Apprenticeship - A Must For A Movement

The core competency of any movement is apprenticeship.  Since I believe that Jesus came to start a movement this is very important so let me say it again:  the core competency of any movement is apprenticeship.  The very first action that Jesus took when catalyzing his movement was to recruit twelve apprentices.  "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19)  He was calling them into an apprenticeship and giving them instructions that they would do the same with others. 2,000 years later the Jesus movement has reached billions of people, transformed societies and continues to move forward into eternity.  It is through apprenticeships that people are empowered to impact their world and have the potential for exponential impact. 

If you are like me and want to be a part of Jesus’ missional movement first and foremost we must apprentice with him.  Just like those first followers, we must walk alongside Jesus and be guided and mentored by him everyday.  But secondly we must follow his example and learn how to apprentice others into the movement. So, who is it that God is asking you to bring alongside you as an apprentice?  Is it a friend?  A neighbor?  Someone in your church?  Somebody in your neighborhood or maybe somebody at work? 

When we started COMMUNITY, we started with a handful of friends.  Not only were we Jesus’ apprentices but we each went out on the mission and found an apprentice.  That’s our story at Community; just a handful of friends who came together with a willingness to risk anything and everything.  And over the years God has allowed us to be a part of and contribute to his ongoing movement in amazing ways!  Community has nine locations that impact thousands with three more sites starting next year.  NewThing has ninety churches and sites reaching tens of thousands of people with the expectation of doubling in the next year.

If you want to see movement remember this:  The core competency of any movement is apprenticeship.

Comments

[Patrick Johnson]

Dave. This rings so true. I see strong churches making real impact with discipleship/apprenticeship as a core value and practice. Perimeter Church in Atlanta or Antioch Community Church in Waco are two excellent examples. Keep pressing on in the truth brother.

[david]

thanks for the post, makes me want to read exponential again; btw, someone in my church picked it up after they saw me reading it and it's inspired them to grow in their impact as a Christ follower.