Multiplying Hope: A Call to Action in Faith

 

Summary

As we embark on this new journey, I am reminded of the faithfulness of God in our past endeavors. In 2018, we launched East without a building, trusting God to provide, and He did. Similarly, in 2023, we faced the challenge of establishing three new hubs without leaders, yet God filled those vacancies by the year's end. Today, we stand at the precipice of our most significant step of faith yet, as we introduce the Multiply series. This series is born out of a deep burden for the New Zealand church, which is in a state of crisis. Christian affiliation has drastically declined over the years, and church attendance is at an all-time low. This is not just a statistic; it represents 86% of New Zealanders living without hope and without God.

The church is called to be the light in this darkness, yet only a small fraction of Christians actively share their faith. Our vision is to become a disciple-making movement, transforming Wellington and the world with the good news of Jesus Christ. This vision is not new, but it needs to be clearer so that everyone understands their role in it. We are called to multiply disciples, leaders, and churches, aligning with the heart of God. Jesus modeled this multiplication by sending out His disciples, and we are part of that legacy today.

We have learned valuable lessons from our past experiences, and now we are ready to plant new locations and different expressions of churches. This is not just an opportunity but a necessity. The church in Antioch serves as a powerful example of how God’s heart is for the message of Jesus to reach the ends of the earth. As we pursue this vision, prayer is essential. We must build a culture of prayer that never ceases, crying out to God to move in ways we have never seen before.

I invite you to join us on this journey. Whether you are excited or skeptical, I encourage you to pray and seek God’s will. Let us commit to praying for 10 minutes a day over the next month, asking God to align our hearts with His and to send out workers into His harvest field. Together, we can be part of the solution, seeing the church in New Zealand rise up and transform lives with the good news of Jesus Christ.

Key Takeaways:

1. Faith in God's Provision: Reflecting on past experiences, we see that God provides even when circumstances seem impossible. This faith in God's provision is crucial as we take bold steps in our journey of multiplication. Trusting in God's timing and provision can lead to miraculous outcomes. [00:00]

2. The Crisis of the Church: The decline in Christian affiliation and church attendance in New Zealand is alarming. This crisis calls for urgent action and a renewed commitment to sharing the hope of Jesus with those who are lost. Understanding the gravity of this situation should stir us to prayer and action. [24:44]

3. Multiplication as a Solution: Jesus modeled multiplication by sending out His disciples, and we are called to do the same. Multiplying disciples, leaders, and churches is essential to fulfilling the Great Commission and reaching the lost. This approach aligns with God's design for growth and expansion. [27:25]

4. The Importance of Prayer: Prayer is the foundation of our efforts to multiply and transform. Building a culture of prayer that never ceases is vital for seeing God move powerfully in our midst. Prayer aligns our hearts with God's will and invites His presence into our endeavors. [40:20]

5. Joining the Journey: Whether excited or skeptical, everyone is invited to join this journey of multiplication. Committing to prayer and seeking God's will can lead to personal and communal transformation. This journey is an opportunity to be part of something greater than ourselves. [50:51]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Faith in God's Provision
- [03:00] - Introduction to the Multiply Series
- [05:45] - The Crisis of the Church
- [10:00] - Decline in Christian Affiliation
- [15:30] - The Call to Action
- [20:00] - Jesus' Model of Multiplication
- [24:44] - The Urgency of the Situation
- [27:25] - Aligning with God's Heart
- [30:00] - Lessons from Antioch
- [33:57] - Vision for Multiplication
- [40:20] - The Role of Prayer
- [45:00] - Invitation to Join the Journey
- [50:51] - Commitment to Prayer
- [55:00] - Closing and Blessing

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Multiply Series

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 9:36-38
2. Matthew 10:1
3. Acts 13:2

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Observation Questions:

1. What examples from the sermon illustrate God's provision in seemingly impossible situations? [00:00]

2. How does the sermon describe the current state of the church in New Zealand, and what statistics are used to highlight this crisis? [24:44]

3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of Jesus sending out the twelve disciples in Matthew 10:1? [27:25]

4. What role does prayer play in the vision for multiplication as described in the sermon? [40:20]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In Matthew 9:36-38, Jesus is moved with compassion for the crowds. How does this compassion relate to the current crisis in the New Zealand church as described in the sermon? [24:44]

2. The sermon mentions the need for multiplying disciples, leaders, and churches. How does this align with the biblical model of multiplication seen in Acts 13:2? [27:25]

3. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between prayer and the success of the church's mission? How does this compare to the biblical examples of prayer in the passages? [40:20]

4. How does the sermon interpret the decline in church attendance and Christian affiliation in New Zealand? What solutions are proposed, and how do they relate to the biblical passages? [24:44]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's provision in a challenging situation. How can this past experience encourage you to trust God in your current circumstances? [00:00]

2. The sermon highlights a crisis in the New Zealand church. How does this awareness affect your personal commitment to sharing your faith? What steps can you take to be more proactive in this area? [24:44]

3. Jesus sent out His disciples to multiply His ministry. In what ways can you contribute to the multiplication of disciples in your community? Identify one specific action you can take this week. [27:25]

4. Prayer is emphasized as a foundation for the church's mission. How can you incorporate more intentional prayer into your daily routine? Consider setting aside a specific time each day for prayer over the next month. [40:20]

5. The sermon invites everyone to join the journey of multiplication, whether excited or skeptical. What are your initial feelings about this vision, and how can you seek God's guidance in aligning your heart with His will? [50:51]

6. The sermon mentions the importance of seeing people as Jesus sees them. How can you cultivate a heart of compassion for those who do not yet know Christ? Identify one person you can reach out to this week. [50:51]

7. Consider the role of leadership in the church's mission. How can you support or develop leadership within your church community? Is there a specific area where you feel called to lead or serve? [27:25]

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting in God's Provision
Reflecting on past experiences, we see that God provides even when circumstances seem impossible. This faith in God's provision is crucial as we take bold steps in our journey of multiplication. Trusting in God's timing and provision can lead to miraculous outcomes. The journey of faith often requires stepping into the unknown, relying on God's faithfulness to guide and provide. As we look back at how God has provided in the past, we can be encouraged to trust Him for the future. [00:00]

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a time when you faced a seemingly impossible situation. How did you see God's provision in that moment, and how can that experience encourage you to trust Him in your current circumstances?


Day 2: Responding to the Crisis of the Church
The decline in Christian affiliation and church attendance in New Zealand is alarming. This crisis calls for urgent action and a renewed commitment to sharing the hope of Jesus with those who are lost. Understanding the gravity of this situation should stir us to prayer and action. The church is called to be a beacon of hope in a world that is increasingly turning away from God. This is not just about numbers; it's about lives that are in need of the transformative power of the gospel. [24:44]

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10, ESV)

Reflection: Consider the people in your community who may be living without hope. What practical steps can you take this week to share the love and hope of Jesus with them?


Day 3: Embracing Multiplication as a Solution
Jesus modeled multiplication by sending out His disciples, and we are called to do the same. Multiplying disciples, leaders, and churches is essential to fulfilling the Great Commission and reaching the lost. This approach aligns with God's design for growth and expansion. The call to multiply is not just about increasing numbers but about deepening the impact of the gospel in our communities and beyond. By investing in others and equipping them to lead, we participate in God's plan for His church. [27:25]

"And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also." (2 Timothy 2:2, ESV)

Reflection: Who is someone in your life that you can invest in and disciple? How can you begin to intentionally pour into their spiritual growth this week?


Day 4: Building a Culture of Prayer
Prayer is the foundation of our efforts to multiply and transform. Building a culture of prayer that never ceases is vital for seeing God move powerfully in our midst. Prayer aligns our hearts with God's will and invites His presence into our endeavors. As we commit to prayer, we open ourselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit and the power of God to work through us. A praying church is a powerful church, capable of bringing about change in the world. [40:20]

"Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, ESV)

Reflection: Set aside 10 minutes each day this week to pray for the church and its mission. What specific things will you pray for, and how can you make this a consistent habit in your life?


Day 5: Joining the Journey of Multiplication
Whether excited or skeptical, everyone is invited to join this journey of multiplication. Committing to prayer and seeking God's will can lead to personal and communal transformation. This journey is an opportunity to be part of something greater than ourselves. By stepping out in faith and joining this mission, we align ourselves with God's heart for the world and become agents of change in our communities. [50:51]

"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." (Matthew 28:19, ESV)

Reflection: What is one step you can take today to actively participate in the mission of multiplying disciples? How can you encourage others to join you on this journey?

Quotes


In 2018 I stood on a stage And said to the church We are two weeks away from Launching East We don't have a building But we believe That God is going to provide And six days later Seemingly at the 11th hour A building was secured And East launched on time In 2023 We had decided to allow Three hubs that had emerged In COVID to continue We believed that the Lord Was calling us to establish them As locations We didn't have leaders But we stood on the stage Together And said we believe The Lord is going to provide We didn't know how By the end of the year God had filled The vacancies Of location pastors Today As we begin To paint a picture For where we believe The Lord is leading us As a church It marks the biggest Step of faith Jenny and I have ever taken In leadership [00:21:18] (61 seconds)


One of the things in the church that you will hear lamented is that over the last hundred or so years, Christian affiliation seems to decline with every new census. In 1851, it was 93 % and it has slowly declined to, in the most recent census, 2023, at 32%. But this number would include a reasonable amount of sort of cultural Christianity. I think a better measure is to look at church attendance over those years. [00:23:34] (31 seconds)


The church is the people of God and the only people God has chosen in all eternity to broadcast the message of Jesus to the ends of the earth. If we don't do something about this, the steady decline from 30 to 14 % will just keep going. I'm not trying to point fingers. I'm not trying to condemn anyone. I just want to provoke us out of any sense of apathy or slumber. [00:27:37] (32 seconds)


It's also been something with our locations. We have wanted to move. We've moved from three to six. The reason Jenny and I started East back in 2018 was because we wanted to reach people in that area who were disconnected from God. The way we did it was cumbersome and expensive. And we learned so many lessons. When we moved from three locations to six locations, we did it really quickly. It wasn't very expensive, but it was painful and tiring for many of us. I want to acknowledge that. But I also want to acknowledge that we learned a lot of lessons. Finally, our vision. This is another way we've been trying to pursue multiplication. [00:32:49] (40 seconds)


The amazing thing is, as we've leaned into that, God has provided incredibly. God has provided a full complement of location pastors by the end of last year. God has gathered some incredible leaders around us so that by the end of next year, we didn't have any vacancies on our staff team. That is fit for purpose for now. We're beginning to hear stories in pockets that we believe the Lord is leading us to see pervasively. We're hearing of people coming to faith in everyday places. We're hearing of record numbers of people seeking God through Alpha. [00:33:52] (34 seconds)


What an incredible moment of somebody just reaching out to somebody in their workplace, in an everyday place. What would it look like if all of us had that approach to reaching out to people in our world? So we're seeing progress, but it's clear there's a long way to go. And as we've thought about multiplication and where we need to go next, a small group of us have been engaging in something called a church planting learning community. to figure out what JOHN was causing and to crochet in the house. So what would you look like? If you know and then we're going to leave and we're going to be and we're going to expect [00:35:14] (28 seconds)


Finally, we realize we need to make the vision clear. We've had a vision for the last 18 months, and we realize that we haven't made it clear. It's a bit fuzzy for people. And so people don't know the part that they can play in that. They don't really understand where we're heading as a church. So that's the purpose of this series. We want to talk about the same vision we've had for the last 18 months. But our desire is to make it clear and to help people understand the part that they can play in it. [00:36:38] (28 seconds)


It's a reminder that the success of the church is not based on how good your buildings are, how good your teaching is, how engaging your worship is, how strong your life groups are. All those things matter and are significant only in so far as they contribute to robust multiplying disciples. We need disciples with a spiritual spine who can stand in the midst of this cultural context and we need disciples who can raise up others, who can multiply themselves. This first aspect is absolutely cool. [00:38:53] (34 seconds)


But as you multiply leaders it gives us the opportunity to plant more churches but also it's not just about an opportunity it's actually about aligning with the heart of god planting arises out of the heart of god and that's why there's not just an opportunity to plant there is a need to plant the church in antioch was a powerful case study for us it's the site from which paul launched three missionary journeys we we've unpacked it a little bit in one of our recent series in acts in acts 13 2 is there's this while they were worshiping the lord and fasting the holy spirit said set apart for me barnabas and saul for the work that i have for them to do the holy spirit reveals my heart successful as you are antioch my heart is bigger than the local church this message of jesus has to go to the ends of the earth and as they went they didn't just see people convert to the faith they gathered those people together in new churches we believe that the lord is calling us to plant new locations 2024 was a really good year of consolidation for us it was necessary but now it is time for us to consider planting again in week three of this series i'm going to take us through a biblical case for planting a historical case for planting but also a new zealand need for planting we'll be talking about lessons we've learned and a new staged approach we've got for developing leaders and for planting new missional locations it's a staged approach not sort of all in one go and we'll also be talking about the potential for not just planting new locations but actually different expressions of churches where that is needed we call it churches not locations just because we want to be open to that as we go on this journey but remember as we do this it always comes back to discipleship leadership is not the product of the church robust multiplying disciples is and so all of this has to feed back into multiplying disciples [00:42:04] (133 seconds)


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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
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