The Multiplication Proclamation

[Zach]

The church in Antioch is different from the church in Jerusalem in the sense that it seemed as though it had developed an Apostolic thrust to send people out. I am sure that the good qualities of the church in Acts 2 were also present in Acts 13, but this church had grown, had learned to make room for the 5-fold, and birthed in a sense a new type of apostolic ministry when the prophets and teachers got together and were able to function. As a “Gentile” Church, they had a different type of beginning as well, and perhaps represented the ‘sending DNA” that it took to see them established in the first place. I think great churches have all these elements of both Jerusalem and Antioch. I have been been able to help with a few church plants, seeing multiplication, and what seems to really help in getting churches set right is to start right off that bat with helping them realize their job is to multiply, that their success is not just in surviving but in starting other churches. Even if that takes a long time, that vision at the ground floor so to speak helps create a foundational culture for new and re-launched churches that has seen ministries born out of them.

[Jaylen]

I’ve experienced multiplication in my own life through a time I went to Europe for a short term missions trip. We were out doing “Canada Class” presentations which were essentially tools for us to get into the schools and invite all the students out to youth events we were running those nights. Over that week, the youth group grew almost tenfold from students who came out to the church. Furthermore, we heard reports months later that many of those students stuck around at the youth group and were not regular attendees. This is a great example of multiplication and the power of connecting people with current local workers as well.

[Kimberly]

The difference between the two churches would lie in where the priority seems to be. The church in Acts 2 is prioritizing fellowship and building community. The church in Acts 13 is prioritizing discipleship – training people and sending people out.

[Deleted User]

• The church in Acts 13 differs from the Church in Acts 2 as it seems to have more ministry gifts and healthy disciple-making efforts present. It is regarded in this video as an “apostolic center” and was using God-given gifts to its members to multiply and create disciples. It seems to have a fuller view of multiplication when compared to the church in Jerusalem.
• I have experienced the principle of multiplication in my life by seeing people around me becoming Christians. Growing up in a Christian family, I haven’t necessarily experienced it personally, but I have seen peoples lives be changed by someone pouring into them and sharing the love of Christ with them.