“There is an obvious Great Disparity between, on the one hand, the hope for life expressed in Jesus—found real in the Bible and in many shining examples form among his followers and, on the other hand, the actual day-to-day behavior, inner life, and social presence of most of those who profess adherence to him.”  -Dallas Willard 

Arriving on the human scene, Jesus spoke words of life – eternal in quality as well as quantity.  No one else in all history has ever spoken with His depth of insight and understanding.  What He teaches us is how to live life in the Kingdom of God – life at its fullest – now!   We cannot learn this from anyone else, and the context for learning it is apprenticeship (discipleship) to Him.  We are with Him, to learn from Him, how to be like Him.  Thus He commissioned us to be and make apprentices to Him among every ‘type’ of people both here and to the ends of the earth.

When Jesus walked the dusty roads of Galilee he called a group of young people to follow Him with the goal of learning from Him how to become like Him.   He is still calling young people today.  What would be the impact in your life if you could spend an intentional ‘season’ with just one focus—Jesus’ invitation to be His apprentice where the one thing measured is becoming more like Him—learning to align our priorities, convictions, emotions, passions, and goals with His. 

Using the word apprentice gives us a fresh perspective on understanding discipleship.  An apprentice is one who is learning a skill or trade from a master through close observation and interaction.  This intimate interaction embodies the relationship we are to have with Jesus. According to Jesus, what is the expectation for an apprentice a.k.a student?  Jesus said, “It is enough for the apprentice that he becomes like his teacher in all ways,” (Matthew 10:25) and “A student is not above his teacher; but everyone after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40)

What would be the convictions that would lead someone to become Jesus’ apprentice ?

Jesus helps us when he told us this story, God’s kingdom is like a jewel merchant on the hunt for excellent pearls. Finding one that is flawless, he immediately sells everything and buys it (Matthew 13:45,46). Once we recognize the ultimate worth of belonging to Jesus and becoming His apprentices in order to live life at is fullest, in other words ‘life in the Kingdom of God,’ we are ready to make whatever sacrifices necessary.  Dallas Willard further elaborates, “Obviously one would feel great admiration and love, would really believe that Jesus is the most magnificent person who has ever lived.  One would be quite sure that to belong to him, to be taken into what he is doing throughout this world so that what he is doing becomes your life, is the greatest opportunity one will ever have.”

Some Foundational understandings of Apprenticeship to Jesus

1. God created us for eternal life—life in all its fullness—the life every person knows intuitively they were created to have, but cannot find.
2. How do we find this life?  Jesus teaches us how.
   1. “You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am.” –John 13:13
   2. “He will teach us his ways so that we may walk in his paths” –Isaiah 2:3
   3. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” –Psalm 32:8
3. Jesus teaches us to repent and enter the Kingdom of God through reliance upon Him and dwell there.
4. As we dwell in the Kingdom—dwell in His Presence—we are gradually transformed into His   likeness.  We are healed and matured.  We become more and more like Him.
5. Through Apprenticeship to Jesus, God restores us so that we may fulfill the purpose for which we were originally created, to reign with Him and exercise dominion over the work of His hands, here on earth now and for all eternity.

 What is Apprenticeship to Jesus Training Experience  It is a way of life, life in the Kingdom of God 

 A2J is a training model that seeks to restore discipleship as a lifestyle that has an inseparable relationship with Jesus’ message about the Kingdom of God, and the purpose for which we were created.  A2J has been influenced by the discipleship principals that Jesus demonstrated, as well as, other discipleship communities, throughout history such as, the Moravians and Celts.  New Treasures as well as old!  “Jesus said to them, Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of God is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old—Matthew 13:52.  Ancient paths—New wineskins!  A2J has a great honor and respect for those who have gone before us, and intentionally seeks to learn from their examples and draw from their deep well of faith.  We also recognize that God is doing new things in our day and creating new models of community and mission. 

Apprentices live a shared life pursuing discipleship through a daily and weekly rhythm of prayer, study, & service. This will be an intensive time of study and learning and can be likened to a hands-on-seminary.  There is also be a strong emphasis on leadership development through the formation of Christ-like character as well as the opportunities to identify and strengthen gifting and calling through a wide variety of serving opportunities.  A2J has been birthed out of community and remains strongly anchored in community