Date: 2006 (first edition 1963)
Pages: 162
Author: Robert Coleman
Why This Book Matters
The Master Plan of Evangelism is a landmark book first published in the 1960s. It was highly influential in a number of disciple making efforts and continues to add value and insight today. The book sold over 3 million copies over the years and is still one I go back to from time to time today.
This book’s big “aha” is that we can study the Gospels not only for what Jesus taught but to see how he actually made disciples. This idea wasn’t new to Coleman but this book put that idea in to a more accessible and practical format than his predecessors (A.B. Bruce’s The Training of the Twelve in 1899 was an early author on this idea).
The idea that Jesus showed us how to make disciples helps us look at the gospel from a new perspective. We can do what Paul said in 1 Cor 11:1 – to follow his example as he followed the example of Christ.
Core Message
Jesus showed us how to make disciples. If we do the kinds of things he did, we can make disciples like he did. There is a bit more to it than that and Coleman recognizes that, like the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering this process. This isn’t a straight jacket but more a set of principles and approaches we can use today.
There are 8 practices Jesus used to make disciples:
- Selection – he choose followers and invited them
- Association – Jesus lived and taught in close proximity to those he discipled. He showed them how to do it.
- Consecration – this involves counting the cost, forsaking sin and following Jesus in everything
- Impartation – Jesus was constantly giving himself away to his followers. One day they would do the same because they saw him do it.
- Demonstration – Jesus didn’t just lecture or pontificate. He demonstrated the approach. As they walked and talked along the way, he showed them how to do it.
- Delegation – At some point Jesus sent them to do what they had seen him do. This would be an essential step for his future absence.
- Supervision – Not only did he send them, the returned and they debriefed on what happened. Jesus offered them supervision (or super-vision) to see what was going on more clearly.
- Reproduction – those Jesus discipled made more disciples on and on all the way until today.
Key Insights & Takeaways
- Jesus showed his disciples how to make disciples and they did the same later.
- The Holy Spirit is critical in the ministry of Jesus and so is critical for our ministry.
- We can do the same things we see Jesus and His apostles doing in the Gospels and Acts and make disciples today.
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths: The book is simple. You don’t have to remember the 8 principles, just that you can find what you need when you watch Jesus in the gospels.
Limitations: This shouldn’t be used as a straight jacket or a test of fellowship or faithfulness. Some have used these principles in abusive ways (like the Crossroads movement) because they got the method of Jesus without the heart of Jesus.
Home Church Application
Home churches have a great opportunity to make discipleship more highly emphasized than the traditional church typically does. The small size of the home church gatherings is more naturally designed for discipleship than looking at the bald spot on the head of the person in the pew in front of you in the auditorium. These principles can be used in the home church to help the more mature Christians disciple the newer Christians in a way that is healthy, loving and effective.
About the Author
Robert Coleman is the author of numerous books on discipleship, evangelism and revival. At the time of posting this blog, he has just turned 98 years old and is still serious about making disciples, the last I heard. He has ministered in the Methodist church and was on faculty at Asbury Theological Seminary and was there during the 1970 Asbury Revival (which he wrote a book about). Coleman is a devoted follower of Christ and disciple maker. He isn’t an ivory tower person but is a practitioner.
Related Reading
“The Disciple Makers Handbook” by Harrington and Patrick
“The Only One: Living Fully In, By and For God” By Curtis Sergeant
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