The Master Plan of Evangelism

by Robert E. Coleman

The worldly minded religious leaders stated the truth when they said in derision: “He saved others; himself he cannot save” (Mark 15:31; Matt. 27:42; Luke 23:35). Of course, he could not save himself. He h...

This cross, having already been accepted in advance (Rev. 13:8; see Acts 2:32), made each step that Christ took on the earth a conscious acceptance of God’s eternal purpose for his life. When Jesus therefore spoke about obedience, it was something that the disciples could see incarnated in human form. As Jesus put it, “Ye should do as I have done unto you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, a servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, blessed are ye if ye do them” ( John 13:15–16). No one could miss this lesson.

A father must teach his children to obey him if he expects his children to be like him. It must be remembered, too, that Jesus was making men to lead his church to conquest, and no one can ever be a leader until first he has learned to follow a leader.

Unless there is this dedication to all that we know he wants us to do now, however immature our understanding may be, it is doubtful if we will ever progress further in his life and mission.

The great tragedy is that little is being done to correct the situation, even by those who realize what is happening. Certainly the need of the hour is not for despair, but for action.

Followers must have leaders, and this means that before much can be done with the church membership something will have to be done with the church officials. If this task seems to be too great, then we will have to start like Jesus did by getting with a few chosen ones and instilling into them the meaning of obedience.

That is why his demands were accepted without argument. The disciples understood that they were not just keeping a law, but were responding to One who loved them, and was willing to give himself for them.

Love is like that. It is always giving itself away. When it is self-contained, it is not love.

His sanctification then was not for the purpose of benefiting himself, but it was for his disciples, that they might “be sanctified in truth.”

In this light, evangelism was not interpreted as a human undertaking, but as a divine project that had been going on from the beginning and would continue until God’s purpose was fulfilled. It was altogether the Spirit’s work. All the disciples were asked to do was to let the Spirit have complete charge of their lives.

Just as he had ministered to them for three years, now the Spirit would guide them into all truth ( John 16:13). He would show them things to come ( John 16:13). He would teach them what they needed to know ( John 14:26). He would help them pray ( John 14:12–13; 16:23–24). In short, he would glorify the Son by taking the things of Christ and making them real to his followers ( John 16:14–15). The world could not receive this truth, for it did not know Jesus; but the disciples knew him, for he was with them, and in the Spirit he would continue to be with them forever ( John 14:17).

The fact that these men were of the common lot of mankind was no hindrance at all. It only serves to remind us of the mighty power of the Spirit of God accomplishing his purpose in disciples fully yielded to his control. After all, the power is in the Spirit of Christ. It is not who we are, but who he is that makes the difference.

We must have his life in us by the Spirit if we are to do his work and practice his teaching. Any evangelistic work without this is as lifeless as it is meaningless. Only as the Spirit of Christ in us exalts the Son are people drawn unto the Father.

In everything it was made abundantly clear that the word written in the Scriptures and the word spoken by Christ were not in contradiction, but rather complemented each other. That which Jesus taught was also to be cherished by his disciples. Hence, the Scriptures, coupled with his own utterance, became for them the objective basis of their faith in Christ. Furthermore, it was made clear to them that if they were to continue in his fellowship by the Spirit after he was gone from them in the flesh, they would have to abide in his Word ( John 15:7).

How else will his way ever be learned? It is good to tell people what we mean, but it is infinitely better to show them. People are looking for a demonstration, not an explanation.

But let them also see a readiness to confess our sins when we understand the error of our ways. Let them hear us apologize to those we have wronged. Our weaknesses need not impair discipleship when shining through them is a transparent sincerity to follow Christ.

Indeed, knowledge unapplied to living can become a stumbling stone to further truth.

In effect, the disciples were told to concentrate their time on the most promising individuals in each town who would thereby be able to follow up their work after they had gone. This was to receive priority over everything else.

He never asked anyone to do something that he was unwilling to do.

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 that gives meaning to all else that is undertaken in the name of Christ.

With this purpose clearly in focus, everything that is done and said has glorious fulfillment of God’s redemptive purpose—educational institutions, social programs, hospitals, church meetings of any kind—everything done in the name of Christ has its justification in fulfilling this mission.

However, the fact that one starts the work is no assurance that he or she will keep it up. Once inertia is overcome, it is still necessary to keep one moving and going in the right direction.

The fact that they tried to do his work, even though they may have failed at it, gave them greater awareness of their deficiencies, and hence they were more disposed to the Master’s correction.

We always appreciate an education more after we have had the opportunity to apply what we have learned.

We dare not assume that the work will be done merely because we have shown a willing worker how to do it, and then sent him or her out with a glowing expectation of results.

It is thus crucial that those engaging in the work of evangelism have personal supervision and guidance until such time as they are mature enough to carry on alone.