The Discipleship Cycles Hub introduces the Discipleship Cycles resource, which helps churches reflect on how they are nurturing an ongoing journey of encountering God and growing as disciples of Jesus together in community. It also gathers resources to support each of the different cycles.
About Discipleship Cycles
Discipleship is learning to live from Jesus, with Jesus, and for Jesus. It takes shape through recurring patterns of life with God, shared in community. We describe these as Discipleship Cycles:
- Engage – Connecting with faith, church, and community
- Explore – Engaging with Scripture and the story of faith
- Embody – Living like Jesus in everyday life
- Express – Sharing gifts and discovering calling
- Extend – Participating in God’s mission in the world
At the centre is encounter with God: God meeting us, drawing us in, and sending us out. These are not stages to complete, but patterns to notice, nurture, and revisit over time.
What the resource offers
- Overview of the five cycles
- Reflection and discernment activities
- A simple mapping tool
- A questionnaire to support conversation
- Guidance for next steps
How churches use it
- Reflect on the shape of discipleship in their community
- Recognise strengths and gaps
- Discern where God may be inviting nurturing
Suitable for leadership teams, PCCs, and small groups as a starting point for conversation and planning.
Download resource
Supporting the Discipleship Cycles
Alongside Confident Disciples resources, a wide range of diocesan and external resources support these patterns of formation.
Connecting with faith, church, and community
- Enquirer courses such as Alpha
- Outreach initiatives and invitation-focused services
- Welcome and integration practices
Engaging with Scripture and the story of faith
- Courses such as Being With
- Bible study resources and small groups
- Teaching series and formation pathways
- Confirmation resources
Living like Jesus in everyday life
- Communal Practices
- Shared Way of Life
- Lent series
- Prayer and spiritual formation initiatives
Sharing gifts and discovering calling
- Faith in the workplace resources
- Lay ministry and leadership development (St Edmund’s Courses)
- Spiritual gifts resources
- Mentoring resources
Participating in God’s mission in the world
- Social action and justice initiatives
- Local partnerships
- Evangelism and mission training
- Environmental and community engagement
Where to begin
- Want to reflect on the bigger picture of discipleship in your church?
→ Start with the Discipleship Cycles resource to map what is already happening and discern next steps - New to shared discipleship?
→ Begin with Communal Practices - Want to deepen faith as a community over time?
→ Explore a Shared Way of Life - Looking for a short- term offering around specific Discipleship topics?
→ Use one of our 5-week Lent series (suitable to use outside of Lent) - Running an enquirer or discipleship course?
→ Check out our Discipleship Cycles Hub resources