Three Ways to Learn
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Discipleship doesn’t start in a classroom—it starts in the wild. Jessie Cruickshank shares how our brains are wired for experiential learning and how the most powerful discipleship often happens through story, movement, and Holy Spirit-led moments on the go.
In this episode, we explore why God invites us to learn through real-life experiences and how time in the wilderness might just be the most transformative classroom of all.
Jessie Cruickshank is an ordained minister with a Master’s from Harvard in Mind, Brain, and Education. She is a recognized expert in discipleship and neuroeducation. Jessie co-leads V3, the church planting arm of the BGAV. She is the author of Ordinary Discipleship and Founder of Whoology. She is a Co-Founder of 5Q, Co-Author of Activating 5Q, and founding member of the Movement Leader’s Collective.
In Season 6, we’re diving into discipleship—exploring what it means to follow Jesus and share Jesus in our everyday lives and how churches can cultivate a culture of discipleship that is more than curriculum within their communities.
Related Resources:
Discipleship Reset – a week-long live training experience designed to equip the leaders of the average North American church for the opportunities of 2025. You can still receive access to the replay of all sessions (for FREE!). freshexpressions.com/discipleship-reset
Email us: podcasts@freshexpressions.com
Interview Summary
“Discipleship isn’t about just learning facts; it’s about experiencing transformation through relationship and identity formation.” – Jessie Cruickshank
In this episode of the Fresh Expressions podcast, we hear from Jessie Cruickshank, an ordained minister and neurocclesiologist, whose unique journey blends wilderness ministry, educational neuroscience, and transformative discipleship practices. Jessie brings a refreshing perspective on how discipleship can go beyond the classroom and into the very lives of individuals, shaped through personal experience, intentional relationships, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Jessie Cruickshank is an experienced leader in both ministry and education, having co-led a wilderness immersion discipleship program for over a decade and earned a master’s degree in mind-brain education from Harvard. Her work spans across business and church settings, where she has dedicated her life to helping others experience deep transformation. Jessie’s innovative approach to discipleship integrates practical neuroscience with spiritual formation, creating a unique model for life-change and identity formation.
The Adventure of Discipleship
Jessie’s perspective on discipleship is a journey—one that is deeply experiential. She explains that discipleship is about more than simply acquiring knowledge; it’s about how experiences shape our identity in Christ. Through her work in wilderness ministry, she saw firsthand how deeply people’s lives can be transformed when they step out of the classroom and into the real world of challenge, relationship, and testimony.
As Jessie puts it: “You can read a book about skiing all day long, but it’s not until you’re on the slopes, struggling, failing, and trying again, that you truly become a skier.” This analogy underscores the importance of experience in the process of spiritual growth. When discipleship is tied to personal encounters and lived-out stories, it connects to the autobiographical memory system, making it a part of who we are and how we live.
How Neuroscience Informs Discipleship Practices
Jessie’s work in educational neuroscience has profoundly influenced her understanding of discipleship. She emphasizes how our brains are wired for transformation, not through passive learning, but through embodied, relational experiences. She explains that there are two types of long-term memory systems: semantic memory (data-based, easily forgotten) and autobiographical memory (personal, deeply embedded in our identity).
The key to effective discipleship, she argues, is moving away from data-driven methods and embracing a more relational, experiential approach that taps into autobiographical memory. Jessie points out that “If discipleship is a journey of identity formation, maybe we should think about how God wired us to learn and grow.”
By engaging people in real-life experiences, where the gospel intersects with their personal stories, we activate deeper transformation.
“If discipleship is a journey of identity formation, maybe we should think about how God wired us to learn and grow.”
Moving from Classroom Learning to Experiential Discipleship
One of the major challenges Jessie highlights is the traditional, classroom-based model of discipleship that dominates many churches. She shares her experience in wilderness ministry, where she learned that discipleship isn’t a class—it’s a way of life. It’s not about simply teaching Bible facts but about creating environments where people encounter God and each other in authentic, transformative ways.
Jessie calls for churches to reconsider their discipleship methods, encouraging leaders to create teachable moments that connect scripture with real-life experiences. She states,
“It’s not about the curriculum; the curriculum should serve the relationship. Discipleship is about witness and transformation in community, not just academic learning.”
Overcoming Traditional Paradigms in Church Discipleship
Throughout the interview, Jessie stresses the importance of moving beyond academic models of discipleship that separate knowledge from transformation. She critiques the assumption that people need to be “blank slates” before they can be discipled, suggesting instead that we should recognize the work the Holy Spirit is already doing in people’s lives.
“God knows what he’s doing in people’s lives already. We just need to partner with the Holy Spirit in what’s already happening.”
She also highlights the obstacles that often hinder true transformation, particularly theological perspectives that limit emotional engagement in discipleship. Jessie challenges the church to rethink how it views and cultivates emotional health, arguing that emotions are an integral part of cognitive and spiritual transformation.
The Role of the Holy Spirit in Transforming Lives
Jessie’s belief in the Holy Spirit’s work in transformation is central to her approach to discipleship. She shares how the Holy Spirit plays a pivotal role in guiding individuals through their discipleship journey, illuminating scripture, and bringing personal revelation. She emphasizes that “It’s not our responsibility to be perfect teachers. It’s the Holy Spirit’s job to lead us into all truth.” The Spirit is the ultimate guide in making disciples, and as Jessie reflects, “You don’t have to be an expert; you just need to follow the Holy Spirit.”
Jessie’s conversation offers a revolutionary perspective on discipleship—one that prioritizes relationships, personal transformation, and the active work of the Holy Spirit. Rather than focusing on formal programs and academic knowledge, discipleship must become a lifestyle—one grounded in lived experiences, relational teaching, and the deep work of identity formation.
Her experiences in wilderness ministry, her work in neuroscience, and her faith in the power of the Holy Spirit all point to a discipleship that is dynamic, transformative, and deeply connected to the rhythms of everyday life.
Reflection Questions
- How do you currently define discipleship in your church or community?
- What role does personal experience play in your own faith formation?
- What does it look like to share your personal story of transformation with others?
- How can your church create more teachable moments for discipleship?
- What changes could you make in your discipleship model to focus more on relational and experiential learning?
- How can you better partner with the Holy Spirit in your discipleship practices?
