The Innovative Church Leaders Podcast
Becoming Good News: Neuroscience, Identity, and Discipleship with Jessie Cruickshank
Why do so many faithful Christians feel exhausted by their own faith? Jessie Cruickshank, a Harvard-trained expert in the neuroscience of transformation, joins Jenni Wong Clayville (Nova Community Church) to unpack her new book, "Becoming Good News," co-written with Julia Schmaltz. Jessie explains why most discipleship models fail — because they're built on the wrong memory system in the brain — and what actually creates lasting change. She dives into the difference between "human doing" and "human being," why identity (not behavior) is the real starting point for transformation, why community requires real eye contact and attunement (not just a group chat), and how her own story of trauma led her to put down the pen on authoring her own life and let God write the story instead.This is a rich, science-meets-Scripture conversation for anyone leading discipleship, small groups, or their own spiritual formation — and for anyone tired of trying to earn a love they already have. Resources mentioned: "Becoming Good News" by Jessie Cruickshank and Julia Schmaltz - https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Good-News-Reimagining-Discipleship/dp/B0FVTTC54B/ ⛪ Free church discipleship kit and resources: https://www.whoology.co/ Jessie Cruickshank - https://www.whoology.co/about Jenni Wong Clayville - https://jenniclayville.com/ Find Community Here: Join a 12 Steps Group for Pastors with Q&A with John Ortberg: https://innovativechurchleaders.org/12steps/ Join the "Surprised by the God of Hope" with Q&A with N.T. Wright: https://innovativechurchleaders.org/cohort/ Video Chapters 0:00 - The Power of Small Groups 4:05 - Interview with Jesse Cruickshank 8:10 - Integrating Science and Faith 12:15 - Understanding Life as a Story 16:20 - Becoming Good News 20:25 - Challenges of Modern Faith 24:30 - Rediscovering the Sabbath 28:35 - Linking Neuroscience and Discipleship 32:40 - Memory Systems and Faith 36:45 - Applying Faith to Life Follow Innovative Church Leaders: Helping pastors experience and bring renewal through Spirit-led innovation. Website: https://www.innovativechurchleaders.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativechurchleaders TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@innovativechurchleaders YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InnovativeChurchLeaders LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovative-church-leaders Take the Free Pastoral Health Checkup: https://pastoral-health.scoreapp.com For free resources, sign up for our newsletter here: https://innovativechurchleaders.org/join-us/ #NeuroscienceOfDiscipleship #BrainBasedDiscipleship #JessieCruickshank #BecomingGoodNews #SpiritualFormation #IdentityInChrist #ChristianCommunity #SmallGroups #DiscipleshipThatWorks #FaithAndNeuroscience #ChurchLeadership #PastoralResources #AutobiographicalMemoryFaith #JenniWongClayville #InnovativeChurchLeaders
