Multiplying Disciples Starts with the Church

The theme of multiplication is evident throughout Christ’s earthly ministry. For instance, he miraculously multiplies fish and loaves to feed multitudes, illustrating his divine power and provision (Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 8:1–9). 

Furthermore, fruit-bearing, a metaphor for spiritual multiplication, is referenced more than fifty times in the New Testament because Jesus expected multiplication to be a sign of spiritual flourishing. He used metaphors such as talents, seeds, and yeast to illustrate that the impact of the gospel would naturally result in multiplication. This theme is ultimately encapsulated in the Great Commission, which commands believers to make disciples of all nations, a direct call to multiply.

What Does it Mean to Multiply Disciples?

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus places the Church under orders, with the central command being “make disciples.” While the passage includes multiple verbs—go, make disciples, baptize, and teach—the Greek makes it clear that the only imperative is “make disciples.” According to Merkle, “Going is not the goal; making disciples is.” The main command is supported by the other verbs, which serve as means to the end of disciple-making.

The Greek word for disciple, mathetes, means “learner” or “pupil.” When rabbis chose followers, these individuals were referred to as disciples. However, Jesus redefined the term to mean those who are called to him, who claim him, and who conform to his teachings. For those who follow Jesus as disciples, the Great Commission is a call to multiply disciples.

This call generates multiplication in two ways: through conversion and formation. For leaders who believe the Church’s role is confined to teaching or study groups, the command begins with evangelism. To “make disciples” means going to all nations and calling people to follow the one who sacrificed himself for humanity.

For others who view the Great Commission as solely about mission—pursuing urgency and pragmatism without regard for nurturing souls—Jesus embeds the elegant element of formation into his command. The Great Commission is about more than conversion; it also includes nurturing disciples into maturity. As Bowers noted, “From his practice of residential missions and nurture of churches, it is clear that the nurture of emerging churches is understood by Paul to be an integral feature of his missionary task.”

This dual emphasis on conversion and formation is seen in how discipleship transforms lives. For instance, as a new believer, I was converted but clueless, with affections changed, but my mind still conformed to the world. It wasn’t until other believers came alongside me and I joined a local church that I began to experience true formation. The command to make disciples requires both evangelizing and nurturing believers into spiritual maturity.

Multiplication Starts With the Church

In the New Testament, conversion and formation were accomplished through church planting. Applying the Great Commission involved more than proclaiming the good news; it included creating new communities that embodied the gospel. Missiology must include ecclesiology, just as ecclesiology will inevitably result in missiology. Malphurs writes, “A careful reading of Acts reveals that the Early Church implemented the Great Commission mandate primarily by planting churches.” Paul’s missionary journeys, as recorded in Acts, were church-planting ventures into predominantly pagan cultures. Churches were established in key cities like Philippi, Thessalonica, and Ephesus, which became centers for regional evangelism.

The book of Acts vividly demonstrates this pattern of multiplication. The Word of God “increases and multiplies” (Acts 6:7; 12:24), and believers multiply as thousands are added to the Church (Acts 2:41; 4:4; 5:14; 9:31). Churches multiply as the gospel spreads, often in the face of persecution, which paradoxically fuels the Church’s growth (John 12:24; Acts 8:1–4; 14:22). Paul exemplifies this in Romans 15:19, where he says, “From Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ.” What gave Paul the sense of accomplishment to make such a statement? He had started strong churches, placed them in strategic centers, and entrusted them to accept responsibility for their regions.

By establishing two or three churches in a province, Paul could confidently say he had effectively evangelized the area. This model demonstrates that missions in the New Testament primarily involved forming and planting churches through the help of gifted leaders. Leslie Newbigin insightfully stated, “The mission of the Church is missions; the mission of missions is the Church.” These two realities are interdependent and breed each other into existence.

Furthermore, the multiplication pattern in the New Testament is multifaceted—numerical, as seen in the rapid increase of believers; qualitative, as disciples grow in maturity; and geographical, as the gospel advances to new regions (Acts 6:7; 9:31; 11:26; 16:5). The Church’s expansion is not merely about numbers but also about deepening faith and extending God’s kingdom across the earth.

Christ’s Command Should Form a Culture of Evangelism

The Great Commission is not merely an individual mandate; it is meant to form a culture within the Church. This begins with leaders—pastors and elders—who must embrace evangelism and disciple-making as central to their roles. Elders, for example, must have a good reputation with outsiders (1 Timothy 3:7) and be hospitable, which means showing love to strangers (Titus 1:8). They must also teach and counsel in ways that move people toward multiplication. 

A Great Commission culture fosters discipleship at every level. Mark Dever notes, “A Great Commission church works to train its members in evangelism, because it knows they will collectively see more non-Christians throughout the week than will ever be able to fit in the church building. Success in evangelism is not simply bringing your non-Christian friends to church; it is sharing the gospel with them where they are.”

This culture also unites churches in collaborative mission efforts. A healthy church is one that sends out gifted leaders—whether extra-local leaders, church planters, or missionaries—to further the gospel’s reach. J.D. Greear offers diagnostic questions to evaluate whether a church embodies this culture: Do you happily give away your best leaders to other churches? Do you rejoice if, after praying for revival, revival comes to the church down the street? Do you pray regularly for other churches in your city? Do you allocate part of your budget to revitalizing older churches or planting new ones?

Ultimately, the Great Commission is not just a command to be obeyed but a call to form a culture that multiplies disciples, unites churches for mission, and sends leaders to expand the kingdom of God. This culture ensures that the gospel’s influence extends beyond individual lives to entire communities, regions, and generations. It aligns the Church’s mission with the biblical mandate to go, make disciples, baptize, and teach—all for the glory of Christ.