APPROACH #4: THE EVANGELISM METHOD[1]

The Master and His Plan: The Problem in Evangelistic Methods. [1]

In our efforts to fulfill the Great Commission of Christ, we need to constantly evaluate the objectives and relevance of our work. Is it worth doing? And does it get the job done? Just because we are busy doesn't mean it is to a purpose. We need to focus our attention on a well thought out strategy of movement day by day in terms of long-range goals - everything we do must have a purpose. This is an attempt to see the controlling principles governing the movements of the Master in hope that our own labors might be conformed to a similar pattern. Since form follows function, this is a study to understand principles underlying Jesus' ministry - principles that determined his methods. In order to do this, we have to look at the New Testament, and the Gospels in particular.

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Christ is the perfect example. His objective was clear: He intended to save out of the world a people for himself and to build a church of the Spirit, which would never perish. No one was excluded from his gracious purpose. His love was universal - he died for all sins and all people; to him, there was no distinction between home and foreign missions. To Jesus, it was all world evangelization. He planned to win! His life was ordered by his objective. Everything he did and said was a part of the whole pattern. Never did he lose sight of his goal - to redeem the world for God. We need to carefully consider his strategies, for he conceived a plan that would not fail.

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Eight Guiding Principles:

1. Selection: People were His Method

Men were his method of winning the world, Men who would bear witness to his life and carry on his work - Men willing to learn, teachable. The more concentrated size (fewer in number) of men, the greater the opportunity for effective instruction - needed people who could lead the multitudes and give them personal care.  With that as a model today, this will require more concentration of time and talents on fewer people in the church while not neglecting the passion for the world.

It will mean raising up trained disciples “for the work of ministering” with the pastor and church staff.

With that strategy, the multitudes can be won easily if they are just given leaders to follow.

We must decide where we want our ministry to count – momentary recognition or reproduction of our lives in a few chosen people who will carry on our work to future generations

Association: He Stayed with Them

Jesus made a practice of being with them; letting them follow him was his training program. Knowledge was gained by association before it was by explanation.  The disciples were his spiritual children and the only way that a father can properly raise a family is to be with it.

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Follow-up was needed for immediate personal care of new converts and he delegated this to his disciples. Principle of reproduction. That then became the church ministering to each other. But this they could do only as they themselves were trained and inspired.

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Preaching to the masses will never suffice in the work of preparing leaders for evangelism. Building men and women requires constant personal attention, much like a father gives to his children.

Unless new Christians, if they are saved, have parents or friends who will fill the gap in training them, they may fall away and not mature. This can’t be done in a church assembly line basis a few days out of the year.

This means that some system must be found whereby every convert is given a Christian friend (mentor) to follow until such time as he or she can lead another. If a church does not have such committed counselors willing to do this service, then it should be training some.

Consecration: He Required Obedience

Jesus expected the men he was with to obey him. They were not required to be smart, but they had to loyal. In time obedient followers invariably take on the character of their leader.

No one will follow a person in whom he or she has not trust, nor sincerely take the step of faith unless he or she is willing to obey what the leader says. Jesus did not have the time nor the desire to scatter himself on those who wanted to make their own terms of discipleship.

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There can be no dillydallying around with the commands of Christ. Every day that we are indifferent to our responsibilities is a day lost to the cause of Christ. There is no place in the kingdom for a slacker.

There is a general indifference today to the commands of God, or at least, a kind of contented complacency with mediocrity. The obedience of the cross and the teachings of Christ regarding self-denial and dedication have been replaced with “do as you please” philosophy.  The need of the hour is not for despair but for action.

Impartation: He Gave Himself

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

Everything Christ did and said was motivated by his consuming passion for evangelism.

Experiencing the living Christ in any personal way is the work of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus was God in revelation; but the Spirit was God in operation.

All the disciples were asked to do was to let the Spirit have complete charge of their lives.

The secret of the victorious life – evangelism had to become a burning compulsion within them, purifying their desires and guiding their thoughts. After all, the power is in the Spirit of Christ. It is not who we are, but who he is that makes the difference. If we do not understand and live by this principle, any evangelistic work will be lifeless as it is meaningless.

We must give ourselves away in service and devotion to our Lord.

Demonstration: He Showed Them How to Live

He showed them how to live through the practice of prayer and using scripture.  He led through demonstration, not explanation.  Mere knowledge is not enough. There comes a time for action.

Delegation: He Assigned Them Work.

He assigned them work. He kept the vision before them by his activity.

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

They were going forth with a revolutionary gospel, and when it was obeyed, it affected a revolutionary change in people and their society.

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The disciples were to be the actual representatives of Christ as they went forth.  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.

The best way to be sure that this is done is to give practical work assignments and expect them to be carried out.

Supervision: He Kept Check on Them

He continuously reviewed and gave them an application to their lives.

He taught them lessons on patience.

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Christ’s lesson – not to be satisfied with the first fruits of those who are sent out to witness but to bring them to maturity. It is 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.

We fail, not because we do not try to do something, but because we let our little efforts become an excuse for not doing more.  The goal is world conquest. We have not been called to hold the fort, but to storm the heights.

Reproduction: He Expected Them to Reproduce

He expected them to reproduce his likeness.

Jesus envisioned that the victory would be won through witnessing and he depended on the faithfulness of his chosen disciples to this task. That was his only plan.

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Jesus called men to evaluate the product of their lives. This was the revelation of what they were and whether they (we as a comparison) were bearing fruit first in their (our) lives and then the lives of others. Are those who have followed us to Christ now leading others to him and teaching them to make disciples like ourselves?

In more recent times, mass recruitment was an easier strategy for evangelism. Jesus’ plan has not been disavowed; it has just been ignored.

Men are God’s method. Programs, ceremonies, and organizations are well intended but unless the personal mission of the Master is vitally incorporated in the policy and fabric of all these plans, the church cannot function as she should. Evangelism is not done by something but by someone. These are men and women who know their Redeemer from personal experience.

[1] [Web log review]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.mcleanbible.org/sites/default/files/Multiply-Resources/NTChaps/ntc2/MasterPlanSummary.pdf