Intentional Apprenticeship

From the 7 Practices of Effective Ministry, one of the practices is Replace Yourself. The word apprenticeship is one of those words that has almost vanished from our vocabulary in today’s culture. However, apprenticeship is the most effective ways to train someone, whether in the workplace or in the church.

Apprenticeship is a fundamental principle of reproduction, yet it is so often overlooked. We can attract a crowd or get people to make a decision to engage based on an emotional appeal. However, to build a team or create a movement, they must first learn what it means to be an apprentice.

Jesus’ very first action of ministry was to invite twelve apprentices. “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” Matt. 4:19. He called twelve men and taught them his ministry and his message so that they could do the same things he had done. Two thousand years later, his movement has reached billions and billions of people, sharing the same unchanging message to every generation.

In the book, Exponential, the word apprentice “says that you not only are a learner but also are willing and ready to take action that will demand greater leadership responsibility in order to further the movement of Jesus. Apprentices don’t just learn; they do what they have been taught and aspire to lead themselves.”

I believe that one of the reasons most churches are struggling is that we have not incorporated this principle as part of our culture. All too often, we allow our ego’s, our busy-ness, or our own insecurities to keep us from practicing apprenticeship.

Even Jesus followers faced this process of apprenticeship. Remember when He went up on the Mount of Transfiguration? The disciples tried to do something they were not equipped to do. When they asked Jesus why they could not cast out these demons, He said that this type only happens through prayer and fasting. In other words, I haven’t shown you that yet.

Small groups are the best place to put this principle to the test because only a person who is capable of developing followers will be successful at leading a small group. And if a person has proven capable of developing a following in a small group, he can produce a following in other areas.

Apprenticeship is not about finding people who can help us do tasks more effectively. It is not about having an assistant. We’re not even talking about preparing people to simply replace us so we can move on to do something else. At the heart of Biblical apprenticeship is a mindset of reproduction: reproducing our leadership so the mission will be carried on to others.

The Five Steps of Leadership Development

1. I do. You watch. We talk.
2. I do. You help. We talk.
3. You do. I help. We talk.
4. You do. I watch. We talk.
5. You do. Someone watches. We talk.

Let me break it down for you: 


1.  I do. You watch. We talk.

• 3 simple questions: What worked? What didn’t work? How can we improve?

2.  I do. You help. We talk.

• Give apprentice the opportunity to lead in a particular area.

3. You do. I help. We talk.

• Apprentice moves from supporting or helping to taking on most of the leadership responsibilities.

4. You do. I watch. We talk.

• The new leader grows increasingly competent and confident. As the leader looks on and watches.

5. You do. Someone watches. We talk.

• Apprenticeship process comes full circle. The former apprentice is developing a new apprentice. When this talk happens, it is a celebration.

These are steps, not sessions. The length of time that this process takes will vary based on:

• Your RELATIONSHIP with the apprentice
• The COMPETENCE of the apprentice
• The DIFFICULTY of the role

This process is very relational. Not only does the apprentice need the leader; every leader needs to have a relationship with an apprentice. This one-on-one development will ensure a continuous flow of new leaders coming in and growing. Without a challenge or something new to learn, existing volunteers get bored and apathetic. But in an environment where apprenticing is happening, people are continually challenged to grow and are given opportunities to soar.

Do you have a clear path for people to take when coming on your team? Sometimes volunteers get bored with a role; potential leaders are always looking for something new they can learn. So once someone has learned a role, what can you apprentice them for next? Even as a church, we need to develop an obvious path to grow up leaders.

So how are you doing with this practice? Who are three people you are apprenticing right now? Where are they at in these 5 steps?

When Something Goes Wrong

When something goes wrong, our tendency is often to blame a person--another staff member, a leader, a volunteer, or even ourselves. However, a problem is usually not the fault of a person, but a system. Here are four things to look at first, before blaming a person:

1. Was the design of the system flawed?

2. Was the communication of the system unclear?

3. Was training of the system inadequate?

4. Was the leader's inspection and on-going audit of the system sloppy?

Only after answering "NO" to all of these questions can we place the responsibility on the person. And even then, we need to be able to recognize if we have a person in the wrong seat.

Sometimes in order to find the answer, a leader must have "skip-level sessions". This is where a leader asks a question of someone who is not a direct report to them in order to find out what is going on. Whenever this is used, we must engage to assess the situation, and then be sure to point the person back to their leader and not try to fix the situation for that person.

The best question to ask a team member when trying to resolve a problem is "How can WE make this better?" This question dis-arms the person and usually diffuses any defensiveness. People always want to be part of positive changes, and when they get to be a part of the change, they will own the system even more.

Eagering Watching

“It [gospel] is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.” I Peter 1:12

Angels are heavenly creatures who are used to the grandeur of heaven. They are used to being participants in the powerful acts of God. Just think…they get front row seats to God at work. They are sometimes God’s messengers and they show up at places to work on the Almighty’s behalf.

But in this verse it says they are eagerly watching. So if the angels, in their heavenly houses, are eagerly watching, what is happening?

The gospel is going out. The act of Jesus paying the penalty for man’s sin and offering a relationship with God is present. Such a common message we hear every Sunday in many of our churches. So common that sometimes even I tune that part out. But not the angels.

So it begs the question…why don’t I eagerly watch? If the angels do, shouldn’t I get more excited, expectantly watching for a soul to believe?

God, forgive me for treating the Gospel as common. Forgive me for not expectantly watching. Help me to, like the angels, “eagerly watch.”

Meeting the Risen Savior

Jesus teachings are truth and by following His principles for life, our lives will be changed.

But as we learned this morning at RCC, when we experience Christ's resurrection in a personal way, that is where real life change happens.

Sometimes we are afraid of talking about our spiritual lives in terms of "experience." It seems mystical and non-logical. And from some spiritual persuasions, it can be seen as heresy.

However, when you look at the early church leaders, their passion and their message was based on their experience with the risen Christ. It was not "Jesus taught this..." and "You should live this way...". It was..."have you heard about Jesus, the one who rose from the dead!!!"

Until we experience the risen Savior, His principles are simply "life improvement." But the only way to experience life transformation as His disciples did is to EXPERIENCE him as MY RISEN SAVIOR.

When I have experienced the risen Christ, my passion and message will be contagious just like the early disciples in the book of Acts. And once I have experienced that, His teachings can be applied to my life much easier.

Have you? And if so, how is that EXPERIENCE showing in your life and impacting those around you?