Remember, ministry multiplication is the biggest win.

Summary: In Jesus’ earthly ministry, He shared this message, “The Kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe.” After he chose his 12 disciples, Jesus commanded, “Say to them, “The Kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe.” As He sent out the 12, He told them to say the EXACT thing that He had already been sharing. Today, don’t overcomplicate it - do ministry and help others do the same.

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Jesus is the most comprehensive and elegant picture of what it means to multiply one’s self in ministry. Jesus had a specific message. His message was powerfully validated through miracles. As He traveled, He shared this message, “The Kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe.” This simple message was backed up by signs and wonders, confirming that His message was the truth. He healed the sick, opened the eyes of the blind and cast out demons.

Jesus goes to the mountain top and prays all night long to the Lord of the Harvest. Jesus asked God the Father who He should pick to help Him in this field. The very next day, He chooses the original 12 disciples. Jesus selects His “Faithful Few.” Jesus immediately provides them a job description. But what is so interesting is that their job description is the exact thing Jesus Himself had already been doing. Nothing new. Just do what He did and say what He said.

Jesus commanded, “Say to them, “The Kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe.” Their simple message was also backed up by signs and wonders, confirming this message was the truth. And just like Jesus, they healed the sick, opened the eyes of the blind and cast out demons. As He sent out the 12, He told them to say the EXACT thing that He had already been sharing. He told them to do the EXACT same miracles to validate His EXACT same message. Jesus was making more of Himself. Jesus was multiplying His efforts.

When viewed this way, I don’t see this as overly complicated. I see this as doing ministry and helping others to do the same. Today, don’t over complicate it. What would Jesus do? He would make more of Himself. Go and do the same.

Summary: 2 Timothy 2:2 says, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” Paul is saying to Timothy, “You heard from me. Teach others. Make sure those others can teach others as well.” This is the essence of ministry multiplication.

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Paul considered Timothy as his very own son. While Paul was training leaders in each new church, he was also systematically showcasing to Timothy exactly how he was doing this.

Can I ask you a question? Do you have a “Timothy” in your life? Do you have someone that you are pouring into? Are you passing the baton of ministry or are you viewing this as an exclusively “solo sport”?

2 Timothy 2:2 says, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” I appreciate the numerical nuance of 2nd Timothy 2:2. I call it the multiplication verse. 2 x 2 x 2. You heard from me. Teach others. Make sure those others can teach others as well. This is the essence of ministry multiplication. Build ministries through building leaders who can build other leaders.

Paul wrote in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it onto completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” God would see this through. Paul could confidently trust God from prison, knowing these leaders, including Timothy would not be left as orphans.

Paul sought to achieve this multiplying of leaders to build churches and leaders like Timothy through relational discipleship. He says in I Thessalonians 2 – “We not only gave you the gospel of God but our very lives as well.” It is a relational business to multiply in ministry. Paul poured himself into others. Who can you pour into this week? Ask God to bring you a Timothy.

Summary: We should follow Paul’s lead and example of starting and sustaining new ministry. Paul’s trust was not in the leaders themselves nor in the quality of his training, yet in the Holy Spirit to carry on this work.

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Paul the Apostle was a master multiplier. Paul would arrive at a new town. Through his preaching, people became followers of Jesus. Behold, a new church was born. Paul stayed for a period of time at this church. During that time, Paul sought to develop leaders and structure prior to moving onto the next town. Paul established Elders and Deacons. He did this masterfully. His calling was not to be the main man at that new church. His calling was to build into others, establish stability, move on and do it again.

He did this SO the administration of the Gospel, the church, would carry on and go multiplicatively viral. He was setting it up to function WITHOUT his ongoing touch or presence.

We should follow his lead and example. He started a church and worked tirelessly himself. He then looked for those “faithful few” with character and gifts. He got all the plates spinning, trained others to keep them spinning and set out once again to start something new in a different city. I marvel at Paul’s ability not only to start something and get it going, but to walk away with the purpose of doing it again. I think it is important for me to understand that Paul’s trust was not in the leaders themselves nor in the quality of his training, yet in the Holy Spirit to carry this work.

Can I challenge you today? Do you have trust in the Holy Spirit to work through others or are you scared to let go and allow another person to lead. Paul did not have email and a phone to quickly check in on people he left behind. If he did it, so can you. Pray, right now, for God to birth a spirit of multiplication in you today.

Summary: Great leaders give ministry AWAY — ministry that OTHER qualified leaders could do. The kingdom needs MORE qualified players, not just you.

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Great leaders give ministry AWAY. Great leaders will KEEP certain aspects of the ministry that are important for THEM to do. But they will give away ministry that OTHER qualified leaders could do. Giving away ministry can be tough. There are things I enjoy. I can be reluctant to give away opportunities.

Here is an example. I am rather proficient at teaching large groups of people. I have a Masters Degree in Effective Instruction and have National Board Certification in Teacher Excellence. I have been classically trained, plus I have decades of experience teaching in many contexts. In addition, I really like it.

However, instead of directly teaching a room full of 100 kids, my best and highest use was to teach and train 2-3 other leaders to teach. These leaders had the raw materials, had some experience teaching and even some success at teaching. Truth be told, I was better than they were at teaching. I could prepare faster, deliver with more engagement and make it look easy. It would have been super easy to stay in a direct teaching role and not multiply myself. But the best kingdom value was to have 3-4 people who could teach at a “B+ Level” rather than one person who could teach at an “A+ Level”.

I stopped direct teaching and passed on my gifts, abilities and tricks-of-the-trade to eager and qualified leaders. Now there were 4 of us, not just one. Can I challenge you to give away ministry? Think about it. Pray about it. The kingdom needs MORE qualified players, not just you.

Summary: When it comes to multiplying YOUR ministry, look for the faithful few. Duplicate yourself with already-developed-leaders who have a winning track record.

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The Early Church experienced problems. Growth causes pain. They had strains in the area of administration. Everything was working fine until the volume of people needing served overtook the Apostles’ ability to organizationally manage the process. This was not a heart issue. This was an execution issue. Things were falling through the cracks.

As more people became followers of Jesus, the number of physical needs grew. The need for a better means of administration also grew. The people were multiplying in number, therefore, the ministry must multiply as well. Their answer was not to double down, work harder and make it all happen themselves. They multiplied themselves and created the first deacons, or essentially, an administrative team. The Apostles looked for the current faithful. I call them the faithful few. They looked for those with good reputations, full of wisdom and of the Spirit.

When it comes to multiplying YOUR ministry, look for the faithful few. DO NOT look for an untested and untried individual. The Bible teaches, “He who is faithful in little, will be faithful in much.” Take your current “301-level” leaders and develop them “401-level” leaders. Duplicate yourself with already-developed-leaders who have a winning track record.

Summary: God set up the boundaries of your habitation. You are where you are for a reason. Often, I need to remind myself, as the Psalmist said, “The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places.”

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Paul said, “He is not served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all life and breathe and all things; and He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek God.”

God set up the boundaries of your habitation. You are where you are for a reason. You are at this church or this ministry outpost for a reason and for this season. Often, I need to remind myself, as the Psalmist said, “The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places.” Sometimes, I need to open my eyes and celebrate my station in life.

You are where you are and you have an assignment. Will you accept this assignment? Interestingly enough, you are not there by accident. I feel, so strongly, that part of your assignment is to see yourself and your ministry multiplied into another. What are you doing right now to faithfully pass on the work God has given your hands to do? Who is in your life, right now, that you need to more strategically invest your time and energy? What if you were faithful at being you? What if you stayed behind and focused on your calling? It could change the world.

Summary: The majority of us will not proclaim the good news of Christ to tens of thousands of people standing on a stage in a huge venue. But I tell you the truth: faithfully doing what God has called you to do can change the world.

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I can confidently say that the majority of us will not have a national platform. And if some of us do have a touch more influence, I will also confidently say that many of us will likely just want more, right?

In this day and age of influencers, followers and more, there is a skewed measuring stick for determining if we are doing what we are supposed to do. The world has a weird sense of what it means to be faithful to our calling and how success is measured. There can be an odd tension between what we WANT a life of impact to look like and how the calling from God REALLY is going to play out.

The majority of us will not proclaim the good news of Christ to tens of thousands of people standing on a stage in a huge venue. Most of us have been called to stay home and do that which is ours to do. You may be called to serve with six kids and have one singular and faithful volunteer at your side every week. That’s not a national platform. But I tell you the truth: faithfully doing what God has called you to do can change the world.

Are you willing to do unseen and uncelebrated things? Are you willing to spend your life developing a few people in your hidden neck of the woods? Will you do what YOU are supposed to do, leaving others to fulfill their calling? Are you faithfully serving where God has placed you, or are you wishing and even pining for a bigger platform? Do you need to take a moment and accept the place and space God has placed and planted you.

Take a moment and ask God for His grace so you can accept your calling, your place and your space in the kingdom.

Summary: If you are the only one who knows how to run your ministry, the solution is NOT to double your hours. The solution is to double your leaders.

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I have had my fair share of personal struggles in ministry. I have been the person who disappointed my spouse and neglected my own kids. Have you been there? I have. Would those around you say that ministry and honestly, the demands of ministry, have negatively affected your family life? If those around you said yes, this means you are likely pretty normal.

Sadly, I remember the beautiful birth of my third born daughter. I should have been savoring this once-in-a-lifetime moment of being in the hospital with my bride and new baby. Instead, I was managing an impending church split in the hallway of the hospital. That is right. I somehow felt that those people who were coming to visit us in the hospital needed my pastoral care for the sad unraveling of things at the church. This was foolish. But, as you might have experienced, ministry can tend to encroach on our personal lives.

Here is the reality: Other people hold the capacity to lead. Beyond this, God cares more about His people and His church than I care about His people and His church. Are you the only one who knows how to drive the church bus? Are you the only one holding the keys to unlock every door in the church? Are you the only one with the answers to every question? Folks, this rests on us as leaders to not have it all fall to us. If you find yourself in the ditch, it is our job to work ourselves OUT of that ditch and never return.

Let’s not be satisfied with how ministry is negatively affecting our families. The solution is Biblical. The solution is NOT to double your hours. The solution is to double your leaders.