Where Ministry Multiplication Begins

It doesn’t take long in ministry to figure out that the only way to expand your influence is to multiply your impact through others. This can be a scary realization, bringing you to the point of asking, “Is my life in Christ worth imitating?” 

This is an essential question, because Jesus assumes those in spiritual leadership will be followed, whether it be for the good or bad. Famously, in Matthew 15:14, he refers to some of the religious leaders of his day as “blind guides of the blind” and in Matthew 23:4 as leaders who should be listened to but not imitated because they “say things and do not do them.” Who wants to be counted among them? With these examples in mind, can anyone qualify as a Christian leader whose life is worth imitating?

I think help can be found in the invitation by the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth to “imitate me just as I imitate Christ.” This statement is itself an application of an argument he began earlier in the letter. In 1:12 Paul refers to the cults of celebrity that were developing around preferred teachers; Paul, Apollos, Peter, and even Christ (the super-spiritual group with the supposed mic drop, but unexpectedly doing their part in adding yet another faction!). 

Later, in chapter 4 of the same letter, the Apostle declares that he and Apollos are mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of “explaining God’s mysteries” (ever seen this as a bullet point on a Youth Ministry Job Description: “Explainer of God’s mysteries to 7th grade boys”?). This requires faithfulness, and this faithfulness is evaluated by God, who knows our hearts. Thus, neither those of us in leadership nor those who are led should compare themselves or their leaders to others, but trust to God’s approval, or not. Comparison leads to either unwarranted pride or depression springing from covetousness. 

At this point, Paul’s discussion takes an unexpected turn. He urges the people in the church of Corinth to imitate his example because he was the one who shared the Good News with them. And, in order to remind them of what his life looks like, he sent Timothy, who also received the Good News through Paul. Timothy’s quality of life and teaching is at least partially intended to remind them of how Paul, himself, follows Jesus! 

This is how the Good News spreads, from person to person as one seeks to follow Christ, humbly trusting in God’s approval through the finished work of the Son, and empowered by the Spirit. And, it’s where ministry multiplication begins.