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Deep discipleship is the intentional journey through the deeper stages of the spiritual life, where we explore the hidden parts of ourselves with Jesus and trusted friends as we become more like Him from the inside out.
WHY DEEP DISCIPLESHIP?
Philosopher and teacher Dallas Willard described modern Christianity as suffering from “the Great Omission”: we emphasize Jesus’ command to make disciples, yet often struggle to form people who increasingly become like Him. Churches rightly devote enormous energy to worship services, Bible studies, sound doctrine, evangelism, and service. But an honest question remains: Are these good things consistently producing people who increasingly think, act, relate, and love like Jesus?
This need for deep discipleship shows up in many ways, though we may first experience it as a quiet sense that something is missing.
We feel disconnected from God, from others, and even from ourselves.
We read about the life-changing, awe-inspiring lives of the early disciples and wonder, “Shouldn’t my life look more like theirs? Is there more to life with God than what I’m experiencing?”
THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY: WHERE MANY OF US STALL
Spiritual formation is always taking place, for good or ill, but our journey with God may also move through recognizable stages. These stages are not strictly linear, and we may revisit them many times. Still, they help us understand why familiar ways of following Jesus may eventually stop reaching the deeper places of the heart.
In their book The Critical Journey, Janet Hagberg and Robert Guelich describe six stages of the spiritual journey:
Many churches and discipleship experiences are well designed to help people through the first three stages. But as followers of Jesus approach Stage 4, they may experience unease, tension, disappointment, doubt, or questions that earlier forms of faith do not resolve. This is not necessarily spiritual failure. It may be Jesus’ invitation into the deeper work of the heart.
Soil & Roots uses deep discipleship to describe the intentional journey through Stages 4, 5, and 6—the Inward Journey and Wall, the Journey Outward, and the Life of Love—as we become more like Jesus from the inside out over time.
HOW SOIL & ROOTS HELPS
SOIL & ROOTS CULTIVATES DEEP DISCIPLESHIP THROUGH RESOURCES AND GUIDED ECOSYSTEMS CALLED GREENHOUSES THAT HELP PEOPLE EXPLORE THE HIDDEN PARTS OF THEMSELVES WITH JESUS.
OUR PODCASTS AND ARTICLES HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR DEEP DISCIPLESHIP, WHILE GREENHOUSES ACCOMPANY THOSE WHO ARE READY TO ENTER THE DEEPER STAGES OF THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY.
Explore Deep Discipleship
Deep discipleship is the intentional journey through the deeper stages of spiritual life, where we explore the hidden ideas, desires, stories, and wounds that shape us beneath the surface.
Soil & Roots podcasts and articles help followers of Jesus understand the Inward Journey, the Wall, and the invitation into the Good Life. They offer language, stories, and guidance for people who sense there must be more to life with God than what they are currently experiencing.
Begin with Episode 1 or explore a question that speaks to where you are today.
Explore Greenhouses
A Greenhouse is a two-year guided ecosystem where people explore the hidden parts of themselves with Jesus and trusted friends.
Greenhouses are designed especially for people approaching the Inward Journey and the Wall—often a season of unease, tension, disappointment, or questions that begins to turn our attention toward the deeper places of the heart.
Over time, members journey together through Scripture, prayer, spiritual practices, Soul Care, and authentic relationships as Jesus meets them in those hidden places and increasingly re-forms their ideas and desires through His love.
TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP
The aim of God in history is the creation of an all-inclusive community of loving persons with God himself at the very heart of this community as its prime Sustainer and most glorious Inhabitant.
Dallas Willard
We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.