I See a Church That Multiplies
May 18, 2023

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“I See a Church That Multiplies”
May 18 & 21, 2023





The “Dominion Mandate” = the original purpose of God for mankind

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Genesis 1:26-28 (ESV)


We can’t look at every reference to “multiply”

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

Genesis 15:1-6 (ESV)


We are the reward and the recipients of the promise!

A Promise to Abraham:

“When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.

Genesis 17:1-7 (ESV)




We have heard about “multiply”

  • Multiply what?

  • How can we shift from Add to Multiply?


    Multiply Disciples

    And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

    Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)

  • Building people IS the job!

  • Jesus said He would build HIS church, not ours!

    Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

    Matthew 16:13-19 (ESV)




    How can we shift from Add to Multiply?


  • “Multiply” happens when all the “adds” add.

  • Whatever strategy you develop for building people (And remember, building people is the job) has to empower people to empower people.

  • Our focus isn’t the pulpit - it’s the pew.

    ➔ “Add Model” = We can do it - you can help.

    ➔ “Multiply Model” = You can do it - we can help.

  • The shift happens when you change:

    • Your mind (Believe - then embrace a new math)
    • Your metrics (What you count and what makes you cry)
    • Your methods



    Questions & Application

    These questions can be used for personal study and/or in a Small Group format. We’d love to hear how you are putting them to use, so let us know at smallgroups@manna.church!


    1. Read the main Scripture(s) of the sermon. What are your observations?

    2. What was your biggest takeaway from today’s message?

    3. What about the sermon inspired, encouraged, or challenged you?

    4. What insights do you have that you could share with someone else?

    5. What action steps do you need to take to respond to the message?

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