Biblical Apprenticeship

"...Go therefore and make disciples...” - (Matt. 28:18-20)

  The Greek word mathetai is the term we usually translate as disciple, and it expresses the idea of "student" or "pupil". To me, the best understanding today of the biblical principle of disciples is apprentices.

Think about it, in a typical apprenticeship a new generation of practitioners are prepared with on-the-job training and often some accompanying classroom work and reading.  Apprenticeships typically last 3 to 6 years, and generally involve four steps: 

   (1) Commitment - At this level the apprentice makes the commitment to stay the course by receiving the education and training necessary to become the “journeyman”. 

     (2) Classroom - At this phase, the apprentice receives the information necessary to understand and work within the sphere of labor. 

    (3) Training - At this phase, the apprentice begins to put the information they have learned into practice. First by watching others labor, and then by laboring under the supervision and direction of others.  

    (4) Laboring -  At this phase, the apprentice has become the journeyman. One who is ready to discover and develop other possible apprentices.

   When I look at this pattern, I see discipleship. Think about it for a minute. Is this not exactly what Jesus did? He called the disciples to commit to the journey. Then He began the process of educating them in the things of God. He also worked miracles in their view, then involved them to work along beside Him. Finally, after roughly three years, He gave them His authority and power then sent them out into the world to train up other disciples. These guys were essentially apprentices to the Master.

 We often use the terms Christian and disciple interchangeably within the church, and yet assign different meanings to the terms. We need more apprentices! A true biblical Christian, or disciple, is one who commits to, learns from, works with and alongside, and eventually goes forth in the power and authority of Jesus. This is what we have been called to be, and what we have been called to do. In a world of ever-changing values and compromises, only true disciples will stand firm until the end.