DELEGATION
Matthew 4:19
• "Come, follow me," Jesus said,
"and I will make you fishers of
men."
HE ASSIGNED THEM WORK
Jesus 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.
•
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.”
•
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.
•
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