Apprentice To Jesus
Engage: Take a moment, slow down, and breathe. Take the time to focus on your chest rising and falling. After several breaths, shift your focus upon God and allow His presence to surround you. When you are ready, open your Bibles to Matthew 4 verses 18 – 22 and read slowly. Close your eyes after reading through the first time and contemplate the scene as you read it. Open your eyes once more and read the Scripture once again and take notice of what your body is feeling.
Jesus called his first disciples to leave their family business to come and follow Him. What did you feel in your body as you read through this passage slowly? Because we have read the Scriptures, we know how things progress.
What if Jesus looked at you and called your name to come and follow Him?
If you are reading this, then Jesus has already called you to come and follow Him. What does that mean?
It doesn’t necessarily mean that He is calling you to be a preacher or a worship leader or a Sunday School teacher, but he is calling you to learn more about Him and His way of life.
A disciple or talmid (Hebrew for disciple) is a student of a teacher or philosopher not just a learner but a practitioner of an embodied way of life.
Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James and John to come and follow his way of life.
This Sunday, we will begin our new series following John Mark Comer’s book “Practicing the Way,” beginning with “Apprentice to Jesus.”
The definition of Apprentice is one who is learning by practical experience under skilled workers of a trade, art, or calling (Merriam-Webster). John Comer stresses that an apprenticeship then conjures up a mode of education that is intentional, embodied, relational, and practiced based.
We will explore what it means to be an apprentice of Jesus and how long our apprenticeship program is. Hint: it is longer than any other apprenticeship program for any skilled trade.
Reflect: Take a moment and read the passage slowly once again. Envision Jesus speaking directly to you; “Come follow me to a deeper relationship with my Father.” What is your first reaction? What does your body tell you?
Many of you have already walked through this calling from Jesus. What do you remember from that first time when Jesus called you into life with Him?
Can you learn from that experience and accept his calling now to join him in a deeper relationship that will give you the confidence to do what He did and even greater (John 14:12-14).
Spiritual Practice: Slowly read Matthew 4:18-22 again. What word or phrase stands out to you? Pause a moment and reflect on that word or phrase. Ask the Spirit to reveal to you why that word or phrase draws your attention. Once more, read the passage again and then sit with God and ask what the invitation to you may be and let Him reveal to you the next steps.
Gather: In your small groups, consider and discuss some of the comments from John Comer.
Page 25, “One way to paraphrase Jesus’ invitation is to “follow me” is to say, “Adopt my overall way of life to experience the life I have on offer.”
What obstacles prevent you from adopting Jesus’ overall way of life?
How could the obstacles be removed or worked around so you can adopt Jesus’ way
of life?
Page 30-31, Jesus believes that you can become his apprentice. Starting right where you are, you can follow him into a life in the kingdom that fulfills your deepest desires. He believes that you can live under the loving gaze of the Father; you can also become the kind of person who is like the Father – loving and joyful and full of peace, patience and kindness.
It won’t just happen by chance. It will require you to reorder your entire life around following Jesus as your undisputed top priority, over your job, your money, your reputation – over everything. Yet all these things will find their rightful place once integrated into a life of apprenticeship.
Do you believe this is possible?
What are some ways that you can make Jesus your top priority?
How can this small group or the church help you achieve this change?
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