DISCIPLESHIP (BUILDING THE MEN THAT TRANSFORM THE SOCIETY) (Acts 11:19) APOSTLE JOSHUA SELMAN

DISCIPLESHIP (BUILDING THE MEN THAT TRANSFORM SOCIETY) Acts 11;19-26, Matthew 28:;18-20
APOSTLE JOSHUA SELMAN

Koinonia Abuja Sunday Service
07th September, 2025

TOPIC: DISCIPLESHIP [BUILDING THE MEN THAT TRANSFORM NATIONS]-Acts 11:19-26, Matthew 28:18-20


3-FOLD COMPONENTS OF THE GREAT COMMISSION  
1. The world evangelization/Soul WInning (Ministry to unbelievers) 2. Equipping and maturing of the saints (Ministry to believers)
3. Impacting and transforming society through the value systems of the Kingdom

* All three components of the great commission are important but the second component is uniquely important because it is the key to being effective in all other components.

WHAT IS DISCIPLESHIP? 
1. Discipleship is the ongoing process of progressively becoming like Christ in thought, words and actions through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

2. Discipleship is a lifelong journey of spiritual growth, transformation and conformity to the character of Christ in experience

3. Discipleship is the intentional and structural mentoring of believers so that they progressively attain unto spiritual maturity and stature in experience

4. Discipleship is building the culture of the Kingdom in believers - Titus 3:1-8, Eph. 5:1,2

* It also involves strategically transforming those who will eventually transform their territories and nations. In other words, building men. (Human Capital Development)

* The church is the most reliable institution on earth with the divinely accredited strategy for reforming and transforming men.

* The circular world believes educating the human mind is the noblest. Educating the human mind alone may produce an educative person but cannot produce a reformed and transformed people.

* Discipleship can benefit anyone-whether saved or unsaved but bible discipleship is only profitable to those who have received salvation through Jesus Christ.

ASPECTS OF DISCIPLESHIP
1. Knowledge-based discipleship:
(a) This is becoming like Christ by contending for a sound superior knowledge of scripture.-John 5:39

(b) The word of God alongside word compliant materials are used to transfer spiritual knowledge about God and His ways.

2. Lifestyle-based Discipleship: 
(a) Deciding to adopt the culture and the lifestyle of the Kingdom as demonstrated by Jesus and replicating the lifestyle through the enablement of the Spirit.

(b) Growing into a lifestyle of obedience and surrender that reflects the character of Christ.

(c) Living out the fruit of the Spirit in experience.

(d) It is a complete change and lifestyle of behaviour to reflect the values of Christ.


​​* Discipleship must capture certain teachings or elements else it will become a religious ritual and put believers in bondage.


​​* Putting pressure on believers to adopt the behaviour of pastors, church, attain holiness and righteousness through human efforts does not transform to discipleship.

ELEMENTS OF DISCIPLESHIP 
1. Understand salvation through the finished work of Christ (Ephesians 2:8,9)
2. The responsibility of obedience and alignment in becoming like Christ.
3. People must be taught to walk in love-Eph. 5:1,2 
4. People must be taught the value of living by the Word. (Matthew 4:4, Ps. 119:97)
5. Being taught how to live by faith. (Ephesians 6:16, Heb. 10:38)
6. Productivity as a key to impact and economic emancipation. 
7. Responsibility as a lifestyle. 
8. Selflessness 
* Nothing created by God, lives for itself.

5 TOOLS FOR EFFECTIVE DISCIPLESHIP 
1. The ministry of the Holy Spirit.
2. The Word of God/Scriptures
3. The presence of teachers, mentors or role models, men who embody knowledge,...