“Rethinking Work & Leadership: Why Discipleship is the Missing Key”
💡 What if discipleship wasn’t just something we practiced in church but something that shaped the way we worked every day?
Recently, during a staff meeting, I shared thoughts on how discipleship principles could transform our workplaces. As I reflected more on this, I couldn’t shake the question:
🤔 What if we worked like a disciple?
At its core, a disciple is a learner—someone who is committed to growth, development, and applying what they’ve been taught. In the Bible, Jesus’ disciples weren’t just followers—they were students, constantly learning how to live out their purpose.
And isn’t that what the workplace is too? A place where we are constantly learning—learning new skills, learning how to collaborate, learning how to navigate challenges, and even learning how to align our personal mission with the mission of our organization.
So, if discipleship is about learning, growth, and transformation, then our workplaces can also be spaces where we lead, work, and serve with intention.
The A.T.O.M. Framework: Bringing Discipleship to the Workplace
As I developed the A.T.O.M. Framework, I designed it to help women heal and grow after divorce, but its core principles apply to any area of transformation—including work. Here’s how:
🔹 Acknowledge & Assess: Are you just working for a paycheck, or do you see purpose in your role?
🔹 Turn Inward & Turn Upward: How do you handle workplace challenges? Do you seek wisdom from God before reacting?
🔹 Own Your Story: Are you reflecting on how you show up at work? Are you intentional about growing as a leader?
🔹 Move Forward: How can you begin working with excellence, integrity, and purpose today?
Applying these steps to our workplace mindset shifts us from just “going through the motions” to leading and working like a disciple.
5 Discipleship Principles That Can Transform Our Workplaces
🔥 Here are five ways discipleship can shape the way we lead, work, and collaborate:
1. Servant Leadership Over Self-Serving Leadership
📖 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…” (Mark 10:45)
The corporate world often glorifies status, power, and climbing the ladder. But Jesus modeled a different approach—servant leadership.
✅ Acknowledge & Assess: Am I more focused on advancing myself or lifting others up?
✅ At Work:
- Encouraging a struggling teammate
- Supporting junior employees instead of competing with them
- Leading with humility and collaboration rather than dominance
True leadership isn’t about being in charge—it’s about serving well.
2. Extending Grace in a High-Stress Workplace
📖 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)
Many workplaces talk about “extending grace,” but do we truly know what that looks like? Grace is at the core of who Jesus is—it’s undeserved favor, patience, and understanding, and as His disciples, we’re called to reflect that.
✅ Turn Inward & Turn Upward: How do I react when someone frustrates me at work?
✅ At Work, Grace Looks Like:
- Responding with patience instead of frustration
- Giving constructive feedback with kindness, not criticism with judgment
- Creating space for people to learn from mistakes rather than holding them against them
Grace in the workplace isn’t about avoiding accountability—it’s about offering correction with wisdom and understanding. It’s about seeing people beyond their mistakes and leading with compassion and wisdom.
3. Honest & Loving Feedback That Helps Others Grow
📖 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)
Jesus corrected his disciples not to shame them but to help them grow. In the workplace, feedback is essential, but how we give it matters.
✅ Own Your Story: Am I open to correction, and do I give feedback with love?
✅ At Work:
- Providing constructive feedback rather than harsh criticism
- Creating a culture where learning from mistakes is encouraged
- Being open to receiving correction
A workplace without feedback lacks growth. A workplace with harsh feedback lacks trust. The balance is wisdom and love.
4. Purpose-Driven Work Over Just “Clocking In”
📖 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” (Colossians 3:23)
Jesus never wasted time—he worked with mission and purpose. The same applies to us—our jobs aren’t just tasks, they’re assignments.
✅ Acknowledge & Assess: Am I treating my work as a calling or just a paycheck?
✅ At Work:
- Finding meaning in even small responsibilities
- Bringing excellence and integrity to everything we do
- Seeking ways to serve others, not just complete tasks
A job done with purpose is a job that leaves a lasting impact.
5. Investing in People, Not Just Profits
📖 “Go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19)
Jesus wasn’t just focused on teaching skills—he invested in people. What if our workplaces did the same?
✅ Move Forward: Who can I encourage, mentor, or invest in at work?
✅ At Work:
- Prioritizing mentorship and professional development
- Creating an environment where people, not just profits, matter
- Leading in a way that leaves a lasting impact
Discipleship isn’t about numbers—it’s about people, transformation, and legacy.
Final Thoughts: Bringing Discipleship Into the Workplace
Discipleship isn’t just for church—it’s for how we live, lead, and work.
✨ What would happen if we started working like a disciple?
💬 I’d love to hear from you!
- Have you ever had a workplace experience where discipleship principles made a difference?
- Which of these five principles resonates most with you?
- What’s one way you can bring faith into your work this week?
Drop your thoughts below! 👇🏾
