The Master Life
Last month Christendom said goodbye to Avery Willis, affectionately known as “Mr. Master Life” in honor of the program of discipleship he produced, taught, and lived out so notably. The making of “disciples” is one of the most elemental tenets of Christianity, however it is not emphasized to the degree that it once was in the life of the church. When Jesus gave His “Great Commission” to his disciples, as recorded in Mat. 28:19-20, He says “Make disciples of all nations … teaching them to observe all things I commanded you.” Our work of evangelization is not finished until a person becomes a “fruit bearing” Christian. Even then, all persons need on-going discipleship.
The Master Life program teaches people to make living out the Christian life second nature. Most of us compartmentalize the events and activities of our lives. We act and dress a certain way on Sunday. We act and dress a certain way at a basketball game. We act and talk a certain way when we are out with the guys or gals. We act one way at home and another way at work. Unfortunately this is the antithesis of New Testament teaching. Master Life taught, and still teaches, people to live out their faith day by day. In their giving, in their bearing witness for Christ, in ministering to others, in discipling others, and in every other area.
Imagine an army of Christians marching into their schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods simply living out their faith. There is no greater testimony that we have to bear than to live out the Christian life and share our own personal testimony of what God has done in us.
For decades Sunday School was the primary vehicle of discipleship in Southern Baptist life. In recent years there has been a shift to the small group meeting at alternative times. There are groups for men for women for youth. There are groups for bikers, for cowboys, for hunters. There are groups for scrapbookers, quilters, for divorcees. These discipleship groups begin with what people have in common and use it as a starting place to travel to the Gospel and deeper Christian growth.
Every Christian should simultaneously be being discipled and discipling another. At any given time, each of us should be able to say, I am being discipled through these people, these ministries, these books, these classes, etc. Also, the same people should be able to say I am currently discipling these persons, and maybe even this class or this group. For most people one-on-one discipleship is the ministry God has given them to fulfill. The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ will not disciple itself. People are the chosen means by which God accomplishes His work. Interestingly enough, those who have little interest in being discipled have little interest in discipling other people. Those who recognize a great need to be discipled also recognize a great need to disciple other people.
When the Church of the Lord Jesus does not carry forth its responsibilities, at the point of discipleship, there is a breakdown which causes the church (His body) to suffer. The church is not an organization, but the living body of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said to go and make disciples for the purpose of the growth and well-being of His body. It is incumbent upon the church to step forward in faith and do as He commands. By living out our faith day by day, as an effectual lifestyle rather than in random, disconnected pockets/compartments, we glorify our Lord and demonstrate to an on-looking world that our life is one led by the Master!
In Christ
Allen Raynor