Impact of Apprenticeship: Greg Graham
“As an apprentice, you get to lead, follow, be submitted to, and to submit”
Apprenticeship is the next step for those who have completed the Discipleship 1 process. As a local church we want to be making disciples and training leaders, and apprenticeship does both at the same time. As an apprentice you are paired with a lead discipler to observe, learn to lead a discipleship relationship, and develop under the counsel of a leader. As an apprentice, you get to lead, follow, be submitted to, and to submit.
I got the privilege to apprentice under Eric Phillips (who discipled me), and we were paired with Matthew Darius. After I went through discipleship without an apprentice, I really didn’t know what the dynamic of our relationship would be. Starting off I was quite timid, quiet, and nervous. I didn’t want to overstep my role, but I did want to invest into Matthew’s life. Although I was excited to be paired in discipleship I did not have the heart of a discipler like we see Paul had for Timothy or even the same heart Eric had for me.
The turning point for me in apprenticeship was when Eric got Covid, and unlike many people I knew he had a pretty severe case. This led to Eric being hospitalized, and it shocked and scared me. During the time of Eric’s hospitalization, I stayed in contact with Matt, but God made it clear that I was no shepherd in this relationship. I prayed selfishly, desperately for Eric’s healing because I knew I couldn’t do it without him. God did heal Eric, and I realized that I needed to be very intentional and to gain Matthew’s heart. This meant spending more and more time with him. At this time Matthew was in classes that I had taken prior, so one way we grew closer was meeting on Discord to help him with his homework. That is a small thing, but it grew not only our relationship but my heart for him to be Christlike in every aspect of his life.
1 Cor 4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
“This was a time to learn discernment by growing in boldness and understanding when to hold my tongue”
Discipling Matthew grew my faith. He would ask many questions, and sometimes I didn’t have answers or know how to biblically support an answer. I learned that it’s better to say that I didn’t know than to try to form some spiritual garbage. Even though Eric knew the answers, I got to see Eric ask thought-provoking questions to help Matthew come to biblical conclusions on his own, which is what Jesus modeled. Even though going through discipleship I saw the sufficiency of God’s Word, it still amazed me how it answers questions I would have never even thought of. I thought I knew what it meant to say “the Bible is sufficient for all our needs,” but seeing it applied to every question and need made me desperate to grow in grace and in knowledge of the Bible.
As I was growing in the Word of God, it just so happens that more responsibility was required of me as Eric started another discipleship relationship. I had already been teaching part of the lessons, but this turned into me teaching the rest of the lessons. Eric was still there, but that did not mean I could just not prepare — I had to spend hours hearing from Christ myself. Whether as a discipler or apprentice, I learned I had to prepare while also being sensitive to the Spirit.
Ezr 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
When it came to teaching the lessons one thing I noticed was how Eric would adjust the way he taught to better suit Matthew’s needs. Therefore, I also started to teach in that way. When it came to teaching I wanted Eric’s feedback. He mentioned two things to me that I will never forget, the first one was “to be confident.” This was not about being confident in myself or prideful, but trusting God’s Word and His Spirit. This was a time to learn discernment by growing in boldness and understanding when to hold my tongue.
1 Cor 2:12-13 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
“Biblical discipleship is more than the lessons; it truly is about the transfer of spiritual maturity”
The second thing he said was to “share experiences and how the lessons changed your life.” Biblical discipleship is more than the lessons; it truly is about the transfer of spiritual maturity. What is great about taking notes is that I got to see what God showed me when I went through discipleship and to share how it impacted me. Even now I have notes from discipleship and being an apprentice, and I not only get to use them, but also give God thanks for how He has grown and changed me.
A super practical takeaway I got from apprenticeship was how to counsel biblically. I got to give counsel but also hear counsel. Counseling will eventually come up in discipleship relationships, and during the time of discipleship Matthew was dating, engaged, and married to his now wife McKenzie. I got firsthand experience in how to encourage and counsel someone thinking about marriage and dating. Again, I learned how to ask questions and got to pray for Matthew through the process. I even got the privilege to be Matthew’s best man in his wedding. God knitted our hearts together and I got to see how God was growing Matthew and McKenzie. I had great joy in sharing how much God was growing Matthew to their family and friends.
When I think about apprenticeship, I think about Mark 6:34-44. Jesus was moved with compassion, as he is the Great Shepherd, but before He entrusted the disciples to take care of the flock, they also needed to be shepherds, feeding the flock with whatever they had, trusting that God would use it. Apprenticeship is gaining the heart of a shepherd and sharing whatever God has shown you. I felt so ill-equipped and nervous about all the things I didn’t know, but God took what I did know and used it. I didn’t have all the answers then, and I certainly don’t have them now, but all it takes is a willing heart and mind.
Currently, I have the privilege of discipling Tavita with Danny as my apprentice. Having Danny as an apprentice has been a joy and encouraging having someone so close to the relationship to just pray with. I also get to task Danny with studying out concepts or questions that may come up so that he is prepared. I didn't really know Danny before we got paired, but now I get to be a part of his life and see him invest in Tavita, grow personally, and follow Christ differently than if we hadn’t been paired. Even though Eric discipled me, being his apprentice strengthened our friendship and I am grateful the same is happening with Danny. Apprenticeship revealed areas of immaturity and flaws, but it helped me see God’s heart for His children in a way I hadn’t seen before.
Greg Graham is a member of Midtown Baptist Temple and is a part of C&YA. He is a part of the Postscript team, C&YA hospitality, and prepares C&YA announcements. He is also a part of a UMKC men’s Bible study.
