ADDITION OR MULTIPLICATION? YOU DECIDE.by Terri Martinson EltonLuther Seminary

Loaves and FishesHe had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”But he answered, “ You give them something to eat.”They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it them to eat?”“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”When they found out, they said, “Five – and two fish.”Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all are and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of those who ate was about five thousand.Mark 6:34 - 44

Create a Game

Create a game using the three gifts in your group.

Name the game.Determine the object of the game.Describe the game.

Name one skill or “sport” you are good at.

Create a Game

What was that like?What stood out in that exercise?How did it feel?What happened when you joined

your “gifts” or skills together?

Describe your games.

What do you bring?• What happens when we share

our passions and skills?• What happens when gifts and

passions of one person join with another?

“A team expands leadership capacity by drawing on the leadership and initiative of all its members, and balancing the ‘flat spots’ among them.”

The Work of Teams

What do you bring?

• Reflect on what you are gifted and passionate about.

• Write some of them down on a piece of paper.

• No one will see this but you.

Addition or Multiplication?

Small Group Sharing

What would be good about sharing your gifts with others?

What would be hard about sharing your gifts with others?

What makes sharing our gifts and passions multiplication?

Loaves and Fishes• Based on the “feeding of the

5,000” story, what can be said about our call to addition or multiplication?

• How are you multiplying the activities and ministries you are involved in leading?

• What does is mean to lead with a “multiplication” mindset?

Let’s test it out on REAL workNOW for something RANDOM• Each of you has been placed

on a team with a “real task” to complete.

• You will have 20 minutes to brainstorm ways YOUR group could accomplish this task.

Let’s test it out on REAL workNOW for something NOT RANDOM• Each of you will work in groups with

people whose work is similar and will be given a task to accomplish.

• You will have 20 minutes to brainstorm how your group could accomplish this task.

2

Lunch!

How do we become multipliers?• Listen!• Recognize people’s gifts• Ask about people’s dreams and ideas• Share • Ask for help• ????

What do you have to give?

• Look back your list of gifts and passions.

• Can you add more to your list?• Could you use some of those

here at work?• What one or two might you be

willing to share with others?• Write it down on a post-it and

place it one the wall. Don’t forget to place your name on it.

Assets FirstWe all have gifts to share

• Place to start is not with our deficits but our assets!• Where’s the focus?• Similarity or difference?

• What does it mean to name our gifts and share them with others?• All created by God and uniquely gifted. Eph 4:11-13• Living abundantly – sharing our gifts with others. John 10:10• Appreciative inquiry – listen for and discovering a community’s

own story and gifts.• Theology of Abundance – Loaves and Fishes!

Shared MissionStewards of God’s Work

• All congregations share a mission and call …

• Called to translate the gospel…using our own gifts.

• Shared work, but different collection of gifts for each community.

• What does it mean to be a steward?

• Parable of the Talents – Matthew 25:14-30

The mission of the church…The incarnation of Jesus Christ is the event that brings about the salvation of the world and establishes the mission of the church. The church has a call …to translate the message into every human culture. God’s Spirit empowers the church to be witnesses which carry, translate, communicate, and demonstrate the good news of God’s love in Christ to the ends of the earth.

(Guder, The Continual Conversion of the Church)

Better TogetherSharing the Load – Multiplying our Efforts

• Ministry done in community, not a solo affair.• Luke 10: 1-2 – sent in pairs

• Called to help each other unwrap our gifts!• Name the gifts of others• Give opportunities for people to discover their leadership

• In this together, big calling, why not help each other?• Work load is bigger than we can do on our own

• Multiplication or addition is an issue of stewardship. Which will you choose? Faithful, fun, and fellowship.

Loaves and FishesHe had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”But he answered, “ You give them something to eat.”They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it them to eat?”“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”When they found out, they said, “Five – and two fish.”Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all are and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of those who ate was about five thousand.Mark 6:34 - 44