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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 Elders

 

In addition to the monthly activities, it is assumed that elders-in-training are reading their Bibles in personal time with God

 

Month 1
Read: Reformed: What It Means
Activity: Attend Elders Meeting
 
Month 2
Read: Elder Handbook: Sections 1-3
Activity: Attend spiritual conversation meeting
 
Month 3
Read: Elder Handbook: Sections 4-5
Activity: Attend spiritual conversation meeting
 
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
 
Activity: Make hospital visit
 
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

 

Activity: Attend elders meeting
 
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

 

Activity: Make hospital visit
 
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: Attend membership class
 
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

 

Activity: Attend 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: Attend elders meeting
 
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 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
Assessment: Church Polity
Activity: Ask God to lead you to someone you can train
 
Month 17
Assessment: Church Polity
Activity: Ask God to lead you to someone you can train
 
Month 18
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
Read: The Critical Journey – Stages 1 and 2
Activity: Ask God to lead you to someone you can train
 
Month 21
Read: The Critical Journey – Stages 3 and 4
Activity: Ask God to lead you to someone you can train
 
Month 22
Read: The Critical Journey – The Wall
Activity: Ask God to lead you to someone you can train
 
Month 23
Read: The Critical Journey – Stages 5 and 6
Activity: Ask God to lead you to someone you can train