Hello beautiful mind ! This morning we are going to talk about the topic apprenticeship.

INTRODUCTION:
A Christian apprentice is a person who displays Christian virtues while learning to gain skills of a craft of a practical nature. Virtues that should be displayed by the Christian apprentice include (but not limited to) obedience, loyalty and faithfulness. Generally, skills are gained through some form Of apprenticeship under the guidance of a superior who is often referred to as a master." There are many examples dating back to Bible times. In the Bible, reference is made to a school of prophets which has its modern equivalence as a Bible School or Seminary.

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Nowadays, there are various trades, crafts and vocations for which people serve as apprentices. Examples include fashion design, hairdressing, bricklaying, automobile repairs, etc. At some higher level, there may be a fresh graduate understudying an experienced officer to gain specialist skill.

WHO IS AN APPRENTICE?

• Anyone serving as a trainee in a subordinate position. There are many cases of people serving as trainees in corporate organizations and in informal trades. Most fresh graduates who secure employment in corporate organizations are usually employed as trainees and are supervised by superior officers. Newly licensed pilots are not given an aircraft to operate immediately after licensing. They are further made to serve as trainees to enable them acquire additional skills.
  Cases of trainees in various trades also abound in the informal sector, e.g. carpentry, bricklaying, automobile repairs, painting, etc.

• An aide or an assistant (Exodus 33:11; Numbers 11:28). The case of an aide serving as an apprentice is exemplified by Joshua who served Moses in his youth.

• Christ's disciples and believers .in Christ(Matthew 4:18; 10:2). Jesus Christ did not do the work of ministry alone. He selected disciples whom He trained for the work of ministry and gave them the opportunity to practice what they learnt from Him
  (Matthew 10:1 — 10). As believers, we too are apprentices of Jesus Christ. Although we have not seen Jesus Christ physically, we have His teachings and the Holy Spirit to guide us to imitate our Master, Jesus Christ.

QUALITIES OF A GOOD APPRENTICE

• Obedience (Exodus 17:9—10). Joshua obeyed the order of moses to fight the Amalekites. It is instructive that Moses stayed back to pray for the victory of Joshua. While obedience is an important quality of an apprentice? masters also need to do what is

• Zeal Joshua demonstrated his zeal in serving Moses and sought to protect the interest of his master. Where Joshua had a wrong perspective on an issue Moses gently corrected him.

• Faithfulness: As an apprentice may have custody of his master's properties, he needs to be faithful and trustworthy. This makes faithfulness an important quality of an apprentice.

• Humility. It is only a humble apprentice that will have the opportunity to learn much from his master.

REWARDS OF ACCEPTABLE SERVICE AS AN APPRENTICE

• Prospects of being bestowed with a position of leadership (Numbers 27:18; Deuteronomy 31:14; 23). God must have been satisfied with the service rendered by Joshua. So He rewarded him to lead the people of Israel.

• Prospects of becoming an expert like the master(2 Kings 11). Elisha had watched the spectacular miracles of his master Elijah, and he desired to become an expert who would do exploits as reward for acceptable service as an apprentice.

• Eternal life for disciples of Christ (Matthew 25:21; John 3:16). Eternal life is a priceless gift for all who put their trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

PUNISHMENT FOR UNACCEPTABLE SERVICE OR CONDUCT AS AN APPRENTICE

• Loss of learning opportunities. An apprentice whose service is unacceptable may be disengaged from the service of his master and thus forfeit his opportunity to learn.

• Loss of prospect of becoming an expert in a higher office (2 Kings 5:21—27). The greed and untrustworthiness displayed by Gehazi cost him the prospect of having a prophetic office of his own' Consequently, he was unable to become an expert like his master, Elisha. In addition, he suffered some bodily affliction.

• A person who does not believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and live as His disciple cannot render an acceptable service and will be eternally damned (John 3:18, 36).

Have a blessed day !