DELEGATION

Matthew 4:19

• "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

HE ASSIGNED THEM WORKJesus was always preparing His disciples 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. The first invitation to the disciples to follow Him said nothing about going out and evangelizing the world, although this was His plan from the beginning.

HE ASSIGNED THEM WORK

His method was to get the disciples into a VITAL relationship with God, and to show them how He worked, before telling them they had to do it.

HE ASSIGNED THEM WORK

For that matter, even after they were formally ordained to the ministry a few months later (Mark 3: 14-19; Luke 6:13-

16), they still showed no evidence of doing any evangelistic work on their

own. This observation perhaps should cause us to be more PATIENT with new

converts who follow us.

HE ASSIGNED THEM WORK

One can observe in the Gospels that these early disciples really did not do much more than watch Jesus work for a year or more. He kept the vision before them by His activity, and in His call again to the four fishermen He reminded them that following Him they were to be FISHERS of men (Matt. 4:19), but it does not seem that they did much about it.

FIRST EVANGELISTIC MISSION OF THE TWELVE

But as Jesus was beginning His third general tour of Galilee (Mark 6:6; Matt. 9:35), He realized that the time had come when His disciples could JOIN Him more directly in the work.

They needed now to put into PRACTICE what they had seen their Master do.

Matthew 10: 5

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.”

FIRST EVANGELISTIC MISSION OF THE TWELVE

Like a mother eagle teaching her young to fly by pushing them out of the nest, Jesus PUSHED His disciples out into the world to try their own

wings.

BRIEFING INSTRUCTIONS

Before letting them go, however, Jesus gave them some BREIFING instructions on their mission. What He said to them on this occasion is very IMPORTANT to this study because, in a sense, He outlined for them explicitly what He had been teaching implicitly all the time. He first reaffirmed His PURPOSE for their lives.

Luke 9: 1

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

BRIEFING INSTRUCTIONS

Their COMMISSION also spelled out the scope of their authority by telling

them not only to heal, but to "cleanse the lepers, cast out devils, and raise the dead" (Matt. 10: 8).

BRIEFING INSTRUCTIONS

• But Jesus did not leave it at this. He went on to tell them who to see FIRST.

Matthew 10: 5

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.

BRIEFING INSTRUCTIONS

It was as though Jesus was telling His disciples to go where they would find the most RECEPTIVE audience to hear their message. This is the way that Jesus proceeded in His ministry. Since kinsmen were those most like them in cultural and religious background, it is only natural that they START with them.

BRIEFING INSTRUCTIONS

As to their SUPPORT, they were to trust God to supply their needs. They were told to render their services freely remembering how they had also freely received from their Lord (Matt. 10:8).

FOLLOW HIS METHOD

The plan of Jesus is even more specific to His disciples in His instructions to find some FRIENDLY person in each town they visited, and there live as long as they continued their evangelistic work in the area.

Matthew 10: 11

Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave.

FOLLOW HIS METHOD

In effect, the disciples were told to CONCENTRATE their TIME upon the most promising individuals in each town who would thereby be able to follow up their work after they had gone. If they could not find someone who would take them in, they were specifically INSTRUCTED to shake off the dust on their feet as a testimony against them.

FOLLOW HIS METHOD

This principle of establishing a BEACH HEAD in a new place of labor by getting with a POTENTIAL leader is not to be minimized. Jesus had lived by it with His own disciples, and He expected them to do the same. His whole plan of evangelism depended upon it, and those places which refused the disciples opportunity to practice this principle actually brought judgment upon themselves.

EXPECT HARDSHIP

The fact that some men would refuse the disciples' ministry only emphasized Jesus' warning of the treatment they could expect to RECEIVE.

Matthew 10: 17

"Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.

Matthew 10:1

He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

EXPECT HARDSHIP

• If Jesus was PERSECUTED, they would also be persecuted (Matt. 10:24). The rulers had called Jesus Beelzebub, and those of His household could not expect any less abuse (Matt. 10: 25).

Matthew 10: 22

All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

A DIVIDING GOSPEL

It is significant, too, that Jesus reminded them of the DECISIVE nature of the Gospel invitation. There could be NO compromise with sin, and for this reason, anyone holding out on God was sure to be disturbed by their preaching. They were not hand-shaking emissaries maintaining the status quo of complacency.

Matthew 10: 34

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn " 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law-- 36 a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.' 37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

A DIVIDING GOSPEL

They were going forth with a REVOLUTIONARY Gospel, and when it was obeyed, it effected a revolutionary change in people and their society.

ONE WITH CHRIST

The point Jesus made in all these instructions was that the mission of His disciples was not different in principle or method from His own. He began by giving them His own AUTHORITY and power to do His work.

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ONE WITH CHRIST

He ended His instructions by assuring them that what they were doing was as though He was doing it HIMSELF.

Matthew 10:40

"He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me.”

ONE WITH CHRIST

Think of this identity! The disciples were to be the actual REPRESENTATIVES of Christ as they went forth. So clear was this ASSOCIATION that if someone even gave a child a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, that act of mercy would be rewarded (Matt. 10:42).

TWO BY TWO

These were the instructions that Jesus gave to His disciples. But before they went out, He TEAMED them up in pairs (Mark 6:7).

TWO BY TWO

• This plan was intended to provide for His disciples needed companionship along the way. TOGETHER they could help one another, and when adverse circumstances greeted them as surely often would be the case, they could still find comfort among themselves. It reflects again the characteristic concern of Jesus for togetherness.

THE MISSION OF THE SEVENTY

• Not many months after this “SEVENTY others" were sent out again two by two to witness for their Lord (Luke 10:1). It is not known for sure just who these other disciples were, but the indications are that they INCLUDED the original twelve. The size of the group also indicates that this was due in measure to the increased activity of the twelve in WITNESSING for Christ.

THE MISSION OF THE SEVENTY

• Again the instructions given to this larger group were essentially the same as those delivered earlier to the twelve (Luke 10:2-16).

THE MISSION OF THE SEVENTY

• One addition in this new commission was the reminder that they were going “to every town and place where he was about to go” (Luke 10:1). That is, the disciples were FORERUNNERS for their Lord, setting things up for His ministry.

POST RESURRECTION COMMANDS

• The principle of giving ministry ASSIGNMENTS to His disciples was conclusively demonstrated just before He returned to Heaven after His crucifixion and resurrection.

POST RESURRECTION COMMANDS

Luke 24: 46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ

will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.”

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POST RESURRECTION COMMANDS

John 20: 21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you!

As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

POST RESURRECTION COMMANDS

• Matthew 28: 18 • Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority

in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

POST RESURRECTION COMMANDS

And for the fulfillment of this divine purpose, the disciples were to be the human INSTRUMENTS announcing the Gospel, and the Holy Spirit was to be God's personal empowerment for their mission.

POST RESURRECTION COMMANDS

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit

comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

THE PRINCIPLE IS CLEAR

Jesus gave a definite COMMAND to go and make disciples to His followers. No one who followed Jesus all the way could ESCAPE this conclusion. It was so then; it is so today.

THE PRINCIPLE IS CLEAR

• Christian disciples are SENT men - sent out in the same work of world evangelism to which the Lord was sent, and for which He gave His life.DISCIPLESHIP 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 which gives meaning to all else that is undertaken in the Name of Christ.

THE PRINCIPLE IS CLEAR

• With this purpose clearly in focus, everything which is done and said has glorious fulfillment of God's redemptive purpose-educational institutions, politics and government, social programs, health, church meetings of any kind-everything done in the Name of Christ has its justification in fulfilling this MISSION.

THE PRINCIPLE APPLIED TODAY

• It is the very reason why in Victory we put a premium to DISCIPLESHIP. The Great Commission of our Master is clearly reflected on our vision as a movement.

Honor God. Make Disciples

• Our mission statement is:• To honor God and establish Christ-centered,

Spirit-empowered, socially responsible churches and campus ministries in every nation.

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Honor God. Make Disciples

• By God’s grace it is our hope and prayer that we can be able to fulfill our vision. In applying the The Master’s Plan in our lives, all of us are commissioned by the Master to go and make disciples. There is no excuse. If we truly love our Master, then it has to be worked out through obedience.

Discussion Questions:

1. Define the principle of delegation. 2. When and how is delegation

appropriate and when and how is it not?

3. How can we, at Victory, practice delegation in our evangelism strategy?

Discussion Questions:

4. Coleman speaks of establishing a beachhead. What might this look like in our ministry?

5. Jesus sent His disciples out two-by-two on an evangelism foray. What are some ways we can similarly help younger believers to “get their feet wet” in evangelism (in the schools or elsewhere)?

Discussion Questions:

6. Coleman says, Jesus “never asked anyone to do something which He was unwilling to do.” Is there an aspect of making disciples that you have thus far been unwilling to do? Why? What can you do to overcome this obstacle?

7. Read the following, among Jesus’ last words to His friends on earth: Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:44-49; John 20:21; Acts 1:8-9

What was foremost in Jesus’ last words to His friends? What are the implications for us today?

Discussion Questions:

8. “Discipleship is not an optional accessory to our life. It is the heartbeat of all we are called to be and do.” Do you agree? Is this overstated?

9. Is there anything holding you back from carrying out the Great Commission today? Fear? Lack of training? Something else? What would help you to be more bold and intentional in evangelism?

Discussion Questions:

10. You may not be in a mentoring relationship but you may be in a position where you can ask that responsibilities be delegated to you. What might this look like in your own ministry?

Suggested Scripture memory: Matthew 28:19-20