The Hardest Truth About Transition: Death Before Multiplication

Today’s gathering at Kingsford Church of Christ was a tapestry of community, mission, and the challenging call of Jesus to let go of what is good so that something greater can be born. We celebrated recent events—meals shared with international students, the joy and trials of church camp, and the ongoing work of our ministries. We looked ahead to new opportunities: a more accessible website, the chance to host students for Christmas, and training to better connect with our neighbors. All these are not just activities, but expressions of a deeper calling to be a church where people from all backgrounds can belong, believe, become, and be sent.

At the heart of today’s reflection was Jesus’ teaching in John 12:20-26, where he reveals a spiritual law: before anything great is born, something good must die. This is not about letting go of sin or evil, but about surrendering even good things—comfort, control, cherished routines, or well-intentioned visions—so that God’s greater purpose can flourish. Jesus himself models this, as his death is not the end but the multiplication of his mission, breaking down every barrier so that all nations can access God.

This principle is deeply personal and communal. Each of us faces moments where we must let go—whether it’s a familiar ministry, a comfortable way of doing church, or our assumptions about mission. For Kingsford, this means re-examining how we help people belong, believe, become, and are sent. It means recognizing that the mission field is not just overseas, but right here among us, especially as God brings the nations to our doorstep. It means being willing to let cherished programs or models die if they no longer bear fruit, trusting that God will bring a greater harvest.

Jesus calls us not to passive obedience, but to active participation—diakonos, servant-hearted engagement in his mission. This is a call to courage, trust, and discernment together as a community. The challenge is to name what needs to die in our own lives and in our church, to let it go, and to trust that God will multiply what we surrender. As we do, we follow Jesus’ own path: death before multiplication, burial before harvest, sacrifice before global impact. This is the way of the cross, and the way to true, abundant life.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Letting Go of Good for Greater Fruitfulness Jesus teaches that before anything great is born, something good must die. This is not about discarding what is sinful, but about surrendering even good things—comfort, control, or cherished visions—so that God’s greater purpose can take root. The pain of letting go is real, but it is the necessary soil for a multiplied harvest in our lives and community. [46:12]
• 2. The Cross as the Pattern for Multiplication Jesus’ death is not the end of his mission but its multiplication. His willingness to be the seed that dies breaks down every barrier, making access to God possible for all nations. Our own sacrifices, when patterned after Christ, become the means by which God’s mission expands beyond what we can imagine. [57:41]
• 3. Active Participation, Not Passive Obedience Jesus calls his followers to be diakonos—active, engaged servants in his mission, not merely passive followers. This means taking initiative, removing barriers, and creating pathways for others to belong, believe, and become disciple-makers. Every believer is invited into this partnership, not just those with official titles. [61:30]
• 4. The Mission Field is at Our Doorstep God is bringing the nations to us, especially through international students and newcomers in our community. Rather than holding onto old assumptions about mission as something that happens “over there,” we are called to recognize and respond to the opportunities right here. Equipping those among us to become disciple-makers can have a global impact as they return to their own cultures. [69:29]
• 5. The Courage to Name and Bury What Must Die Transformation requires the courage to identify and release what is no longer fruitful—whether in our personal lives or church practices. Seeds that remain in our hands never multiply; only what is buried produces a harvest. This process is hard and often filled with fear and grief, but Jesus walks this road with us, and what we surrender, God multiplies. [71:00]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [18:33] - Community Updates & Recent Events
• [19:47] - Upcoming Meals and Outreach Opportunities
• [21:02] - Newsletter and Staying Connected
• [21:43] - New Church Website Preview
• [22:32] - Hosting International Students for Christmas
• [23:02] - Training for Connecting and Sharing Faith
• [24:56] - Financial Update and God’s Provision
• [25:43] - Deacon Nominations and AGM
• [26:28] - Eric’s Mission to Far North Queensland
• [27:51] - International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
• [44:54] - Introduction to John 12 and the Law of Letting Go
• [46:12] - Before Greatness, Something Good Must Die
• [54:05] - Reading John 12:20-26
• [57:41] - The Cross: Death and Multiplication
• [61:30] - Diakonos: Active Servanthood
• [65:42] - Practical Applications: Belong, Believe, Become, Sent
• [71:00] - The Challenge: Naming and Burying Seeds
• [73:10] - Prayer of Surrender and Trust
• [75:14] - Celebrating Birthdays and Anniversaries
• [78:13] - Closing Song and Blessing
• [84:52] - Dismissal and Fellowship Invitation

Bible Reading

John 12:20-26 (ESV) — 20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks.
21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”

Observation Questions

1. In John 12:24, what does Jesus say must happen to a grain of wheat for it to bear much fruit?
2. Who were the “Greeks” that came to see Jesus, and why is their arrival significant in this passage? ([54:05])
3. According to verse 26, what does Jesus say about those who serve him? What word does the sermon highlight for “serve” and what does it mean? ([01:00:30])
4. In the sermon, what are some examples given of “good things” that might need to “die” for something greater to grow? ([46:12])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus use the image of a seed dying to describe his own mission and the mission of his followers? What does this teach about the nature of spiritual growth and fruitfulness? ([57:41])
2. The arrival of the Greeks is described as a “watershed moment.” What does their presence reveal about God’s heart and the direction of Jesus’ mission? ([55:58])
3. The sermon says Jesus calls us to be “diakonos”—active servants, not just passive followers. What is the difference between passive obedience and active participation in God’s mission? ([01:01:30])
4. The sermon mentions that sometimes even “good” things—like cherished routines or successful programs—must be let go. Why might God ask us to surrender something good, and how can this be both painful and necessary? ([46:12])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to “name what needs to die” in our lives or church for greater fruitfulness. Is there a comfort, routine, or preference you sense God might be asking you to let go of? What would it look like to “bury” it? ([01:10:34])
2. Think about the four areas mentioned: Belong, Believe, Become, Sent. In which area do you feel most resistant to change? Why do you think that is? ([01:05:42])
3. The mission field is described as being “at our doorstep,” especially with international students and newcomers. What is one practical way you could help someone from a different background feel like they belong this month? ([01:09:29])
4. The sermon gives the example of letting go of a long-running program (Table 399) because it was no longer bearing fruit. Are there activities or ministries in your life that might need to end so that something new can grow? How do you discern when it’s time to let go? ([01:06:54])
5. Jesus models surrender by letting go of his own comfort and even his life. What is one area where you find it hard to trust God with the outcome? How can you take a step of trust this week? ([01:11:00])
6. The sermon says, “Seeds that stay in your hand never multiply; only what is buried produces a harvest.” What is one “seed” (gift, resource, opportunity) you are holding onto? What would it look like to release it for God’s use? ([01:10:34])
7. How can you move from being a passive observer to an active participant (“diakonos”) in God’s mission at Kingsford or in your daily life? What is one step you could take this week? ([01:01:30])