Reframing Discipleship: Moving from Production to Reproduction

By Ron Kuest

A Fresh Look at Spiritual Growth: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)

A few years ago in a meeting with Dale, our church’s new pastor, I experienced a moment profoundly reshaping my ministry approach. As an elder in the church, I came prepared to talk about how I could support Dale in his new role. Instead, he asked me a question that caught me off guard: “Ron, how can I help you in your ministry?”

I’d never been asked that simple question before, and it ignited a significant shift in me. I was anticipating a conversation about how I could assist Dale in the ministry role I had always seen for myself — serving the church as a dedicated follower of Jesus. However, Dale’s focus was on my spiritual growth. This unexpected turn altered my perspective on discipling, reigniting a passion for personal ministry training. Dale and I often reflect on our conversation, recognizing it as a divine nudge from the Holy Spirit.

Reframing Our Approach: From Production to Reproduction: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)

In my earlier Light + Life article on Reframation, I discussed the American church’s crisis: empty hearts and pews. Our productivity-driven society often measures success by numbers — attendance, completed programs, and visible achievements. While this production frame works in many areas of life, it doesn’t align with kingdom principles. Yet, we’ve repeatedly tried to force the kingdom into this framework, only to see it fail. Another frame we can look through is reproduction.

Understanding the Difference: “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17)

Over lunch several months ago, a pastor friend asked me, “What does reproduction look like?” My honest answer was, “I don’t fully know.” Our production-driven mindset makes it hard to envision a disciple reproduction system focused on serving new spiritual life first. A production mindset is so ingrained in us that imagining another way is hard. I know shifting from production to reproduction takes time and intentional effort — one person at a time. Yet, even if we understand reproduction as the goal, how can we shift the cultural mindset of a congregation and staff deeply rooted in a production culture without resistance or upheaval? But, before there’s an answer, you may be asking, what is a production versus a reproduction mindset or frame? Let’s explore how these two frames differ.

Reproduction:

• Values: Leads with impact. Looks for evidences of personal transformation. Every ministry and activity bakes into it the passion to help find each disciple’s unique mission and help equip them for it.
• Goals: Helps individuals grow in faith, purpose, and mission as a unified process instead of separate tracks.
• Focus: Relational, life-giving growth creating a ripple effect. The disciple’s life becomes defined by their safe friendships, where each helps the other grow spiritually.
• Reward System: Transformed lives and meaningful growth are celebrated through video and group setting testimonies. Disciplers are celebrated for their mission-focused ministry.
• Drawbacks: Slower impact but with significant long-term benefits.

Production:

• Values: Measurable outcomes such as attendance, teaching, excellence in effort, experience, and compliance. Celebrates growth in attendance, giving, and ministry projects. Easily measured through the numbers signifying accomplishment.
• Goals: Increasing numbers and achieving clear mission-driven church successes.
• Focus: Visible achievements and quick results.
• Reward System: Tangible outcomes.
• Drawbacks: Burnout, shallow relationships, and exhaustion.

So seeing the contrast, the question, as asked by my pastor friend, is: What is reproduction? It is the unifying principle of discipling — serving new spiritual life first. In other words, before a disciple commits to ministry through the church (production), the church invests thoroughly in the person (reproduction). To reframe the local church, we must prioritize new life, and a disciple’s being before their doing ministry.

Everything the local church does must be rooted in and based on discipling.

As a result, the evaluation of progress and “success” shifts from countables to essential characteristics. In other words, finding descriptors for impacts instead of outcomes. Sound hard? Absolutely. That’s one reason why it’s not done.

Shifting to a reproduction frame doesn’t mean abandoning the production mindset, but it does require reshaping it around the principle of serving new spiritual life first. This shift moves the focus from activity-centered models to relational, life-giving growth, like framing a window in a blank wall to reveal a new view. Instead of just completing tasks, we first value the personal transformation that comes through relationships and mentoring. That is the heart goal of every pastor, yet it is often not achieved.

Could it be that we’ve been approaching ministry backward? Could it be that if all ministry began with a reproduction frame before production, our impact on lives in and outside the church would be different? Could it be this simple?

Could it be all we need to change is the leadership question from “how many” to “how well?”

Steps to Foster a Reproduction-Based Discipling Culture: “He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.” (Colossians 1:28)

Ultimately, reproduction is not solely our responsibility. The Holy Spirit is the true author of spiritual growth. However, we play a vital role in nurturing transformation in ourselves and others as we journey together.

But here’s the caution. Don’t try to add reproduction to a traditional production culture as just another program. It won’t have sustaining energy. Like failed weight loss efforts, the only result is the body becomes even more resistant to change. The pull to revert to a production-rewarded culture is too strong. We are reared as children, trained in school, conformed to work, and live in a production culture. Why? The brain is rewarded for simple, small rewards in our amygdala and limbic systems. We are programmed in our natural human state to follow the quick reward of production to gain a sense of worth while offsetting a universal soul wound called insecurity.

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“The answer isn’t necessarily to start a new church. It is to start church new.”

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We know Jesus’ kingdom is upside down to the world’s thinking. So why do we organize the local church like the world, as if it is a manufacturing plant producing product instead of being a change agent partner for and with the Holy Spirit? The answer: instant gratification. We do it because it gives short-term rewards to everyone, from the denominational superintendent to church board members, first-time volunteers, and everyone in between.

The answer isn’t necessarily to start a new church. It is to start church new. Could it be we only need to change the leadership question from “how many” to “how well?”

This means a significant culture shift for everyone. Here are some practical ideas to start making this shift:

1. Begin With Local Church Ministry Leadership

• Change your merit-based leadership style: Numbers are important, and people need to be accountable, but change why they are important. To begin, every ministry leader must be discipled as well as being a discipler. You can’t be in a parade by cheering from the curb.
• What you measure is what’s produced: Require ministry leaders to report on changed lives, not just numbers, since what you measure is likely all you’ll get. Be ready. Staff meetings will come alive and could get longer as ministry leaders share stories of transformation.

2. Focus on Relational Depth, Not Just Attendance

• Prioritize One-on-One and Small-Group Relationships: Create environments where people can engage in honest conversations about their faith. Discipling thrives in spaces where individuals feel safe to share, doubt, be vulnerable, and support each other.
• Cultivate Close Friendships: While small groups are a helpful start, spiritual and relational growth often happens best in close, one-with-one friendships. Examine your ministry’s disciple and disciple-maker pipeline if finding connections is challenging. Often, it’s not properly supported or connected. Usually, a trickle at the spout means either a low supply at the source or a blockage along the way.

3. Shift Metrics from Quantity to Quality

• Measure Spiritual Growth Beyond Attendance: Develop a metrics dashboard focusing on qualities like spiritual resilience, close relationships, and discipling abilities. This may seem impossible, but make it a leadership challenge. Ask, how can we get a sense of spiritual health, growth, and mission mobilization?
• Embrace Spiritual Growth Over Numbers: While shifting from numbers to quality might be challenging, it ultimately leads to more fulfilling and impactful ministry outcomes.
• Encourage Ministry Leaders: Ask ministry leaders how they see evidence of spiritual growth. Set it as a standard for ministry excellence.

4. Equip Leaders to Empower, Not Control

• Facilitate and Empower Others: Encourage leaders to see themselves as facilitators who empower others rather than managers of detail. This involves training leaders to listen actively, ask thoughtful questions, and help disciples discover their gifts and purposes.
• Develop Leadership Skills: Provide ongoing training and support to leaders, equipping them with skills to foster a culture within their teams of reproduction and empowerment.

5. Establish a Rhythm of Learning, Practicing, and Sending

• Create a Consistent Pattern: Develop a rhythm where disciples learn, practice their faith, and then disciple others. This ensures that every aspect of ministry reflects these three essential steps.
• Ensure Discipling in Every Role: Prioritize personal growth before service.

6. Provide Reflection and Soul-Care Opportunities

• Offer Retreats and Quiet Times: Provide retreats, quiet days, and reflective discussions to help disciples connect with God and their identity in Christ. These opportunities nurture deep growth, reminding disciples their worth is tied to who they are in Christ, not what they do for Christ.
• Encourage Regular Spiritual Check-Ins: Implement regular opportunities for individuals to reflect on their spiritual journeys, ensuring ongoing personal growth and well-being.

Building a Sustainable Discipling Culture: And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. (2 Timothy 2:2)

Adopting a reproduction culture mindset transforms ministry. It creates an environment where discipleship fosters lasting spiritual change, not just increased numbers or completed tasks. This approach builds meaningful relationships as disciples support each other’s faith journeys. It promotes active learning and continual growth, making the church vibrant, resilient, and spiritually healthy.

Dale’s question — “Ron, how can I help you in your ministry?” — catalyzed a profound shift in my life. Dale’s question was a pivotal moment in changing my trajectory of ministry. Serve new spiritual life first. It made me realize effective discipling begins with serving new spiritual life — new being before new doing. Could it be as simple as a simple question? Could it be as simple as asking that question over and over and making a commitment to follow through? And could it be asking that question leads to reframing the local church’s role?

“Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life — to God! — is vigorous and requires total attention.” (Matthew 7:13–14 MSG)

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