Simplify toward Jesus

This week in The Frontier Men’s Bible Study, we covered chapter 3 of Robert E. Coleman’s The Master Plan of Evangelism (lesson notes are available here).

Our discussion of the chapter, which is entitled “Consecration,” focused on Jesus’ call to discipleship: the simplicity of the call, the seriousness of the call, the product of the call, and the practice of the call. The central truth we gleaned from the chapter was that effective disciplers obey Christ and challenge their disciples.

To put the first part of this truth into action—that is, to obey Jesus, who calls for complete devotion—we’re going to have to simplify our lives in His direction. We should seek simplicity, but not just any simplicity. We want to simplify our lives around Jesus, His values, and His mission.

This is related to saying no, which we posted about yesterday. Of course we should say no to ungodliness (Titus 2:12). We should also say no to excessive commitments and constant distractions that come disguised as meaningful information. It is impossible to follow Jesus with the loyalty He called for when we are scatterbrained and “scatter-bodied.”

Simplify, men. Simplify toward Jesus.

—Beau Stanley

Earning “Double Dividends”

This week in The Frontier Men’s Bible Study we covered chapter 2 in Robert E. Coleman’s book, The Master Plan of Evangelism (lesson notes available here). The chapter, entitled “Association,” discusses Jesus’ practice of influencing people by spending time with them.

Coleman makes the simple but powerful observation that Jesus brought the disciples with Him while ministering to the masses. “In this manner,” he writes, “Jesus’ time was paying double dividends” (pp. 42–43). In other words, Jesus influenced His disciples while He served people, because the disciples got to watch Him in action.

Our response aim from the study was “to list specific activities from our regular routines in which we could include other men in order to invest in them.” What is your list? Whether or not you attend the study, what are some activities in which a person could include someone he or she is discipling?

Please leave a comment with your response so we can share ideas and “best practices.”

— Beau Stanley