The power of multiplication
Imagine if you shared the gospel daily and saw 1 person trust Jesus every day for 16 years. You would impact 5,840 people for Christ. That’s an impressive number. However, say you lead just one person to Jesus and discipled them for a year. Then the next year, both of you reproduced that process with 2 others. The following year, all 4 of you reproduced that same process with others, and continued this pattern. At the end of 16 years, you would impact 65,536 people for Christ. That’s the power of multiplication. What’s more amazing is if you were to take this process out for 33 years, you could actually reach the world’s population of 6 billion people in just 33 years of multiplying disciples. The approach of evangelistic addition would never even come close in a lifetime.
Consider the impact of a life committed to multiplying disciples in the chart below.
Evangelistic Addition vs. Disciple Making Multiplication
Years
| Evangelistic Addition
| Disciple Making Multiplication
|
1
| 365
| 2
|
2
| 730
| 4
|
3
| 1,095
| 8
|
4
| 1,460
| 16
|
5
| 1,825
| 32
|
6
| 2,190
| 64
|
7
| 2,555
| 128
|
8
| 2,920
| 256
|
9
| 3,285
| 512
|
10
| 3,650
| 1,024
|
11
| 4,015
| 2,048
|
12
| 4,380
| 4,096
|
13
| 4,745
| 8,192
|
14
| 5,110
| 16,384
|
15
| 5,475
| 32,768
|
16
| 5,840
| 65,536
|
Chart from “Growing Up” by: Robby Gallaty
Reproducing Disciples
- Challenge group members to identify and invite a few new people into a discipleship group.
- Set a timeline of expectation for them to have their own groups.
- Take time to speak encouragement into their lives.
- Celebrate the journey you have been on.
- Assure them that you will continue to stay in contact with them.
4 steps of multiplying
1. I do, you watch, we discuss (large majority of year in the d-group)
2. I do, you help, we discuss (give a couple weeks to include individual group members in prep for group)
3. You do, I help, we discuss (give a couple weeks for individual group members to prep and lead group)
4. You do, I watch, we discuss (launch individual group members to lead their own groups)
Staying in Contact
- Make a habit of praying for former group members weekly by name.
- Set a reminder to send a regular text message for phone call of encouragement.
- Plan annual get-togethers for fellowship.
Personal Application
- Read and reflect on the following passages: Acts 4:4, Acts 6:7, Acts 8:4, Acts 12:24, Acts 17:6
- Set a personal goal for when you will multiply the discipleship process.
- Invite a few new people into a discipleship group.