The Master Plan of Evangelism

Robert E. Coleman

Delegation

Steve Youngblood

Delegation … I will make you fishers of men Matthew 4:19

He assigned them work-

“Jesus was always building his ministry for the time when his disciples would have to take over his work, and go out into the world with the redeeming gospel. This plan was progressively made clear as they followed him.”

He was Patient-

It was about a year or more before Jesus sent them to do any work on their own… Prior to that they were simply watching Him minister…

They served in practical ways-… such as getting food, arranging accommodations for the group, and baptizing a few people…

John 4:1,2 When therefore the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were).

Jesus was always reminding them - that they were going to be fishing for men-

Mark 1:17 “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men”… Simon and Andrew casting nets

Luke 5:10 and also James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon, and Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men”

Matt. 4:19 “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men”… Andrew, Peter, James, John…

Even after He ordained the Twelve about 18 months later… he did not delegate preaching work to them right away…

Mark 3:14-19 And He appointed twelve, that thy might be with Him, and that He might send them out to preach, 15 and to have authority to cast out the demons, 16 And He appointed the twelve...

Luke 6:12-16 And it was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, He called His disciples to Him; and chose twelve of them whom He also named as apostles” ….17 And He descended with them, and stood on a level place; and there was a great multitude of His disciples, and a great throng of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon, 28 who had come to hear Him, and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were being cured. 19 And all the multitude were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing the all.

As Jesus was beginning his third general tour of Galilee… the time had come when his disciples could join him more directly in the work… It was time for them to put in practice what they had seen their Master do.

So ‘he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth”

Mark 6:7 And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs: and He was giving them authority over the unclean spirits; 8 and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff; not bread, no bag, no money in their belt; 9 but to wear sandals. And He added, “Do not put on two tunics.”

Matt.10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them, saying, “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans;

Luke 9:1,2 And He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all the demons, and to heal diseases 2 And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God, and to perform healing.

Briefing Instructions- Matt 10:6-16

6 but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, 7 And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons; freely you received, freely give. 9 Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for you money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support.

He reaffirmed his purpose for their lives-

Go

Preach the Gospel

Heal the Sick

The Kingdom was at hand

He spelled out the scope of their authority-

Cleanse the lepers

Cast out devils

Raise the dead

Who to go see first-

Do not go to the gentiles

Do not go into any house of the Samaritans

Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel

What to take-

Do not take excess baggage or provisions

The laborer is worthy of his hire

Where to stay-

This would allow them to select and spend the most of their time with individuals who would carry on the work after they left

Matt 10:11 And into whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it; and abide there until you go away. 12 And as you enter the house, give it your greeting, 13 And if the house is worth, let your greeting of peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your greeting of peace return to you. 14 And whoever does not receive you, not heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake off the dust of your feet 15 Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city

This principle established a beachhead in a new place of labor by connecting with potentially key follow-up leaders…

In any town or village where this key component was not realized judgment was sure to come…

He told them to expect hardship-

Matt 10: 17,18 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 10:16 you will be as sheep in the midst of wolves… be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves…

Take up your cross-

Matt 10:34 –38 …”And he that doth not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me”…

They were to be the representatives of Christ-

Matt 10:40 “He that rec4eiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me”

They went out two by two-

Mark 6:7 and He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs;

Companionship

Covenant

Agreement

Mark 6:12 “And they departed, and went throughout the villages, preaching the Gospel, and healing everywhere”

He continued to work also -

Matt 11:1 And it came about that when Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities…

The mission of the seventy-

Not many moths after this “seventy others” were sent out again two by two to witness for the Lord

Luke 19:1 Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them two and two ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come…

Instructions – Luke 10:2-16

They were forerunners of Him as he was traveling thru the country.., this time they were told to go to every city…

Basically the same instructions were given to this group that had been given to the twelve…

Post Resurrection Commands –

At least 4 times as he met with his disciples he told them to go out and do his work

Luke 24:36-49 Supper with the apostles…47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem 38 Your are witnesses of these things.

John 20:21 Jesus appeared to the twelve… “peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you”

John 21:15-17 On the sea shore… Peter do you love me?  Feed my sheep

Matt 28:1 At the ascension … Great commission

1Cor 15:6 … Ascension… Great Commission … “after that he appeared to more than 500 at one time…”

He promised the power of the Holy Spirit for this task-

Acts 1:8 but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria; and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

Summary: We have been delegated the task of preaching this gospel to every human being on the face of the earth. Evangelism is no 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 which gives meaning to all else that is undertaken in the name of Christ.

Steve Youngblood