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Basic Discipleship
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

This material is copyrighted c2002 and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the Berean Baptist Church.

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PHASE 3         CHURCH ORIENTATION AND EDIFICATION

SESSION 4

MASTER OR MASTERED?

        Discipleship minister, you are mentoring a child of God.  Don't forget that. Talk about stewardship, you have been entrusted by God with the life of a brother or sister who needs growth and maturity.  How striking ring the words of the apostle Peter! "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth:  that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" (1 Peter 4:10-11).  Be diligent, dear fellow-servant of Jesus Christ!

        This exercise deals with a mentality, an attitude, a way of thinking.  The way one thinks will rule his life "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7).  The objective here is to help your disciple see himself, his mentality toward life, whether he's really a master at heart or a servant.  The difference is between control and submission.  No man wins in life by being a master.  Neither does he win by being controlled by anyone other than Jesus Christ.  He's the only master who is capable of being Master.  This is really the essence of the first of The Ten Commandments.  God said in Exodus 20:3, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."  Why not?  Because only God is capable of being God.  Among other things that means no man is capable of ruling or controlling his own life, for "every man at his best state is altogether vanity" (Psalm 39:5).  No man should be a master, nor should he be mastered by alcohol, some other drug, a passion or another person.  Every man needs The Master and only Him.  Hopefully, that will come through from this exercise.  Probe your disciple to make sure he sees it.  Don't take your disciple for granted.

        One's attitude toward giving is one of the keenest indicators about who is really his master.  It's so easy to be in bondage to material goods.  Actually, wealthy people are quite prone to the mastery of money.  They are capable of giving a large sum, even to the Lord's work, and feeling very smug and good about it, when the fact is that it was a mere pittance.  Jesus' story of the young man who "went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions" (Matthew 19:16-22) illustrates well this reality.  When one succumbs to the mastery of money, other cruel taskmasters follow, masters such as covetousness, greed, stinginess and selfishness.

        No one ever becomes truly free until he sees God as the owner of all things and himself a steward entrusted with a small portion of what is God's. God is a giver and when God's people yield to His Lordship, a giving spirit is bound to follow.  The latter part of this exercise thus puts the Bible spotlight directly on a spirit of giving, particularly unto the Lord.

        Thank you for being a discipler of other men.  Dear fellow-servant, tonight as I prepare this exercise I am praying in advance for you.  I am asking God to give you fervor and to make you very fruitful in your efforts.

The word master has connotations.  Name concepts and words associated with the idea of master!  Servant. Freedom. Control. Lord. Boss. Liberty. Slavery.

A master is a controller.  Slavery brings to mind the ideas of masters (lords) and servants.  One person can surely become a master over another. Some have actually owned others (slaves) while others dominate with a strong will, an overbearing spirit and ways or by power and possessions.          Circle the correct answers of people who sometimes dominate others.

1.     Husbands master wives. 

2.     Wives master husbands. 

3.     Bosses master employees. 

4.     Brothers and sisters master each other. 

5.     People with the money control those without it. 

6.     People with larger and stronger bodies dominate or bully smaller people. 

7.        Bold and vocal people dominate churches, civic clubs, unions and other social organizations. 

8.        There are other masters.  Would you say that some folks are slaves to alcohol, tobacco or other drugs? Yes

In the list below, circle other potential masters.

          Greed                    Money                   An ideology        Work             

                Pleasure         Sex        Pornography

The fact is that any person can become a servant to almost anything and allow anything to become a master.  As illustrated by the two exercises you have just completed, we mortals can allow anything to become a master.

Choose the answer that really locates the center of true slavery in anyone. 

1.     A domineering, overbearing person. 

2.     A jail or prison cell. 

3.     Between the ears. (A mental attitude or state) 

4.     Money or lack thereof. 

5.     Some substance like drugs or alcohol.

OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE SAME SPECTRUM

Each of the words in this matching exercise is related.  In each case, connect the opposite ends of the spectrum. 

1. Master                                (3) Getting 

2. Serve                                (4) Them 

3. Giving                                (1) Servant 

4. Me                                (5)  Humble 

5. Proud                                (2) Served 

6. Dominate                                (7) Yield 

7. Assert                                (6) Submit 

FINDING TRUE LIBERTY IN LIFE

The Bible paints a great profile of freedom.  You will enjoy reading the following verses to discover for yourself the source of true liberty.  As you read, enter the correct answers. 

James 3:1. What is the Bible's stance on many masters?        Negative 

Matthew 23:8-10.                Each person should have one and only one master.

Matthew 23:8-10. What is the name(s) of man's true master(s)?    Jesus Christ 

1 Timothy 6:9-10. "The love of money" can be a cruel master.

Would you say that it's better to   (1) Master your money and other material goods?  (2) Be mastered

by them?

Do you suppose that the same holds true for all other masters such as ideologies, work, a sport, any love of your life?  Yes.   No. 

1 Timothy 6:6-8.   Liberation from the tyranny of material things  brings contentment, which is “great gain.” 

Acts 20:35.     Who said “It is more blessed to give than to receive”?  Jesus 

Exodus 20:17.      With what issue does the 10th commandment deal.  Covetousness 

Luke 6:38.     In view of this verse, which would you say is the way to getting any true riches?  Getting?   Giving? 

Proverbs 11:24-26.    According to the teaching of this passage, quality in living comes from:

                                 1.   Getting, hording & holding on to all you can for yourself.

                                 2.   Giving, sharing and a generous and bountiful  spirit. 

Matthew 20:25-27.   In view of this passage, how is true victory and greatness in life achieved?

                                 1.  Through dominance and mastery of others?

                                 2.  Through services and yielding? 

Matthew 20:28.   Who is the greatest example of all when it comes to giving, yielding and service?  Jesus 

John 3:16.  Can there be any question that God possesses the spirit of giving?  Yes.  No. 

Philippians 2:5-8    In view of who He is, do you think it too much to ask that we follow Jesus’ example?  Yes.  No.

John 8:32, 36.   Jesus Christ is the truth.  He alone can make men  “free” 

2 Corinthians 9:6-7.    When Jesus Christ truly becomes one’s master, there can be no other masters.  It is then and only then that one is liberated.  In view of that truth, a believer’s lifestyle should be one of giving.  That giving should be done bountifully and cheerfully.

Read the story of the Prodigal Son

Luke 15:11-24

1.        On the master/servant scale, where was the Prodigal as the story begins?   Master 

2.        On the master/servant scale, where was the Prodigal as the story ends? Servant 

3.        The Prodigal went from a getter to a giver.  True?    False? 

4.        Was the Prodigal better off when: 

          A.    He was master of his own life?

          B.          Mastered by his father? 

          Bearing in mind that many things can become one’s master and that one can have “many masters” (James 3:1) but that he should have only one, locate yourself on the spectrum.

Master <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Mastered 

WHY GOD GIVES YOU MONEY AND MATERIAL THINGS

  Read the verses and find four Bible reasons why God gives you money.  Match the verses with the correct answers. 

1.  Matthew 6:26-32       ( 4 ) To pay your taxes 

2.  Proverbs 19:17          ( 3 ) For your tithes & offerings 

3.  1 Corinthians 16:2   ( 2 ) To give to the poor 

4.  Matthew 22:21   ( 1 ) To meet your personal needs

Ownership

          Whether he realizes it or not, every person is in a direct business relationship with God.  Complete the sentences as indicated to help you discover your financial relationship to Him. 

1.     Psalm 24:1. "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." 

2.     Psalm 24:2. "For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods." This verse claims all things are His by right of creation. 

3.     Psalm 50:10. "For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills." 

4.     1 Corinthians 4:1. "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God."

Look up the underlined word in a dictionary to discover its meaning. 

5.     1 Corinthians 4:2. "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." 

6.     1 Timothy 6:7. "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." 

The fact is, neither of us really owns anything.  Everything belongs to God and we are merely stewards. 

What does this say about your car?  House?  Money?  Mate?  Body? 

How to give in support of the work of the Lord

          "What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?" (Psalm 116:12) 

God entrusts you with a portion of His material goods.  He expects you to be a wise steward and manage His substance according to His directives.  He expects you to use a portion of it to support His work.  Let the following verses and matching exercise teach you what He expects of you. 

  1.   Give cheerfully        (  3)         Malachi 3:8-9 

  2.   A central "storehouse" or treasury (  3)         Genesis 28:22 

  3.   10%        (  2) Chronicles 31:5

  4.   God robbery        (  7) Matthew 23:23 

  5.   Tithe        (  2) Malachi 3:10 

  6.   The "increase"        (  9) Ephesians 3:21 

  7.   "These ought ye to have done"        (  8) 1 Timothy 3:15 

  8.   The "church" is "the house of God"        (  1) 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 

  9.   His "church" is the center of His  affection today  (10) 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

10. To be given upon "the first day  of the week"   (  5) Leviticus 27:30

Master?  Mastered?  Is God in control, the master of your life?  Are you in control?  Could it be that a habit, an inner drive or something other than God rules you?

One's attitude toward giving is a tattle-tale.  In particular, giving to the Lord is a gauge that tells whether one's material goods and money are mastered or master.

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"