Reframing Discipleship: Integrating Spiritual Growth and Movement to Mobilize for Mission

By Ron Kuest

“The longer you look at Jesus, the more you will want to serve Him in His world.” – N.T. Wright, “Following Jesus: Biblical Reflections on Discipleship”

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

In the previous two articles of this series, Reframing Discipleship: Moving Beyond Programs to Relational Ministry and Reframing Discipleship: Moving From Production to Reproduction, we explored the foundational principles of Intentional Discipling. We emphasized the importance of framing discipleship around the unifying principle of new spiritual life and the need to look beyond a production-driven ministry frame and consider a reproduction frame — a reframation of discipleship.

So, now that we’ve looked at the idea of reframing discipleship, these next articles will look at the practical side of the tools and equipment needed to accomplish the reframing project.

However, before we jump into tools and equipment, let’s look at one more conceptual reframing view. Think of visualizing discipling as a dynamic process integrating spiritual growth with purposeful movement. Now, think of discipling as more like the sports metaphor of curling instead of football, basketball, hockey, or soccer. Curling? Yes.

Is Curling a Better Metaphor for Discipleship?

If we truly believe that spiritual growth and movement are about helping people move from story to mission, we may need a more accurate sports metaphor reflecting that process.

For years, church leaders and teachers have often compared (framed) discipleship to sports like football — a game of strategy, teamwork, and goal-driven intensity. But what if this metaphor, this frame, is flawed? What if the disciple’s journey from story (personal spiritual growth) to mission (living out God’s calling) is less about hard hits, end zones, and MVPs — and more about clearing a path for movement? That’s where curling comes in. Rather than football’s aggressive pursuit of a touchdown, curling provides a more accurate metaphorical picture of how discipleship works.

• Football is about power, impact, competition, and star players. And winning.
• Curling is about precision, guiding, teamwork, patience, and removing obstacles — a far better picture of how discipleship really works.
• Curling is about slow steady progress, not touchdowns

Pastors and ministry leaders, instead of being quarterbacks calling the shots, need to be sweepers — walking alongside disciples, helping clear the way so they can move freely toward God’s mission for their lives.

Discipleship is not about force; it’s about facilitation.

It’s not about pushing harder; it’s about helping remove what slows people down. And maybe, just maybe, we should all start looking at our curling brooms instead of our playbooks.

Spiritual Growth + Movement = Missional Mobilization

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16–17)

As we begin to assemble our tools and a toolbox, the disciple’s journey is incomplete without movement. Journey requires movement. But how often do we see people engage enthusiastically in Bible studies or small groups, only to stall in their spiritual growth? We know many churches implement well-developed and solid discipleship programs. Yet, many of these efforts lack a clear pathway for transformation and fail to ignite a self-feeding spiritual growth experience.

The challenge lies not in a lack of teaching (quantity and quality). Instead, could we have simply failed to keep alive and dynamic the connection between transformative learning — our being, and our missional doing? We know transformation doesn’t happen in a vacuum — it requires information, action, engagement, and a missional purpose integrated into a seamless process. So how do you measure/observe/assess spiritual growth and movement? How do you apply the unifying principle of relational discipling? That’s the discipling question of two millenniums!

Spiritual growth is incomplete without movement toward a mission.

Too often in discipling, we talk about finding mission but don’t know how to get there. What we need in our reframing project is a set of tools and a toolbox to hold the tools.

The Diamond Toolbox: Practical Tools for Spiritual Growth

To disciple others well, it helps to have tools. Your tools are:

• The Disciple’s Road Map,
• A Vehicle,
• Three Questions and,
• Four Skills of Learning How to C.L.A.P.

It’s helpful to have a toolbox to store your discipling tools in. Imagine your toolbox is shaped like a diamond. The point of the diamond and each facet equip us to grow in faith while stepping into mission. Here’s how this model helps balance spiritual growth and movement:

• Foundation is Scripture
  Discipleship must be rooted in God’s Word. A discipling relationship should include consistent study of Scripture with an emphasis on applying it to life. Ask questions like, “How does this passage shape your understanding of God?” and “From what you see in Scripture, how might God be calling you to live this out?”
• Understanding the Big Story
  Understanding goes deeper than knowing; it is the ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply knowledge in a meaningful way. Seeing our personal journey in the context of God’s redemptive story helps us recognize our role in His mission. Ask, “What themes in your life story reveal how God has shaped you for His work?”
• Wisdom is Seeing the Big Picture
  Content is knowing. Context is seeing content in the application of life and living. Growth happens when faith becomes practical. Reflecting on Scripture’s role in everyday life builds wisdom. Ask, “How has God used past experiences to prepare you for what He is calling you to now?”
• Tradition is Learning From the Past
  The Christian church has a rich history of faithfulness and mission. Learning from mentors and spiritual leaders grounds disciples in biblical truth. Encourage your discipling friend to explore Christian thinkers, past and present, who have addressed similar struggles or callings of spiritual growth and mission.
• Legacy Is Living With Future Impact in Mind
  Mission-minded disciples think beyond themselves. The goal of discipleship isn’t just personal growth but reproduction — helping others encounter Christ and live out their own mission. Ask, “How can your story and gifts be used to build God’s kingdom?”

So where is faith in the diamond toolbox? Perhaps it is the unknowing, knowing space that surrounds the known, which is the toolbox.

Two Obstacles: Lazy Brain Syndrome and the Problem with Passive Learning

“Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.” (James 1:22–24 MSG)

Ever wonder why, for many of us, it’s hard to remember by lunch what the pastor said an hour earlier in a Sunday morning message? Is it possible we disconnect spiritual growth and movement because we misunderstand or are unaware how adults process data in the brain and then learn?

A simple explanation is our brains, designed for survival rather than extended periods of passive learning, disengage when overwhelmed with information that feels irrelevant or unconnected to emotions and action. I call this phenomenon The Lazy Brain Syndrome.

Why The Lazy Brain Syndrome Happens

• Energy Conservation: Learning requires energy. Absorbing new information consumes glucose, the brain’s primary energy source. When teaching is passive — such as lengthy sermons or teaching — the brain begins to shut down, conserving energy for perceived future challenges.
• Motivation Gaps: Retained learning happens when there is a balance between cognitive agreement (“I can do this”) and emotional engagement (“I want to do this”). Passive learning rarely ignites this motivational engine. The only thoughts producing action are emotionalized ones.
• Lack of Context: Adults retain information best when it connects to existing knowledge or experiences. Teaching in rows or abstract discussions often fail to create this connection, making learners less likely to remember or apply what they’ve heard.

How Adults Learn Best

Adults don’t learn the same way as young children. We need context — background as well as content — data and detail. For example,

• We learn best when new knowledge connects to past experiences or current challenges and when hands-on activity is a direct connection between knowing and doing.
• We learn best when stories illustrate abstract principles in relatable, real-world scenarios and when we have space to process and personalize our experiences through group discussions or journaling.

If we want to transform learners into doers and engage motivated learning, we must design discipling experiences into every aspect of ministry. This happens by integrating spiritual growth and missional movement. A pathway for that is The Disciple’s Road Map.

The Disciple’s Road Map: A Practical Pathway to Mission

How do we help disciples move from spiritual growth to missional impact? The Disciple’s Road Map offers a framework:

• Know Your Story – Every disciple has a personal journey shaped by God. Exploring one’s spiritual background, experiences, and gifts helps clarify calling.
• Own Your Identity in Christ – Understanding who we are in Christ empowers us to step into our mission with confidence.
• Understand Meaning – Connect the “dots of your life. Understand how spiritual gifts contribute to missional movement.
• Discover Purpose – Identify specific ways to serve based on personal strengths, spiritual gifts, and passions.
• Clarify Your Calling – A spiritual call is not just a moment of inspiration but a lifelong journey of obedience and growth. If you’re sensing a call, begin by seeking God, taking small faithful steps, and allowing Him to shape your path.
• Mobilize For Mission – Taking action, whether in local outreach, global missions, or everyday relational evangelism.

When spiritual growth and movement are integrated, disciples not only learn about Jesus but begin to embody His mission.

Moving the “Stone” From Midfield

Too often in discipling we do a great job of getting to midfield (spiritual growth) but fail to get the stone into “the house” — the scoring ring, and hopefully to land on the “button” — the center of the ring. Using the curling metaphor, we miss in the discipling process because we either got distracted removing friction-causing objects and losing momentum, or we try to plow through, ignoring impeding objects. Either way, we fail to score. To shift from knowledge-based discipleship to mission-oriented discipling, consider these practical steps:

• Set a Behavioral Objective – Discipleship should result in tangible transformation. Ask, “What do I want to change in my life because of this discipleship journey?”
• Balance Teaching with Application – For every Scripture studied, identify an action step. Encourage hands-on experiences where disciples can put their faith into practice.
• Create Pathways for Mission Discovery and Clarity – Help disciples discern their calling and provide opportunities for them to engage in mission — whether through mentoring, serving, or evangelism.
• Encourage Reflection – After each discipling session, ask: “How has God spoken to you?” and “What is your next step?”

A Call To Integrated Discipleship

Spiritual growth is vital, but without movement, it remains incomplete. Jesus calls us not just to learn but to go — to be transformed and to transform the world. When we integrate personal growth with mission, we create a reproducing cycle of discipleship that extends beyond ourselves.

So, what’s your next step? How is God calling you to move from learning to living, from knowing to doing, from story to mission?

Let’s make discipleship a dynamic, transformational journey — one where we not only encounter Jesus but carry His mission into the world.

Let’s Make It Practical:

Use the Diamond Toolbox Worksheet to identify your unique mission and take the next step in mobilizing for God’s kingdom. What book of the Bible will you study? What mission action will you take this week? Who can you disciple today?

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