Home Fellowship Guide
"A Practical Guide for a Home Fellowship Leader"

Read about the vision God has given for this ministry! Read an exciting introduction to Jesus. If you are a new believer visit this page! Where are you in this diagram? Free Bible Lessons for home group or personal use  Weekly and quarterly reports for the home group leaders. God's word to you about the Fall of the Towers on 9-11! God's word to the Muslim people!God is building his church! 'In the Eye of the Storm' tells how! Newsletters from HFLI

 

Open Letter to the LeadersHow to Use the Home Fellowship GuideFrequently Asked QuestionsSteps of Development for the Home Fellowship Guide
Icebreaker Questions to AskFill out the Partners Request Form

Chapters:
 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22

     Print the complete Home Guide                                                  Printer Friendly Page

Goal and Vision of the Leader's Role

9. Developing Apprentices

Apprentice in a home fellowship group is a helper-trainee, future shepherd of a new group. From the very beginning of your meetings you need to work on equipping your apprentice.

We can find the pattern of developing apprentices in 2 Tim. 2:2. "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others." Timothy was Paul's apprentice. Moses trained Joshua as apprentice. Jesus' disciples followed Him around, helping Him and learning from Him. Apprenticeship is the Bible way of developing future leaders.

In about three to four months after you start meetings your apprentice could be ready to start his/her own group. Before letting your apprentice start leading a new group you will have to make sure he/she is capable of doing that. Allow your apprentice to watch you closely as you lead. Let him/her practice leading the discussion sometimes. After he/she starts a new group he/she still will be a part of your original group, meeting on a different day of the week. The work of training an apprentice is very rewarding. It is the way for the kingdom of God to grow in geometrical progression as you train future shepherds and they, in turn, train others.

Shepherding is not taught; it is caught.


Home fellowships can expand geometrically as trained believers would
train others and commission them, in turn, to train still others.
Pattern for developing apprentices:
  1. Your apprentice watches you.
  2. You explain what you did and why you did it.
  3. You observe as your apprentice does the same thing.
  4. Notice his (her) strengths and weaknesses and discuss it later.
  5. Provide encouragement to strengthen the weaknesses.
  6. Turn your task over to your apprentice.
  7. Start "neglecting" him on purpose.
  8. Monitor him closely as he trains his apprentice (after the group multiplies).
  9. Remain a close friend, now treating your apprentice as your equal.
Tips for working with your apprentice, related to group sessions:
  1. Discuss in advance what you are going to do in each meeting.
  2. After each meeting discuss what you have both learned. Then plan the next one together.
  3. Discuss problems such as discussion dominators etc.
  4. Take your apprentice with you everywhere you serve.
  5. Let him (her) lead the meeting when you discern he (she) is ready for this experience.
  6. Evaluate his (her) strengths and weaknesses.
Checkpoints that would help you to evaluate your apprentice:
  1. Relates well to visitors and also brings visitors.
  2. Actively participates in discussions.
  3. Sensitive to the needs during discussions.
  4. Lovingly cares for problemed people.
  5. Prays consistently for members.
  6. Helps to evaluate meetings and fill out "Leader's Report"
  7. Takes constructive criticism well.
  8. Well prepared to lead discussion.
  9. Is training his/her own apprentice.

1. Why do we need to develop an apprentice?

 

Chapters:
 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22

 

Email us: Contact us by e-mail

Copyright © 2002 Home Fellowship Leaders Int'l. U.S.A.    Website by Web Tek Computer Company