A Biblically based process for making and growing disciples

Please read the previous article on making disciples. This is part 2 of that column.

MasterLife was developed by a gentle but firmly committed pastor, missionary to Indonesia, seminary president and then senior vice-president of overseas operations for the Southern Baptist Convention. More than all of those things, Avery T. Willis, Jr. was himself a DISCIPLE-MAKER, influencing more than 250,000 persons through his material which has been out since 1980. MasterLife has been translated into more than 50 different languages. 

So what is MasterLife? In four separate parts, it mirrors our church’s motto of
CONNECT, GROW, SERVE, GO.

 1. The CROSS=CONNECT. Our connection with Jesus Christ is foundational for discipleship. In Part 1, we will go through connecting with Christ in establishing a “Quiet Time” (a daily devotional time of prayer and Bible reading). With Christ at the center of our lives, we learn to connect with others in fellowship, witnessing and ministry. Each week in all of these studies, we disciples will memorize verses to affirm God's connection within us.

2. The PERSONALITY=GROW. Christ transforms our character through discipleship. In Part 2, we learn how to grow through God’s Spirit teaching, guiding, directing, empowers and even intercedes for us to do God’s will and work. Our flesh is our old fallen nature, our spirit is our new resurrected nature, and our soul is the battle ground.

3. Our VICTORY=SERVE. Spiritual warfare raises its head in numerous ways, but make no mistake: we are in battle. Part 3 leads us through Psalm 119 and its emphasis on God’s Word. Even Jesus relied on the truth of the Scriptures to fight and achieve victory in the temptation battle with the devil. God gives us principles for victory standing in truth, praying in faith, and wearing the armor of God.

4. Our MISSION=GO. The Great Comission (Matt. 28:19-20) is not primarily about evangelism, missionaries, going, or baptizing. Part 4 disciples us to make disciples through relationships. This is our ultimate mission for which God has saved us! We will learn our spiritual gifts He has given us for our mission in life. We are saved for this purpose.

If you read ALL of this, pat yourself on the back! If you want to join, will train trainers (future disciple-makers) beginning June 20 at 5:30 a.m. here at the church. Choose ONE of these four plans, which will be led by the following people:
Jason (Part 1, Cross, Thursdays beginning June 23),
Billy Bob (Part 2, Personality, Wednesdays beginning June 22), Cliff (Part 3, Victory, Tuesdays, beginning June 21) and Mike (Part 4, Mission, Mondays, beginning June 20).   

Remember, you can only come to one session a week and once you choose, we want you to stick with that series for all seven weeks. So choose wisely! Pray for these and those who will go through these disciple-making courses.

 

Making Christ the Master of your Life

    Are all Christians disciples? If so, what did Jesus mean when He said we are to “make disciples”? Is that simply telling others to become Christians or are we to “make disciples” by helping others grow in Christ-likeness. I believe it is the latter. 

    True, we seek to evangelize and convert, but if becoming a Christian is being “born again” (John 3:3, 7; 1 Pet. 1:23; Titus 3:5), then we must grow in respect to our salvation. “Like newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1 Pet. 2:2). The word disciple is used more than 200 times in the New Testament, and the word literally means “learner.” 

    In Matthew 28:19-20, commonly called the Great Commission, two different words are used that is translated as “teach” in King James. The first word is the verb form of “disciple” and is better translated “disciple all nations” or “make disciples in all nations.” 

    The second is word for teach is used nearly 100 times in the Bible, always translated as teach. Neither word merely means to lead people to make an intellectual decision or to pray a prayer of salvation. Those are simply starting points. 

    We have not truly become a disciple of Christ unless we have done what Christ commissioned us to do:  
1) Be baptized (“immersed”) in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit;  
2) Be taught and be teaching others to observe all the things Jesus has commanded us; and  
3) Be discipled and disciple others as we are going throughout the nations and ethnicities  under the presence, power, and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

    You may go by the name of Christian, but are you truly a disciple, a learning, growing pupil of Christ who obeys all of the precepts and instructions of our Master and Lord Jesus Christ? Are you obeying Christ by making disciples yourself? 

    A true disciple is not just the twelve whom Jesus called or someone who prayed a prayer as a child. Acts 14:21 and other passages tell us that the early church continued to make disciples. If you are not making disciples, which is part of the “all things I have commanded you,” you cannot truly call yourself a disciple. 

    In upcoming weeks, you will hear more about four different MasterLife courses to train Christians in making disciples. Be in prayer for those who will lead others in these life-changing courses.