What Jesus Said About Our Calling to Be Disciple-MakersSample

Addition versus multiplication

We have two problems in reaching the nations with the gospel. The first one is that we evangelise but do not disciple the converts effectively and make disciple-makers of them.

Every year, millions commit to following Jesus. People raise their hands and say they want to follow Jesus. But within a few months or a year, 95% plus, will be gone. The problem is not with "raising your hand." The problem is that those people are not discipled. They must not only be discipled but also be equipped to be disciplemakers. This was Jesus's strategy.

The second problem is that we work with the principle of addition and not multiplication. We use an ineffective model because we do not equip people to be disciplemakers. The pastor preaches and gives an invitation. Seven people gave their lives to Jesus. Two months later, 17 people made a commitment to follow Jesus, and after another six months, 25 people came to Jesus. Now you have 50 new converts. This is addition. You just add more and more converts.

But multiplication is different. If you take the 50 converts (of the pastor in the previous paragraph), immediately disciple them, and equip them to be disciplemakers. You now have 50 new evangelists (excluding the pastor) in the congregation. If each of them makes one convert per year and equips them to be disciplemakers, and you continue the process for five years, you will have 1600 disciplemakers! That is multiplication.

If you keep adding 50 converts per year, you will have 250 converts (not disciplemakers) after five years.

This is the difference between addition and multiplication.