Blessed To Multiply

 

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

One of the most beautiful blessings that God our heavenly Father has given his children is the power to multiply. Genesis 1:27 and 28 tell us, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

This is amazing! Our Creator did not pre-set the world’s population. Nor did he limit the number of people who could live on the earth. Instead He gave people the power to multiply humanity and rule all of the living things on the planet. The book of Genesis calls that power a blessing, “God blessed them and said “Be fruitful and multiply…”

Right from the beginning, God wanted us to embrace the power of multiplication. And it seems that, in general, people have done so!  The earth’s population that started with just two people is now over 8 billion people.  And it’s still growing.

I am expecting a grandchild to be born in about seven weeks.  My little grandchild will be just one in eight billion, but she will be a blessing to her parents, to her extended family and to her people. Multiplication is a blessing. God’s word tells us so, and so does our own experience.

But there is another kind of multiplication that God is concerned about. He wants us to multiply disciples.  Disciples are followers of Jesus who do three things:

1. Disciples hear the Word of God,

2. Disciples understand the word of God. And,

3. Disciples bear fruit by obeying the word of God.

In the Great Commission, Jesus set forth a chain of multiplication of disciples. He said, Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

If you teach your disciples to obey all that Jesus commanded, they too will multiply disciples because Jesus commands disciple making.  Let me say that another way: If you teach your disciples to obey each of Jesus commandments, including the Great Commission, your disciples will also make disciples because Jesus commands disciple making! When disciples make disciples, we have multiplication. Now if multiplying people across the face of the earth brings blessing, how much more does the multiplication of disciples bring even greater blessing.

Multiplication is a necessary part of God’s plan to bless all peoples.  So, here is my word of encouragement to you today: Be fruitful and multiply, not just natural children, but spiritual children as well, disciples of Jesus who in turn will live an abundant, fruitful life that brings blessing to many.

 

This has been “Multiply,” and I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?

 

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #GreatCommission #MultiplyDisciples

Steward Leadership - Introduction

 

This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders.

As this is a new year, I will begin a new series on the subject of steward leadership. One author defines a steward as “someone who manages resources belonging to another person in order to achieve the owner’s objectives.”

“Steward” and “stewardship” are two words that have been on my mind – and have appeared in my journal – quite frequently over the past several months.

Near the end of November, the Lord spoke a word of correction to me as I considered my responsibilities as Africa Regional Director for OMS.  He said, “This work is Mine, not yours.  It is your responsibility to steward the work and not to carry it.”

His rebuke brought me great relief and much joy. I felt relief as I was reminded that while I continue to carry the responsibility of leadership, I do not – and cannot – bear the burden of ownership.  The work is His! Similarly, joy flooded my soul as the Lord gently assured me that our work is His, and He simply calls me – and us – to steward, or manage, all the resources that He has provided.

Please allow me to share another journal entry from early October, 2024. As I recently re-read my entire journal from 2024, I marked this entry as my “ah ha” (or big realization) for the year.  

Here is that thought from the Lord.  “What if the Lord has a new paradigm for VCP? What if finances were no longer the limiting factor? How would that change the way we think and act?” That certainly got my attention, and it has changed my outlook on many things!

The Lord will provide the resources needed – people, relationships, strategies, and, yes, finances – and our responsibility is to steward wisely their allocation and use. I invite you to ponder that concept with me as we embark on this series about steward leadership.  During this series, we will explore together four of Jesus’s parables on this topic.

* Parable of the Talents – Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:12-27

* Parable of the Faithful and Wise Steward - Matthew 24:42-51, Mark 13:34-37, and Luke 12:35-48

* Parable of the Barren Fig Tree – Luke 13:6-9

* Parable of the Unjust Steward (also referred to as the Shrewd Manager) – Luke 16:1-13

We will also explore five major themes of stewardship:

1. Character matters

2. Stewards have an obligation to account for their stewardship

3. Stewardship necessitates cultivating relationships

4. The steward must share his master’s goal for growth

5. Faithful stewards advance in their levels of responsibility

I invite you once again to begin to meditate, think on, and apply these concepts.

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters and leaders.

Three Resources for Church Multiplication

        Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

My words today focus especially on VCP students who have been working for

three or four years to make disciples, plant churches, and train leaders. I’m

directing my thoughts today to men and women who have made several trips

around the Four Fields Model, researching, praying, sowing the Good Seed of

the Gospel, making disciples, training leaders and sending them into new fields

where the Gospel is not known.

First of all, let me congratulate you. Only a very small percentage of Christians

have done what you have done. You have multiplied disciples, leaders and

churches! Praise the Lord!

Leaders like you often begin to focus on gathering resources to strengthen their

church planting and extend it to new places. This is right and good. And God

has promised to supply your needs according to his riches in glory.

But what kind of resources do you need the most? What do you need to continue

to plant, grow, and multiply healthy churches?

Some church planters think that more than anything else, they need places to

meet, chairs to sit on, and a sound system to amplify their message. But you

have already proven for yourself that churches can start anywhere: in a home,

under a tree, in a school, or really anywhere else. Many people will agree that

churches can be planted anywhere, but they believe that money to buy land,

build buildings, and pay for ministry expenses such as transportation costs

makes money a very important resource for church multiplication.

Other people like to look at church multiplication from a more spiritual

perspective. They say the most needed resource for church multiplication is

prayer. They rightly say that God delights to answer the prayers of his children

and that God is all-powerful and full of love. These spiritual brothers and

sisters tell us to devote ourselves to prayer before we start church planting.

They admonish us to pray as we move through repeated cycles of the Four

Fields Model. Prayer is very important. But, is it the most needed resource for

church multiplication?

Others say that people are the most needed resource for church multiplication.

They point out that even with a nice building and a good sound system, a

church is a failure without people. They agree that prayer is very important. But, they

remind us that people pray. If people are taught well, the more people you

have the more prayer you have. Those who think people are the most needed

resource for church multiplication don’t discount the need for money, but they

remember that God provides resources through people.

What about you? What do you think is the most needed resource for church

multiplication? Buildings, money, prayer, or people? Would you consider this

question, pray about it and discuss it with your fellow church planters? We’ll

discuss it more when I come to you next week with another episode of Multiply,

the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for church planters.

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #Resources #Multiplication

Jesus Called, Equipped and Released Workers for the Harvest

    Hello, this is multiply a podcast to encourage village church planters and leaders, I am Brad Snowden.

 Luke 10:2 says, "He was saying to them the harvest is abundant but the workers are you therefore perfectly asked the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into the harvest."

 Jesus shares with his disciples that the harvest is abundant, and so they can be encouraged that their effort would not be in vain. I imagine that with these words, it was a great encouragement for them. I know that personally there are certain things that people do that I’m not excited to do. 

It is not because those activities are not good, but I do not know that in the end, my effort will produce the proper reward for me because of my interest. Jesus says that there are plenty of people out there who do not know the good news today we still have this word because there are so many who do not follow the Lord Jesus taught His disciples the truth as he walked with them upon this earth. 

He trained them through sharing, and walking before them. They could hear and see the gospel all at the same time Jesus knew the way to teach and prepare his disciples for the work that they would do after he trained them. He knew that some learned by hearing, some by seeing and some had to learn to trust him by doing.

I can think of no better example than PETER and the others were fishing all night and caught nothing Jesus arrives, and simply says, cast your net on the right side, and there was an abundance of fish. It was at that moment that they grew in their faith and knew the power of Christ’s words. Today we can be confident in what God‘s word teaches us and our relationship with Jesus. We know that the Holy Spirit will give us the right words to say to those that do not know Jesus and his loving grace.The Holy Spirit will guide us to the perfect place where we are to preach and share the good news I know that as the Lord guides us in the power of the Holy Spirit, he has already worked in their hearts and will accomplish what he has planned. The Lord has guided me many times to places where I was like Lord this is not something I am comfortable with, and I do not know why I am here and then I find myself talking with someone and in conversation he pours into their hearts the truth, and they accept him as their savior. There was nothing any better than being used by the Lord. There must be the feet to go being Jesus‘s followers seeking those that do not know. Our confidence is that Jesus has given us his word, his example and his power to do all that he wants us to accomplish in his plans. It is up to us to go and be that vessel for him. There is a great harvest of awaits us. 

This has been a word of encouragement for village church planters.

Learn the Lessons of 2024 Well!

         Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

The end of one year and the beginning of another give God’s children a

wonderful opportunity to reflect, pray, and prepare. As a child of God, I

encourage you to pause and do all three. As you reflect, pray, and prepare, you

may want to use the classic questions we use so often in VCP when we want to

review a ministry experience, “What went well? and “What should we do

differently next time?” But in this case you can begin to reflect, pray, and

prepare by asking, “What went well in my family, in my church and in my

ministry in 2024?”

Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to reflect as you ask yourself these

questions. 365 days is a long time. So much happened in 2024. You want to

remember all of the good things that happened. And, you want to give God

thanks for each one. You want to make plans to show appreciation to your

family members, church members, and ministry teammates who brought their

strength, offerings, talent, wisdom, or blessing to the good events of 2024. This

takes time, but it is time well spent.

As you think back on 2024, be sure to ask yourself, “What lessons have I

learned this year?” God is always at work. And the God we serve is a God who

speaks. As we walk in the Spirit, the Comforter speaks to us and helps us learn

from our experiences and our interactions with others. What lessons have you

learned in 2024?

After reflecting on 2024, we are well prepared to look forward to 2025. The

key question becomes, “What should I do differently in 2025? Based on all I

have experienced and all I have learned in 2024, what new ways of serving or

new areas of focus should I embrace? Again, the Holy Spirit is our Helper; He

leads us and guides us. The turn of the New Year is an excellent opportunity, to

reflect, pray, and prepare. Don’t miss the opportunity!

As I reflect on 2024 and prepare for 2025, Jesus’ words in John 9:4 come back

to me again and again. He said, “As long as it is day, we must do the works of

him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” 2024 for many of

us was a year of open doors and open heavens. God’s blessing flowed as we

ministered in new places and in new ways, especially during the 90 days of

prayer, fasting and church planting. For that, we will be eternally grateful.

But, we have no assurance that such freedom in ministry, such abundant

provision, such open doors and open hearts will be available to us in 2025 and

beyond. The night comes when no man can work. 

So, my word of encouragement to you is to learn the lessons of 2024 well. Move into 2025 with

full devotion to Christ and full devotion to do the disciple making, church

planting ministry to which you are called. Give thanks for all that The Lord has

provided. Move forward with energy to take advantage of the opportunities

the new year holds.

This has been “Multiply,” and I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this

encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #NewYear #Reflect

The Trademark of God's Leaders - Nehemiah - Summary

 

This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders.

Today we conclude this six-month study of Nehemiah. I have personally learned much from his leadership practices, and I hope that you have found many practical applications from this series of podcasts. Today, I want to summarize our lessons.

 Chapter 1 – we began with his intercessory prayer. He wept and mourned for days about the situation. It became very personal to him. He “owned” the sins of the Israelite people.

 In chapter 2, we observed many lessons

 He was courageous as he approached the king. Though he was very much afraid (vs 3), he overcame those fears and asked to be released to go to Jerusalem.

 He was also bold. He did not ask a small favor; we see in verse 5 that he made a very large request of the king.

 I appreciate how Nehemiah was planful as we see in verses 7 and 8. After four months of prayer about the situation in Jerusalem, Nehemiah knew the details of what was needed, and he had a plan.

 I see in chapter 2, verses 17 and 18 that Nehemiah was an inspiring visionary. “Then I said to them, You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace; … They replied, Let us start rebuilding; So they began this good work.”  I appreciate in verses 19 and 20, that Nehemiah was confident in the Lord. He did not puff up his chest and claim that he was great. When confronted by opposition, he answered by saying, The God of heaven will give us success.

 I said that in chapter 3 I see Nehemiah as a masterful motivator. He found those most influential in Jerusalem and engaged their support and involvement early on. He also set clear assignments and expectations.

 Related to this, in chapter 4 we saw that he was a motivator, not a manipulator. Those who follow us see through any attempts to manipulate, and this often results in resistance and resentment.

 Another lesson in chapter 4 is that Nehemiah had the wisdom to balance the work with the security of the workers. “… half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor… Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other.” That’s from verses 16 and 17.

 We also saw in chapter 4 that leaders are responsible for warnings and communication. 4:18b tells us that “The man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.” And also 4:20a, “Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there.”

 Moving on to chapter 6, we learned that Nehemiah and godly leaders are focused. They are able to stay with a task until it is completed. They are not easily distracted.

 In chapters 5 and 13, we saw that Nehemiah was willing to confront those under his leadership when the situation warranted it. I also suggested that people need to not only understand the WHAT of correction but also the WHY.

 Finally, our study of Nehemiah’s leadership qualities began with prayer and concludes with prayer. In chapter 9, he led the people in prayers of repentance.

May we aspire to be godly leaders following the example of Nehemiah.

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters and leaders.

Immanuel - God is with us!

     Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters. 

The incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ is full of wonder and mystery, power and blessing.  What a joy it is therefore to celebrate Christmas.   The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). The eternal Son of God came to us. In spite of our poverty, our sinfulness and our ignorance, the King of Kings came to make his home among us.

I am fascinated by the many angelic visitations that surround the birth of Jesus our Lord. Angels are powerful messengers, sent from God to do His will and to communicate with people. So often in the Christmas stories, the first thing an angel has to say is “Don’t be afraid.”  They are powerful, awesome beings sent from heaven to earth to interact with people.

However, when the angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph in a dream, his message was not terrifying, it was full of hope and peace. The angel quoted the prophet Isaiah saying, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).” That’s right, the angel told Joseph that the virgin to whom he was engaged to be married was going to conceive a child from the Holy Spirit and give birth to a son who would be Immanuel, God with us.

Though it was unexpected and very unusual, the news the angel of the Lord gave to Joseph was Good News indeed.  In the Garden, man and woman had lived in fellowship with God.  But our forefathers rebelled against Him, turning their backs on his goodness.  The Bible says that each of has gone astray. Like sheep, in our rebellion we have strayed from God.  The result is brokenness and fear, guilt and shame.

But God took matters into his own hands.  He sent us Jesus, Immanuel, God with us. Jesus “made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness (Philippians 2:7). He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:11, 12).  Amazing!

Brother and sisters, this is the love of God for us. God came to us in the person of Jesus. Not because we were good or deserving, not because we had wisdom or riches to offer Him.  No! God came us in the person of Jesus because he loves us. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16, 17).

May this Good News of Christmas deeply penetrate your thoughts and prayers in these days.  The Father dearly loves you. God wants to be with you. In spite of all your mistakes and rebellion, your ignorance or pride, God loves you and has come to be with you. Hallelujah!  What a Savior! He is Immanuel, God with us!

This has been “Multiply,” and I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #Immanuel #Incarnation