Suggested Meeting Structure:
- Mentor opens in prayer
- Discuss assigned reading
- Discuss personal Bible reading
- Feedback from assessment/video/activity
- Discuss any questions the apprentice might have
- Share prayer concerns
- Both mentor and apprentice pray
Apprenticeship Plan for Deacons
Along with each of the monthly activities, it is assumed that deacons-in-training are regularly reading their Bibles in personal time with God
Month 1
Read: Reformed: What It Means
Video: The Story of the Bible
Assessment: Bible Knowledge – Old Testament
Activity:
Month 2
Read: Deacon Handbook: Sections 1-3
Assessment: Bible Knowledge – Old Testament
Activity: Attend deacon meeting
Month 3
Read: Deacon Handbook: Sections 4-5
Assessment: Bible Knowledge – New Testament
Activity: Work with assistance deacon to provide help
Month 4
Read: A Concise Theology, J.I. Packer
- Revelation Scripture Is the Word of God
- Interpretation Christians Can Understand the Word of God
- General Revelation God’s Reality Is Known to All
- Guilt The Effect of General Revelation
- Inward Witness Scripture Is Authenticated by the Holy Spirit
- Authority God Governs His People through Scripture
- Knowledge True Knowledge of God Comes through Faith
- Creation God Is the Creator
Assessment: Bible Knowledge – New Testament
Activity:
Month 5
Read: A Concise Theology, J.I. Packer
- Self-Disclosure “This Is My Name”
- Self-Existence God Has Always Been
- Transcendence God’s Nature Is Spiritual
- Omniscience God Sees and Knows
- Sovereignty God Reigns
- Almightiness God Is Omnipresent and Omnipotent
- Predestination God Has a Purpose
- Trinity God Is One and Three
Assessment: Biblical Theme
Activity:
Month 6
Read: A Concise Theology, J.I. Packer
- Holiness God Is Light
- Goodness God Is Love
- Wisdom God’s Twofold Will Is One
- Mystery God Is Surpassingly Great
- Providence God Governs This World
- Miracles God Shows His Presence and Power
- Glory God’s Glory-Showing Requires Glory-Giving
- Idolatry God Demands Total Allegiance
Assessment: Biblical Theme
Activity: Work with assistance deacon to provide help
Month 7
Read: A Concise Theology, J.I. Packer
- Angels God Employs Supernatural Agents
- Demons God Has Supernatural Opponents
- Satan Fallen Angels Have a Leader
- Humanness God Made Human Beings in His Image
- Humankind Humans Are Body and Soul, in Two Genders
- The Fall The First Human Couple Sinned
- Original Sin Depravity Infects Everyone
- Inability Fallen Human Beings Are Both Free and Enslaved
Activity:
Month 8
Read: A Concise Theology, J.I. Packer
- Covenant God Takes Sinful Humans into a Covenant of Grace
- Law God Legislates, and Demands Obedience
- Law in Action God’s Moral Law Has Three Purposes
- Conscience God Teaches and Cleanses the Heart
- Worship God Gives a Liturgical Pattern
- Prophets God Sent Messengers to Declare His Will
- Incarnation God Sent His Son, to Save Us
- Two Natures Jesus Christ Is Fully Human
Assessment: Reformed Theology
Activity: Attend deacon/council meeting
Month 9
Read: A Concise Theology, J.I. Packer
- Virgin Birth Jesus Christ Was Born by Miracle
- Teacher Jesus Christ Proclaimed God’s Kingdom and Family
- Sinlessness Jesus Christ Was Entirely Free from Sin
- Obedience Jesus Christ Fulfilled His Father’s Redemptive Will
- Vocation Jesus Christ’s Mission Was Revealed at His Baptism
- Transfiguration How Jesus Christ’s Glory Was Revealed
- Resurrection Jesus Christ Was Raised from the Dead
- Ascension Jesus Christ Was Taken Up into Heaven
Assessment: Listening Exercise
Activity:
Month 10
Read: A Concise Theology, J.I. Packer
- Session Jesus Reigns in Heaven
- Mediation Jesus Christ Is the Mediator between God and Man
- Sacrifice Jesus Christ Made Atonement for Sin
- Definite Redemption Jesus Christ Died for God’s Elect
- Paraclete The Holy Spirit Ministers to Believers
- Salvation Jesus Rescues His People from Sin
- Election God Chooses His Own
- Effectual Calling God Draws His People to Himself
Assessment: Reformed Theology
Activity: Attend deacon/council meeting
Month 11
Read: A Concise Theology, J.I. Packer
- Illumination The Holy Spirit Gives Spiritual Understanding
- Regeneration The Christian Is Born Again
- Works Good Works Are an Expression of Faith
- Repentance A Christian Changes Radically
- Justification Salvation Is by Grace through Faith
- Adoption God Makes His People His Children
- Sanctification The Christian Grows in Grace
- Liberty Salvation Brings Freedom
Assessment:
Activity: Ask God to lead you to someone you can train
Month 12
Read: A Concise Theology, J.I. Packer
- Legalism Working for God’s Favor Forfeits It
- Antinomianism We Are Not Set Free to Sin
- Love Loving Is Basic to Christian Behavior
- Hope Hoping Is Basic to the Christian Outlook
- Enterprise A Christian Lives to Please God
- Prayer Christians Practice Fellowship with God
- Oaths and Vows Christians Must Be Truthful
- The Kingdom of God Christians Must Manifest Kingdom Life
Assessment: Reformed Theology
Activity: Ask God to lead you to someone you can train
Month 13
Read: A Concise Theology, J.I. Packer
- Apostles Jesus’ Representatives Exercised His Authority
- Church God Plants His People in a New Community
- Word and Sacrament How a Genuine Church Is Identified
- Elders Pastors Must Care for the Church
- Sacraments Christ Instituted Two Seals of God’s Covenant
- Baptism This Rite Exhibits Union with Christ
- The Lord’s Supper This Rite Exhibits Communion with Christ
- Discipline The Church Must Uphold Christian Standards
Month 14
Read: A Concise Theology, J.I. Packer
- Mission Christ Sends the Church into the World
- Spiritual Gifts The Holy Spirit Equips the Church
- Marriage Matrimony Is Meant to Be a Permanent Covenant Relationship
- The Family The Christian Household Is a Spiritual Unit
- The World Christians Are in Society to Serve and Transform It
- The State Christians Must Respect Civil Government
- FOUR: GOD REVEALED AS LORD OF DESTINY
- Perseverance God Keeps His People Safe
- Unpardonable Sin Only Impenitence Cannot Be Forgiven
Month 15
Read: A Concise Theology, J.I. Packer
- Mortality Christians Need Not Fear Death
- Second Coming Jesus Christ Will Return to the Earth in Glory
- General Resurrection The Dead in Christ Will Rise in Glory
- Judgment Seat God Will Judge All Mankind
- Hell The Wicked Will Be Banished into Endless Misery
- Heaven God Will Welcome His People into Everlasting Joy
Month 16
Read: Church Order Section 1
Assessment: Church Polity
Activity: Ask God to lead you to someone you can train
Month 17
Read: Church Order Section 2
Assessment: Church Polity
Activity: Ask God to lead you to someone you can train
Month 18
Read: Church Order Section 3
Assessment: Church Polity
Activity: Ask God to lead you to someone you can train
Month 19
Assessment: Church Polity
Activity: Ask God to lead you to someone you can train
Month 20
The Critical Journey – Stages 1 and 2
Assessment: Faith Journey Questionnaire
Activity: Ask God to lead you to someone you can train
Month 21
The Critical Journey – Stages 3 and 4
Activity: Ask God to lead you to someone you can train
Month 22
The Critical Journey – The Wall
Activity: Ask God to lead you to someone you can train
Month 23
The Critical Journey – Stages 5 and 6
Activity: Ask God to lead you to someone you can train