How Do We Evangelize?

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20

Today I want to answer one question and one question alone: How do we evangelize? God's kingdom here on this earth must grow, and the members of God's Church (Christians!) are the means by which God's Gospel message goes forth into all the world and saves lives. But the question is this: how do we advance God's kingdom effectively? How do we share our faith with others and mentor them in the ways of God in a way that makes sense--in a way that changes lives?

In his book, The Master Plan of Evangelism, Robert E. Coleman answers this question. Observing the pattern of Jesus, Coleman outlines eight steps that Jesus used to make disciples and encourages us to follow them. The steps are as follows: selection, association, consecration, impartation, demonstration, delegation, supervision, and reproduction. Let us go through each of these briefly as we try to understand what it means to effectively make disciples.

Firstly, Coleman states that we need to select our disciples. "[Jesus] concern," Coleman states, "was not with the programs to reach the multitudes, but with men whom the multitudes would follow" (The Master Plan of Evangelism, 21, emphasis mine). Here, Coleman contrasts methods and men. In our day and age, the Church is often focused on the former rather than the latter, but this, as Coleman argues, was not Jesus' primary focus. Rather, Jesus focused on the people who would reach the multitudes, not the way to bring people in. "Before we can resolve the exploitation of the people we must get to those whom the people follow" (34). Though Jesus did minister to large crowds, most of his time was spent with the 12 disciples--showing him his way of life, teaching them, and praying with them--that they might be shown how to reach the world. One could say, in this aspect, that Jesus highlighted quality over quantity. He would rather have 12 thoroughly trained men who knew how to reach the world for Christ than 5,000 who had no clue what they were doing. And so ought we to be focused on the same.

Secondly, Coleman states that we need to associate with our disciples. "This was the essence of [Jesus'] training program--just letting his disciples follow him" (37). I've heard it said before that many things in life are better caught than taught, and that is what Coleman is referring to here. In many instances, we simply just see Jesus living with his disciples, giving them a model of how to walk their walk. We need to realize this as a Church. At times, discipleship looks like sitting down and going through scripture with someone, but at other times, it looks like going kayaking with them. It looks like praying with them. It looks like living life with them, both in the joyful aspects and in the nitty-gritty.

Thirdly, Coleman states that we need to consecrate (set apart for service) our disciples. "[Jesus' disciples] were not required to be smart, but they had to be loyal" (49). If you survey Jesus' disciples in scripture, they weren't very impressive by worldly standards. But what set them apart is that they were obedient to their master, and Jesus made clear that this was the only requirement. Though many others fell away (John 6:66), Jesus made clear that to be a true disciple was to surrender one's life. Furthermore, if we don't make this clear to those we are evangelizing to, we rob them of the joy found in full commitment to Christ.

Fourthly, Coleman talks about how Jesus imparted the Holy Spirit to his disciples. Certainly, we cannot replicate this act of Christ, for God alone is the giver of the Holy Spirit. However, we as mentors can help those who we are discipling the power of the Holy Spirit within them. "It is only the Spirit of God who enables one to carry on the redemptive mission of evangelism" (66). Furthermore, we can impart to them our love of the world, our strategy for evangelism, and our model of life.

Fifthly, Coleman states that we need to demonstrate for our disciples the lives that they are to live. Note here that Jesus was never hypocritical. What he told others to do, he did himself, even to the point of dying for his brother. In this living example, he showed his disciples how to live, and gave us a model to do the same. "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" (77).

Sixthly, Coleman states that we need to delegate to our disciples. If we teach people things but don't give them an opportunity to use the knowledge they have gained, what use is that? At the forefront of the delegated task is evangelism: "To [Jesus'] disciples [evangelism] was a definite command, perceived by impulse at the beginning of their discipleship, but progressively clarified in their thinking as they followed him, and finally spelled out in no uncertain terms. No one who followed Jesus very far could escape this conclusion. It was so then; it is so today" (89).*

Seventhly, Coleman states that we need to supervise our disciples. This step is rather self-explanatory, but notice here the importance of checking up on those who we are discipling to make sure we are doing the right things. Jesus did this, and so should we. Never assume your disciples will not need help after you delegate to them; in fact, after you delegate to them, they might need you all the more.

Lastly, Coleman states that we must seek reproduction in our disciples. True disciples of Jesus Christ are those who make other disciples. "It is not enough to rescue the perishing, though this is imperative; nor is it sufficient to build up newborn babes in faith in Christ, although this, too, is necessary if the firstfruit is to endure. . . .What really counts in the ultimate perpetuation of our work is the faithfulness with which our converts go and make leaders out of their converts, not simply more followers" (106).

In conclusion, let us realize that there is no better method in evangelism to follow than Jesus' method. If we seek to make disciples without guidance from the true Disciple-maker, we will surely fail. Yet if we follow his pattern and rely on his power, we will surely leave a God-glorifying legacy for all eternity, that is, through our followers:

We are not living primarily for the present. Our satisfaction is in knowing that in generations to come our witness for Christ will still be bearing fruit through them in an ever-widening circle of reproduction to the ends of the earth and unto the end of time. -- Robert Coleman

*Furthermore, "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" (89).