Multiplication, Not Addition Series

“MULTIPLICATION NOT ADDITION”. 2 Timothy 2:2

FBCF – 1/23/22

Jon Daniels

INTRO - In a commencement speech at Univ of TX, Admiral William McRaven gave this challenge to graduates: “If every one of you changed the lives of just 10 people, and each one of those folks changed the lives of another 10 people—just 10—then in six generations this class will have changed the lives of the entire population of the world, eight billion people.”

What a challenge, not only for college graduates but for me, you, and the church! To change the world – to make disciples of all nations – all the people groups of the world – we need to not only change people but also mobilize those people as change agents. That’s the power of generational multiplication growth that happens when we all take seriously our participation in the work of the Church in evangelism & discipleship.

Look at this chart:

In the left column, you help win and disciple one person to Christ per day for the next sixteen years. In the right column, you win and disciple one person per year but disciple that person so that he or she reproduces himself/herself. This multiplication process then continues for sixteen years. Compare the results of movement math at the year sixteen.

(http://onmovements.com/?p=101)

Today, as we continue “Discipleship 101” series, we are going to consider the power of “Multiplication Not Addition.”

EXPLANATION – 2 Timothy 2:2

Interesting to hear some people’s last words:

- Steve Jobs – “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.”

- Poet Emily Dickinson – “I must go in, for the fog is rising.”

- Princess Di – “My God. What happened?”

- Pistol Pete Maravich – “I feel great.” (Collapsed & died during a pickup basketball game – age 40)

- Michael Landon, “Little House on the Prairie” – “You’re right. It’s time. I love you all.”

- Union Gen. John Sedgwick – “They couldn’t hit an elephant at this distance.” (Said this to his troops who were ducking from shots fired by a Confederate sniper)

2 Timothy was Paul’s last letter, his last written words. Important! Insightful! Inspiring! Impactful! Wrote letter to Timothy, his spiritual son, the young pastor of the church at Ephesus. It’s a very personal letter, one that you might expect someone who knows that their death is imminent to write to a close friend & coworker. You can feel the urgency & the passion in Paul’s words as he exhorts Timothy to continue in faithfulness & service to Jesus Christ.

Broad overview of 2 Timothy:

- Keep the fire burning – Ch. 1

- Keep doing what you’re supposed to be doing – Ch. 2

- Keep pressing on the midst of difficult days – Ch. 3

- Keep going & finish well – Ch. 4

2 Timothy 2:2 – Classic NT definition of discipleship. Tells us exactly what we are supposed to be doing in a succinct way. It defines & describes the process of making disciples for us.

Assume that you’ve received Christ & are saved. If not, stop now & call out to Him & be saved!

Then start process of discipleship.

- Receive biblical teaching & grow

- Reach out to others w/ Gospel

- Reproduce yourself through discipleship

- Redo the process for the rest of your life!

APPLICATION – Each of us is called to make disciples who will make more disciples.

This is what we MUST commit ourselves to as the Church. It’s what I preached on this past Sunday from my upstairs bonus room – Evangelism & Discipleship/Discipleship & Evangelism – It’s a total Church thing! It’s what WE do, not what THEY do. Our mindset must change. Our perspective must be radically altered from thinking that it’s someone else’s job to do this to “It’s MY job to do this!” Our attitude must do an about-face from “Let the preachers & ministers do it,” to “Let me do it!”

STOP SEEING EVANGELISM AS NECESSARY, BUT DISCIPLESHIP AS OPTIONAL – So many times, our evangelism efforts focus solely on conversion – on the “born again” moment. Please don’t misunderstand. I want to see more & more people be born again, as I know you do, too. But the “born again” moment is not the end of the disciple’s journey – it’s just the beginning.

At some point in his life, Timothy heard the Gospel & responded in faith. It may have been his grandmother, Lois, that led him to Jesus. Or his mother, Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5). Or maybe it was Paul himself. He certainly had been a huge part of Timothy’s life (1:6).

We may not know for sure who it was who shared Gospel w/ Timothy, but we do know for sure: It didn’t end w/ his spiritual birth. Paul made it clear to Timothy that he had to keep passing the baton. David Jeremiah: “Disciples are made when new believers are taught the Word, led by example, & then trained to transfer the faith to others…every Christian’s legacy should include an enduring testimony & commitment to discipleship.” (The Jeremiah Study Bible, p. 1715)