Holistic Discipleship: Mind, Heart, Motives & Action

“Let God's truth shape your mind, stir your heart, refine your motives, and direct your actions.”

a discipleship framework developed by Raimer Rojas


Discipleship

Integrating Practicing the Way with the Holistic Discipleship

In the Gospels, we see Jesus trying to convince the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law that He is the Messiah. These Bible scholars knew the Scriptures inside and out, having memorized large portions and lived strict lives of righteousness, adhering to the letter of the Law. Yet, they were blind to the very Person to whom these prophecies pointedJesus the Son of God. Externally, their lives appeared flawless, but internally, their hearts were far from God, untouched by the transformative power of the Word they so diligently studied. How could such vast knowledge fail to bring about the heart transformation that Scripture emphasizes?

We too, like the Pharisees and teachers of the Law, can fail to embody the heart-impacting and life-changing message of Scripture if we embrace these truths only in certain aspects of our lives. This was a tension I recognized in my own journey, which eventually led me to develop a discipleship framework for an “embodied faith.”

I didn’t just want to know God’s truth; I wanted to live it out, aligning my thoughts and emotions with what I believed. I began challenging my feelings to match the hope I held and examining the motivations behind my actions, even if they seemed godly on the surface. Without examining my motives, I realized, I could easily deceive myself. This struggle to make my faith real and embodied inspired me to create a holistic discipleship framework. One morning, while on a walk, the term "embodied faith" came to me, marking the beginning of a model for spiritual growth that would integrate every aspect of a believer’s life.

This framework presents a holistic approach to spiritual growth by incorporating four key aspects, as captured by these Greek words: orthodoxy, orthopathos, orthopróthesis,* and orthopraxis. These elements reflect belief, emotion, motivation, and action, respectively, ensuring that discipleship is a full-body experience that transforms not just what we know, but how we live.

*Orthopróthesis is a made-up word I coined for this holistic discipleship framework, combining Greek word parts. > Orthopróthesis = right motivations and intents of the heart.

Key Elements of the Framework

MIND > Orthodoxy (Right Belief)

This involves aligning one’s understanding and beliefs with the truth of Scripture. It forms the foundation by allowing God’s Word to shape our worldview.

Orthodoxy, or right belief, is the essential foundation of an embodied faith. It involves aligning one’s understanding with the truth of Scripture, ensuring that a disciple’s knowledge of God is accurate and reliable. Right belief serves as the bedrock upon which all other aspects of discipleship rest, guarding against subjective experiences or error. By developing a solid theological foundation rooted in the core teachings of the Christian faith, believers ensure that their faith is built on truth. This alignment with Scripture helps disciples understand who God is, what He commands, and how their beliefs should shape their walk with Christ.


These verses emphasize the importance of sound doctrine and belief in the truths of God as revealed in Scripture:

10 questions to guide self-reflection and self-examination on "right belief", helping you align every area of your life with God’s truth, heart, and Spirit:

HEART > Orthopathos (Right Emotion)

Discipleship goes beyond intellectual understanding; it involves heart transformation. This element emphasizes aligning feelings and emotions with God’s heart, fostering love, compassion, and humility. 

Orthopathos, or right emotion, is crucial to an embodied faith because it moves discipleship beyond intellectual understanding to heart transformation. It is about letting God transform how we perceive and process life on an emotional level. It focuses on aligning our emotions with God’s heart, ensuring that love, compassion, and righteous responses flow from a biblical worldview. True faith doesn’t remain in the mind but stirs appropriate emotional reactions—like love for God, empathy for others, and grief over sin. By cultivating a heart that mirrors God’s love and justice, disciples are not only shaped by right beliefs but also moved to experience and express genuine emotional engagement in their walk with Christ.


These verses reflect the importance of aligning our emotions and desires with the heart and character of God:


10 questions to guide self-reflection and self-examination on "right emotion", helping you align every area of your life with God’s truth, heart, and Spirit:

MOTIVES > Orthopróthesis (Right Motivation)

True discipleship requires that our motivations be shaped by holy affectionsdeep desires formed by the Spirit that draw our hearts toward God in all we do. It’s not just about doing the right things, but loving what is right. When our hearts align with His will, our actions naturally flow from an inner transformation, driven by love for God and a desire to glorify Him, rather than self-interest, fleeting emotions, or fear.

Orthopróthesis*, or “right motivation,” is essential to a fully formed disciple. It ensures that our actions arise from a heart genuinely aligned with God’s will. Without right motivation, even good actions can be tainted by self-interest, fear, or the pursuit of human approval. True discipleship is not merely about right beliefs (orthodoxy), right emotions (orthopathos), or right actions (orthopraxis); it must also be driven by Spirit-wrought desires that shape our obedience from within.

Jonathan Edwards’ concept of "holy affections" helps clarify this truth. He emphasized that genuine faith is not just about intellectual agreement, emotional experiences, or outward obedience, but about having a heart deeply transformed by and inclined toward God. Holy affections—such as love for God, joy in Christ, and hatred of sin—ensure that what we do is not only right but also done for the right reasons. When the Spirit reshapes our affections, we do not merely perform righteous actions; we desire righteousness itself.

Right motivation guards against a faith rooted in fear, duty, or external pressure. Instead, it cultivates a life of integrity, where our deepest loves and desires propel us toward glorifying God in all we do. Discipleship is not just about what we do, but why and how we do it. When our motivations are formed by the Spirit, our pursuit of God’s will becomes both authentic and enduring, shaping a life marked by love, joy, and unwavering devotion to Him.

*orthopróthesis = right motivations or right intents of the heart 

These verses focus on the heart’s intentions and motivations, reminding us to serve God out of love, gratitude, and sincere desire to glorify Him:


10 questions to guide self-reflection and self-examination on "right motivation", helping you align every area of your life with God’s truth, heart, and Spirit:

ACTION > Orthopraxis (Right Action) 

The truth, emotions and motivations, shaped by Christ, must result in action. This aspect is about living out our internal transformation—what we believe, feel, and desire—through the way we live, serve, and treat others.

Orthopraxis, or right action, is vital to an embodied faith because true belief and right emotions, guided by holy desires must lead to lived-out practice. While the other three key parts shape our understanding, emotional responses, and yielded desires, orthopraxis ensures that these internal transformations are reflected in how we live, serve, and treat others. Faith isn’t just intellectual or emotional; it must manifest in our actions. When orthopraxis is driven by these other God-shaped key parts our actions align with God’s will, leading us to live out His commands with love and purpose. This prevents mere activism and instead fosters a faithful, Spirit-led life of service and obedience.


These verses highlight the importance of putting faith into action and living in obedience to God’s commandments:


10 questions to guide self-reflection and self-examination on "right action", helping you align every area of your life with God’s truth, heart, and Spirit:

How This Framework Leads to a Clear Pathway For Discipleship

This four-part discipleship framework provides a clear and comprehensive pathway for spiritual growth in a Bible-centered, Spirit-led church by integrating belief, emotion, motivation, and action into a holistic and transformative journey.

This four-part discipleship framework offers a holistic path to an embodied faith that transforms every aspect of life. Through the synergy of this model, disciples are guided to grow deeply and authentically, as each aspect reinforces the others to create a balanced and God-centered walk. By relying on the Holy Spirit rather than human effort, this journey leads to true spiritual renewal, aligning every dimension of life with God’s will. As the church adopts this approach, it cultivates a thriving, unified community where believers actively support, encourage, and challenge one another toward maturity. Together, they become a body that fully reflects the love, purpose, and truth of the Gospel, bringing glory to God and blessing to others.

Memorable Phrases For A Holistic Discipleship Approach: