Multiply: Series Overview
We begin a new sermon series this Sunday. Pastor Ryan shares with us what this series is about and how we can prepare our hearts for worship.
As we begin working toward our church plant, we will take three weeks in May–June to consider church planting from the Bible. This will be a topical series, different from our usual practice of expositional preaching.
Expositional preaching starts with a passage, considers it in light of the entire canon, and then applies it to today. Topical preaching starts with a topic, considers it in light of the entire canon, and then applies it today. Though their starting points differ, they share the same aim: to preach Christ from the Scriptures.
While we are committed to expositional preaching here at Grace Baptist Church, we believe topical preaching can be useful at times. The elders have asked me to preach this series to establish a biblical foundation for church planting before we begin building on it.
Church planting, fundamentally, is God’s work—which means every church planting effort must begin with God’s Word.
Though we will consider church planting throughout the Scriptures, there is one verse I would especially like us to keep in mind. In some ways, you can think of this series as a three-week meditation on one verse—Acts 9:31.
“So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.”
In other words: Healthy churches multiply.
That is what we will spend three weeks considering—and the next couple of years working toward. Growing in health. Working to multiply. Why? Because healthy churches multiply.
We will consider this in three ways: Why should healthy churches multiply? How should healthy churches multiply? And where should healthy churches multiply?
I aim to spend three sermons answering those three questions. Pray for me as I prepare. And come speak with me — or any of the elders — if you have suggestions. We would love to hear your thoughts.
Finally, let’s remember Psalm 127:1: “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” It’s true for house building, and it’s true for church planting. Unless God does it, we will labor in vain.
Thankfully, Jesus loves His church.
Thankfully, Jesus will build His church.
And amazingly, He invites us to build with Him.
So, church—let’s start building.