13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. 19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. 21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”

Moses is leading the people God called him to lead. He is serving as judge in every civil case. That’s ok because it’s what God called him to do right? Jethro, his father-in-law sees a different picture. Moses is doing what God called him to do but now the task is too great because there are so many people, and in order for his ministry to grow larger and multiply there must be a change.

Jethro’s advice is to multiply leaders. His advice is to train new leaders to lead and serve in ministry. The ministry of Moses Goes from slow and stale to growing and vibrant, all because he listened to great advice and he equipped new leaders.

If you’re a current leader in ministry, who can you find to begin training to help lead that area of ministry? God does not want, nor expect you to do it alone; instead his desire is for your ministry to multiply.

If you are not leading a particular area of ministry, where can you begin looking for opportunities to serve and help shoulder the load of someone else? God does want and expect that from all of us.

The body of Christ will grow from a multiplying ministry.

Ephesians 4:11-12 – “11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ…”