“Truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces much fruit.” (v. 24)

You hear it preached constantly:

“The Christian ought to multiply. He ought to evangelize. They ought to plant churches. She ought to live on mission—and maybe even go on mission. The Christian ought to be a Great Commission Christian.”*

All of that is enduringly true.

Now…what does that take?

It doesn’t take better strategies and more programs and increased funding (though some of that might be in the picture). It doesn’t take enhanced training. It doesn’t even take more time—unless you count stewarding your time in light of the Kingdom as “giving” it, which is biblically bizarre.

Here’s what the Gospel-centered multiplying life requires:

Death.

Jesus gives a parable: The seed has to fall down and die—it has to stop hanging on to its comfortable branch-life—so that it can multiply. If it only ever clings, it is a life taker. But if it lays its life down, it is given, and new life sprouts around it.

Your multiplying life comes when you move past receiving. It comes when you give up positions of privilege and comfort. It comes when you make yourself lower than those you would see grow toward Christ.

Will we let go of the branch’s heights for them—and for Him?

— Tyler

*(See Matthew 28:18 ff.)