Teaching at LTCi Siliguri - based upon Robert Coleman's book, The Master Plan of Evangelism

1. The Master Plan of
Evangelism
Robert E
Coleman

2. The Master Plan of
Evangelism
Robert E
Coleman

3. 6. DELEGATION
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will
send you out to fish for people.”
Matthew 4:19

4. HE ASSIGNED THEM WORK
Jesus was always working to the time
when his disciples would have to take
over his work, and go out into the world
with the gospel.
This was gradually made clear - though
at first nothing was mentioned about
evangelism his plan was always that
they should impact the world
Once they had a living relationship with
God, Jesus would show them how he
worked, and then tell them they had to
do it.

5. HE ASSIGNED THEM WORK
Jesus did not discourage the disciples
from spontaneously bearing witness to
their faith
Andrew got Peter, Philip found
Nathaniel, Matthew invited his friends
to a feast in His house - Jesus
responded to these new introductions
with gladness.
Occasionally Jesus specifically asked
those who were helped by His ministry
to say something about it to others.

6. At first the disciples helped in
practical tasks such as getting food
and arranging accommodation
for the group - he also let them
baptise some people John 4:2
Apart from this the disciples really
did not do much more than watch
Jesus work for a year or more.

7. Does the action of Jesus
imply that preaching and
healing ministry is more
significant and (and
possibly involves more
dangers and privileges, or
requires more faith) than
a ministry of baptism
(and other sacraments)?

8. He kept the vision in front of them
by his activity and in the way he
called them call e.g. 4 fishermen
were reminded them that in
following they were to be fishers of
men Mark 1: 17; Matt. 4: 1 9;
Luke 5: 10
Initially the disciples knew and
understood little about God’s plan
- even when they were made
apostles Mark 3: 14-1 9; Luke
6:13-16 - and they still did no
evangelism on their own. Maybe
we should be more patient with
new converts who follow us?

9. FIRST EVANGELISTIC
MISSION OF THE 12
In Mark 6:6; Matt. 9:35 it
appears that the time had come
when the disciples could join
Jesus more directly in the work.
They had seen enough at least to
get started and could now put
into practice what they had seen
So Mark 6:6-13 Jesus pushed
His disciples out into the world
to try ministering on their own.

10. FIRST EVANGELISTIC
MISSION OF THE 12
Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7
In Mark 6:6; Matt. him,
Calling the Twelve to9:35 ithe began to send them out two by
appears that the time had come
two and gave them authority over impure spirits.
8when the disciples could join“Take nothing for the journey
These were his instructions:
Jesus a staff—no bread, no bag,
except more directly in the work. no money in your belts. 9 Wear
They but seen enough at least Whenever you enter a house,
sandals had not an extra shirt. 10 to
get started and could now put
stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not
into practice what they had seen
welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust
off your feet as a testimony against them.”
So Mark 6:6-13 Jesus pushed
12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13
His disciples
into the world
They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people
to try ministering on their own.
with oil and healed them.

11. Note the instructions for their mission in effect he outlined what he had been
teaching vb showing all the time.
- He reaffirmed his purpose for their
lives.
-He emphasised the immediacy of their
task, “‘The kingdom of heaven has
come near.” (ESV, at hand) Matt. 10:7
- Matt. 10: 8 spells out the scope of
their authority, “Heal the sick, raise
the dead, cleanse those who have
leprosy, drive out demons. Freely
you have received; freely give.”

12. He went on to tell them who to see
first. "Go not…to the Gentiles…or
the Samaritans; but go rather to the
lost sheep of the house of
Israel" (Matt. 10: 5, 6).
Probably he was telling his disciples
to go where they would find people
eager to hear their message.
This was not a universal rule (Jesus
did occasionally go to other groups)
but his own people shared cultural
and religious background, so it is
only natural that they start with
them.

13. A few months later, when the
seventy are sent out, this command
was not repeated, perhaps
indicating it was time then to go
beyond these natural ties in
pressing the claims of Christ.
Remember Paul and Barnabas
went initially to Cyprus (home of
Barnabas) on their 1st missionary
journey

14. Their support came from trusting
God to supply their needs.
They were to serve freely
remembering they had received
freely, Matt. 10:8
Jesus instructed them not to take a
lot of baggage and provisions,
Matt. 10:9, 10; Mark 6:8, 9; Luke
9:3
As they were faithful to God, He
would see to it that they were
supplied their needs. "The laborer
is worthy of his food" Matt. 10:10

15. Their support came from trusting
God to supply their needs.
They were to serve freely
remembering they had received
freely, Matt. 10:8
Jesus instructed them not to take a
lot of baggage and provisions,
Matt. 10:9, 10; Mark 6:8, 9; Luke
9:3
As they were faithful to God, He
would see to it that they were
supplied their needs. "The laborer
is worthy of his food" Matt. 10:10

16. Use the method of Jesus
Jesus is specific telling the disciples to
find some friendly person in each town
they visited, and live there as long as
they continued their work in the area,
Matt. 10:11; Mark 6:10; Luke 9:4
In effect, the disciples were told to
concentrate their time upon the most
promising individuals in each town
who would thereby be able to follow up
their work after they had gone. This
was a key priority.

17. Use the method of Jesus
If they could not find someone who
would take them in, they were
specifically instructed to shake off the
dust on their feet as a testimony against
them, Matt. 10: 14, 15; Luke 9: 5; Mark
6: 11
The principle of establishing a
beachhead in a new place of labor by
getting with a potentially key follow-up
leader is important - Jesus had lived by
it with the disciples, and expected them
to do the same.

18. Expect hardship
Some men would refuse the disciples'
ministry - Jesus' warned of the treatment
they could expect to receive. "Beware of
men: for they will scourge you; yea and
before governors and kings shall ye be
brought for my sake, for a testimony to them
and to the Gentiles" (Matt. 10: 17, 18).
Matthew 10 gives plenty of warnings:
22,23 “You will be hated by everyone because of me,
but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to
another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going
through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man
comes.”

19. 24,25 “The student is not above the teacher, nor
a servant above his master. It is enough for
students to be like their teachers, and servants like
their masters. If the head of the house has been
called Beelzebul, how much more the members of
his household!”
The way of Jesus was contrary to the
accepted pattern of worldly wisdom!
The Holy Spirit would enable them to
meet emergencies, 19,20, “But when they
arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how
to say it. At that time you will be given what to
say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the
Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

20. 31, 32 “So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than
many sparrows. Whoever acknowledges me before
others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in
heaven.”
Jesus was realistic and never let His disciples
underestimate the strength of the enemy,
nor the natural resistance of men to the
Gospel.
They were not looking for trouble.
They should act properly and with
tactfulness, but in spite of all their care, the
fact remained that the world was not likely
to receive the disciples with favour when
they preached the Gospel.
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.
Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as
doves. Matt. 10:16

21. Jesus reminded them of the decisive nature of the Gospel
They could be no compromise with sin, and for this reason,
and so people would be disturbed by their preaching.
Jesus said: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.
I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
“‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-inlaw against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of
his own household.’

22. 37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy
of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy
of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not
worthy of me.” Matt. 10: 34-38
The disciples should not think that this was going to be easy
work - they were going forth with a revolutionary Gospel, and
when it was obeyed, it produced a revolutionary change in
people and their society.

23. The point Jesus made in all these
instructions was that the mission
of his disciples was no different in
principle or method from his
own:
He began by giving them his
authority and power to do his
work, Mark 6:7; Matt. 10:1; Luke
9:1
He assured them that what they
were doing was as though he was
doing it

24. “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me,
and anyone who welcomes me welcomes
the one who sent me.” Matt. 10:40
This is a powerful identity! They
were to be the actual
representatives of Christ as they
went.
So clear was this association that
“…if anyone gives even a cup of cold
water to one of these little ones who is my
disciple, truly I tell you, that person will
certainly not lose their reward.” Matt.
10:42.

25. Jesus sent them out in pairs Mark 6:7
Why did he send them in pairs?
- companionship along the way
- they could help one another
- when problems arose they could still
find comfort among themselves
Going out in pairs is seen in other
places in the Gospels
- the disciples sent to find the colt for
Jesus to use in entering Jerusalem, Luke
19:29
- Peter and John getting ready the
Passover, Luke 22:8

26. - Possibly James and John were
together on their mission before Jesus
into Samaria since they are the ones
indignant at their reception Luke 9:52,
54
So they set out and went from village to village,
proclaiming the good news and healing people
everywhere. Luke 9:6
The disciples finally the active ministry
of Christ on their own.
At the same time Jesus did not rest,
“After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve
disciples, he went on from there to teach and
preach in the towns of Galilee.” Matt. 11:1

27. The mission of the 70
Not many months after this 70 others
were sent out again in pairs to witness
for their Lord Luke 10:1
It is not known for sure just who these
other disciples were, probably they
included the original 12.
Maybe the larger group indicates that
there had been increased interest after
the activity of the 12 in witnessing.
The instructions given to this group
were essentially the same as those to the
12, Luke 10:2-16

28. One additional instruction was given to
this group,
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others
and sent them two by two ahead of him to every
town and place where he was about to go.
Luke 10:1
They were forerunners for their Lord,
setting things up for His ministry.
Luke 9: 52 show that this was something
that had been done before, And he sent
messengers on ahead, who went into a
Samaritan village to get things ready for him;
We simply see that they all were to
practice what they had learned to be
Jesus’ evangelism strategy.

29. Post resurrection commands
The principle of giving evangelistic
work to the disciples was
demonstrated again after the
crucifixion and resurrection.
On at least four occasions as He
met with His disciples He told them
to go out and do His work.
- 1st to the disciples
(exceptThomas) in the Upper
Room. Jesus showed the disciples
his nail-scarred hands and feet,
Luke 24:38-40.

30. Post resurrection commands
He then said John 20:21, Again Jesus
said, “Peace be with you! As the
Father has sent me, I am
sending you.”
But note the next verses too, And
with that he breathed on them and said,
“Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you
forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are
forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they
are not forgiven.”

31. - Later as Jesus had breakfast with His
disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, he told
Peter 3x to feed His sheep, John 21:15-17
- On a mountain in Galilee he gave the
great commission to, not only the eleven
disciples, but to the whole church (about
500)
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority
in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them
to obey everything I have commanded you. And
surely I am with you always, to the very end of
the age.”
Matt. 28:18-20

32. Finally, before his ascension Jesus
went over the whole thing for the
last time, showing them how things
had to be fulfilled while He was with
them, Luke 24:44-46
45 Then he opened their minds so they
could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told
them, “This is what is written: The
Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead
on the third day, 47 and repentance for the
forgiveness of sins will be preached in his
name to all nations, beginning at
Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these
things.

33. Note that repentance and
forgiveness of sins should be
preached in his Name unto all
nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
To see this purpose of God fulfilled
the disciples were no less a part than
their Master - they were the human
instruments announcing the good
news as empowered by the HSp,
Acts 1:8; Luke 24:48, 49

34. THE PRINCIPLE IS CLEAR
Jesus did not leave the work of
evangelism up to us or our desires. The
disciples knew it was a definite
command.
It was so then; it is so today.
Disciples are sent people - doing the
same work of world evangelism to
which the Lord was sent, and for which
He gave His life.

35. THE PRINCIPLE IS CLEAR
Evangelism is not an optional accessory to our
life - it is the heartbeat of all that we are called
to be and do - it is the commission of the
church.
Everything which is done and said in the name
and purpose of Jesus - educational institutions,
social programs, hospitals, church meetings
etc. -everything done in the Name of Christ has
its justification in fulfilling this mission.

36. The principle for today
But it is not enough to make evangelism
like this an idea - we must live this out.
Train people by giving them practical
work assignments to be carried out
Demonstrate it in your life and then
there is no reason why the assignment
cannot be completed.
And having started you must keep
people going in the right direction, give
them encouragement and support.
Jesus taught his disciples, let them do
the work, and then trained them again.