The Discipling Church by Pastor Philip Olubakin: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT) — "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples." Because he has all authority, the command follows.

Breaking Down the Great Commission

1. Go — active, not passive. Not spiders spinning a web and waiting; fishermen who go out.

2. Make disciples — intentional, not accidental. It takes time and energy.

3. Of all nations — every tribe, every tongue.

4. Baptizing — public identification with Christ.

5. Teaching them — continuous, not a one-time event.

6. To observe all things — comprehensive. The gospel covers marriage, finance, emotional healing, trauma, and physical health — not a selective message.

7. "I am with you always" — the standing promise behind it all.

Why Discipleship Matters

- Jesus commanded it — obedience is how love for him is expressed.

- It is the only way to multiply. John 12:24 — a grain of wheat must fall and die to bring forth much fruit.

- The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Matthew 9:37-38

- The enemy steals the seed where disciples aren't watching the field.

- The church must prevail — the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Marks of a Discipling Church

- Prioritizes discipleship over programs — meetings that grow people, not just gather a crowd.

- Measures success by reproduction, not attendance. John 15:16, 2 Timothy 2:2 — commit what you've learned to faithful people who can teach others.

- Invests in relationships through small groups, so people don't get lost as the church grows bigger.

- Teaches the whole counsel of God. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 — profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction, that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished for every good work.

- Equips members for ministry — ministry happens in the workplace and marketplace, not only the pulpit.

- Multiplies leaders and sends members out rather than keeping them.

- Depends solely on the Holy Spirit — not built around a pastor's charisma or personality, but on Christ.

The Societal Impact of Discipleship

A revival that doesn't change the surrounding society is fake — every genuine move of God must reach beyond the church walls.

1. Produces salt and light. Matthew 5:13 — where a church fails to disciple, it produces believers indistinguishable from the culture around them. A society reflects the health of its church.

2. Raises righteous leaders. Proverbs 29:2 — "when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice." Discipleship is the leadership pipeline of every generation.

3. Breaks generational poverty. Poverty is often the consequence of isolation as much as lack — a discipling community becomes a functioning economy of its own, where members employ, serve, and support one another rather than depending entirely on outside systems.