The Master Plan of Evangelism explains Jesus’ plan to evangelize the world. Jesus’ plan is the best plan, it is not something we can improve upon. We drove to the capital on Monday (Buenos Aires). To see the incredible amount of people that live in this place and to think of how anyone or any team could possibly reach this mass of people with the Gospel is daunting! How can we possibly even begin? I think the answer is found in studying how Jesus set out to reach the world. The majority of His time was spent in training 12 men (one of whom would betray Him). This is how we as Christians will reach the world with the Gospel, by training men! So how did Jesus train His men? One of the things He did was demonstrate to them how to live! It was just “do as I say”, it was also “do as I do”. Jesus demonstrated how to pray, how to use the Scriptures, and how to win souls. Here are a few snippets from the chapter entitled “Demonstration”.

Jesus saw to it that his disciples learned his way of living with God and man. He recognized that it was not enough just to get people into his spiritual communion. His disciples needed to know how his experience was to be maintained and shared if it was to be perpetuated in evangelism. Of course, in a technical sense, life precedes action, but in a thoroughly practical point of view, we live by what we do. We must breathe, eat, exercise, and carry on work normally if we are to grow. Where these functions of the body are neglected, life will cease to be. That is why the effort of Jesus to get across to his followers the secrets of his spiritual influence needs to be considered as a deliberate course of his master strategy. He knew what was important.

All the disciples had to teach them was a teacher who practiced with them what he expected them to learn. Evangelism was lived before them in spirit and in technique. Watching him, they learned what it was all about. He led them to recognize the need inherent in all classes of people, and the best methods of approaching them. They observed how he drew people to himself; how he won their confidence and inspired their faith; how he opened to them the way of salvation and called them to a decision. In all types of situations and among all kinds of people, rich and poor, healthy and sick, friend and foe alike, the disciples watched the master soul winner at work. It wasn’t outlined on the blackboard of a stuffy classroom nor written up in a “do it yourself” manual. His method was so real and practical that it just came naturally.

Classes Always in Session. This was as true in his approach to the masses as his way of dealing with individuals. The disciples were always there to observe his word and deed. If the particular approach was not clear, all they had to do was to ask the Master to explain it to them. For example, after Jesus told the story of the sower to “a very great multitude” (Mark 4:1f.; see Matt. 13:1–9; Luke 8:4–8), his disciples “asked him what this parable might be” (Luke 8:9; see Mark 4:10; Matt. 13:10). Whereupon Jesus proceeded to explain to them in detail the meaning of the analogies used in the illustration. In fact, judging from the printed text, he spent three times the amount of time explaining this story to the disciples than he did in giving the initial lesson to the crowd (Matt. 13:10–23; Mark 4:10–25; Luke 8:9–18).

Coleman, R. E. (2006). The master plan of evangelism (p. 63, 66-67). Grand Rapids, MI: Revell.

It must have been amazing to walk with Jesus. His disciples probably learned to find comfort in His presence. There are exceptions to this (Mark 4:38), but most of the time the 12 learned to lean on Jesus. As long as Jesus was there, things were going to be okay. There is a problem, Jesus would be going away. Jesus came to die for our sins and to ascend into Heaven. These men were empowered by the presence of Jesus, but that would soon be over. Jesus was not going to leave them alone. The promise of the Holy Spirit, a “comforter” would empower them. The Master Plan of Evangelism dives into this subject in chapter four. Here is a small snippet from the book…

The whole thing revolves around the person of the Master. Basically, his way was his life. And so it must be with his followers. 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.

Of course, we cannot give something away which we do not possess ourselves. The very ability to give away our life in Christ is the proof of its possession. Nor can we withhold that which we possess in the Spirit of Christ, and still keep it. The Spirit of God always insists on making Christ known. Here is the great paradox of life—we must die to ourselves to live in Christ, and in that renunciation of ourselves, we must give ourselves away in service and devotion to our Lord. This was Jesus’ method of evangelism, seen at first only by his few followers, but through them it was to become the power of God in overcoming the world.

But we cannot stop there. It is also necessary for one to see in us a clear demonstration of the way to live his life. Thus, we must understand another obvious aspect of Jesus’ strategy with his disciples.

 Coleman, R. E. (2006). The master plan of evangelism (pp. 60–61). Grand Rapids, MI: Revell.

Setting Up

We have now been in Argentina for over a month. We are setting up. We moved into the house we are renting on May 02. We start our language school this month. Things are progressing quickly! We practice our Spanish every day and are improving even before starting language school. I have the opportunity to give the offering devotion at church every Sunday night. It is great practice for me. It consists of sharing a Bible verse on giving, expounding on it for a few moments, and praying for the offering. It is only 3-5 minutes but it is all in Spanish and it is stretching me.

We are loving it here in Argentina. We are not just learning a language here, we are also learning a culture. Setting up is teaching us a lot about how things work here. I am very thankful to have made friends with Christian brothers in the church who are actively teaching me how do things here.

Serving Together,

Patrick, Leslie, Lily, Piper, and Ivy Henry

Cultural Tidbit: The Siesta

One of the cultural things we are learning about is the siesta. The siesta is a time during the day where Argentines eat lunch and rest. It usually begins around 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM (the actual time is not set). Because of this, many businesses close during these times. This makes things interesting for us. As I type out this letter, we are about to go look at some furniture, but it is 12:19 PM, and most of the stores are about to close for the siesta. We are learning to do this kind of shopping either earlier or later. If you are not careful, the siesta will creep up on you and you missed your opportunity and adjust your schedule accordingly so that you can go to the stores at 3:30 or 4:00 PM. Today is a good example of that. It is not a bad thing at all, just something we are learning and adjusting to. The siesta is not observed by everyone, but it is certainly a part of the culture of Argentina.

We have briefly looked at the first two chapters of The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman. I am currently reading this book again and I am getting so much out of it! Chapter three addresses “Consecration”. The word “consecration” is defined as “the devoting or setting apart of anything to the worship or service of God.” Jesus selected men and spent time with them. He expected the men to forsake their former lives and devote themselves to Him. Jesus didn’t beg them to follow Him and try to keep them by promising them anything and everything they ever wanted. Jesus didn’t have these men follow Him on their terms. They followed Jesus on His terms, and that meant devoting themselves to Him. Here is a passage from chapter three.

Jesus expected the men he was with to obey him. They were not required to be smart, but they had to be loyal. This became the distinguishing mark by which they were known. They were called his “disciples,” meaning that they were “learners” or “pupils” of the Master. It was not until much later that they started to be called “Christian” (Acts 11:26), although it was inevitable, for in time obedient followers invariably take on the character of their leader.

The simplicity of this approach is marvelous if not astounding. None of the disciples was asked at first to make a statement of faith or accept a well-defined creed, although they doubtless recognized Jesus to be the Messiah (John 1:41, 45, 49; Luke 5:8). For the moment all they were asked to do was to follow Jesus. Of course, clearly implied in their initial invitation was a call to faith in the person of Christ and obedience to his Word. If this was not comprehended in the beginning, it would be perceived as they continued in the way with the Master. No one will follow a person in whom he or she has no trust, nor sincerely take the step of faith unless he or she is willing to obey what the leader says.

Coleman, R. E. (2006). The master plan of evangelism (pp. 43–44). Grand Rapids, MI: Revell.