Death Before Multiplication

Seeds come from living plants. But before they bring more life, they must die.

Good Friday reminds us of a life-death-more life pattern. The death of Jesus would bring a dramatic multiplication of the body of Christ on earth. Seeds would be scattered to the four corners of the globe as “dead-to-self” disciples lay down their life in Gospel service.

I am thinking about the death that must come before multiplication in a different way this week. As I enter a new chapter of multiplying my work as a Vision Pathway Navigator with Auxano, I meet the end of my own gifts. For one man’s passion, ability, and experiences to really multiply, death must happen. Death to efficiency, death to control and death to ego. For me to multiply I must die to enjoyment of doing and being good at doing. Only then can I significantly invest in others and see the benefits of my clarity cause reach more leaders.

If you aspire to multiply, a great question to ask is, “How are you dying to your doing?”

  • How are you dying to efficiency to show someone else the ropes?
  • How are you dying to control to let someone else have 100% responsibility?
  • How are you dying to ego to let someone else be the hero?

Remember, the first command given to humans was all about multiplication – “Be fruitful and increase in number (Gen. 1:28)” This verse is the proto-commission to everything, including the Great Commission.

  • Are you a disciple? Then multiply.
  • Are you given a unique set of spiritual gifts and natural talents? Then multiply.
  • Do you have a special vision or calling? Then multiply.

You have some thing to multiply. Just don’t forget death before multiplication.

Where have you see this principle at work in your life?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Will Mancini

Will Mancini

Will Mancini wants you and your ministry to experience the benefits of stunning, God-given clarity. As a pastor turned vision coach, Will has worked with an unprecedented variety of churches from growing megachurches and missional communities, to mainline revitalization and church plants. He is the founder of Auxano, creator of VisionRoom.com and the author of God Dreams and Church Unique.

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comment_post_ID); ?> Thank you for this information. I'm going to use this article to improve my work with the Lord.
 
— Abel Singbeh
 
comment_post_ID); ?> Thank you Ed for sharing your insights into the Church Growth Movement. I have my reservations with Church Growth models because it has done more damage than good in the Body of Christ. Over the years, western churches are more focused on results, formulas and processes with little or no emphasis on membership and church discipline. Pastors and vocational leaders are burnt out because they're overworked. I do believe that the Church Growth model is a catalyst to two destructive groups: The New Apostolic Reformation and the Emerging Church. Both groups overlap and have a very loose definition. They're both focus on contemporary worship, expansion of church brand (franchising), and mobilizing volunteering members as 'leaders' to grow their ministry. Little focus on biblical study, apologetics and genuine missional work with no agenda besides preaching of the gospel.
 
— Dave
 
comment_post_ID); ?> Thank you for sharing such a good article. It is a great lesson I learned from this article. I am one of the leaders in Emmanuel united church of Ethiopia (A denomination with more-than 780 local churches through out the country). I am preparing a presentation on succession planning for local church leaders. It will help me for preparation If you send me more resources and recommend me books to read on the topic. I hope we may collaborate in advancing leadership capacity of our church. God Bless You and Your Ministry.
 
— Argaw Alemu
 

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