Multiplication

I loved math as a kid. I get excited when the boys have math homework. Addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication. Someday it will be skew lines, scattergrams, square roots, and stem and leaf plots—I love them all. Multiplication is my favorite. It is more exciting than addition. Its simplicity is beautiful. And watching multiplication happen is even more beautiful.

Jesus talked about multiplication and even demonstrated it. Peter asked Jesus if we should forgive offending parties up to seven times. It seemed like a legitimate question. Seven was a number of completion and totality. Jesus responded and said seven times wasn’t nearly enough and seven times seventy would be a good start. He used multiplication to teach about grace.

The disciples had a lot of mouths to feed and not a lot of resources to do it. They took some scraps to Jesus. He multiplied fives loaves of bread and the disciples fed the masses. He used multiplication to demonstrate God’s provision.

God is still in the business of multiplication. He takes our little and makes it a lot. 

WE have experienced multiplication in the last six years. One small group is now thirty-five small groups. People are experiencing God’s grace, making new friends, and serving our city. Multiplication is a beautiful thing. A dozen or so kids during our first few Sundays at Russell Middle School was multiplied to 181 kids last Sunday morning and evening. Children are learning and getting excited about Jesus, being mentored by loving adults, and making Christian friends. As beautiful as beautiful gets! 

I believe these two things: 

1. The local church is the hope of the world. 

2. The best investment we ever make is in people. 

As a congregation you have consistently and abundantly shown generosity. God has blessed your gifts and used them in multiplication. You have invested in people by supporting the organization—the Church—that God has chosen and is using to transform the world. 

WE started as a group of young adults wanting to start a worship experience and a network of small groups. Last fall WE purchased 23 acres of land that from this point forward will be a sacred place in our city where people of all ages and walks of life can come for Christ’s hope, healing, and salvation. 

I continue to pray for us as WE practice generosity both now and in the future. And I continue to be in awe of God and His multiplication. Together, WE are on the ground floor of something great that is only going to get better. The first six years were incredible. I don’t want them to pass by quickly, but I can’t wait to see what He does in the next six years. 

The best is yet to come… 

Craig