Apprentice Program
The Village Church Apprentice Program
was established to develop biblically literate, ministry minded and spiritually formed men for vocational and bi-vocational pastoral leadership and Christian service at the Village Church of Irvine and abroad.
Biblical Theology Goals
In the area of Biblical Theology, the Village Church Apprentice Program aims to help Apprentice participants to:
- Develop a passion for the study of theology, leading ultimately to a passion for the Person the study of theology reveals – namely Jesus
- Understand, verbalize and draft a general & specific knowledge of major categories of systematic theology, the content within each, and the way each points to the person and work of Jesus
- Begin to initiate and develop a personal understanding and ownership of their own personal theology, leading to an increasingly robust understanding of and intimacy with Jesus
- Develop a commitment to a biblically based philosophy of Christian education, and a commitment to educate others within the church - discipling them to the Person of Jesus
Practical Theology Goals
In the area of Practical Theology, the Village Church Apprentice Program aims to help Apprentice participants to:
- Grow in an increased realization and understanding of the centrality of the Gospel and the Person and work of Jesus in not only all biblical, but all practical theology
- Discover, develop and exercise their God-given spiritual gifts, understanding their role in the Body of Christ and how the gifts God has given them reflect the Person of Jesus to the Church and the community at large
- Develop a basic understanding and competency in the art of biblical interpretation and the way that all Scripture points forward or back to the Person and work of Jesus
- Develop a basic understanding and competency in the preparation and preaching of Gospel-centered sermons from the Scriptures, seeing the supremacy of Christ as the central theme of all preaching
- Develop a basic understanding of and competency in Christian leadership, with Jesus as the prime example of practical leadership within the Church
- Develop a basic understanding of the qualifications and responsibilities of of Elders and Deacons within the Church, and how their offices reflect the Person of Christ
- Develop a basic understanding of and competency in discerning and exercising biblical church discipline, and how it purifies and protects the Body of Christ and the reputation of Jesus
- Develop a basic understanding of and competency in elementary forms of biblical counseling, directing people to and from Scripture and ultimately to the Person of Jesus – their Wonderful Counselor
- Develop a basic understanding of and competency in the effective leading of small groups in various settings, aiding people in their journey toward Jesus together
- Develop a basic understanding of and competency in stewarding the resources of Jesus through Gospel-centered budgeting for the ongoing promotion and support of the Gospel and expansion of the Kingdom of God.
- Develop a basic understanding of and competency in the planning, preparation and production of Gospel-centered events, camps and retreats
Character Development and Spiritual Formation Goals
In the area of Character Development and Spiritual Formation, the Village Church Apprentice Program aims to help Apprentice participants to:
- Develop an increased desire for intimacy with Jesus
- Develop an increased desire to open oneself to the transforming work of Jesus within their own lives
- Develop an increased understanding of and competency in employing both active and passive spiritual disciplines to bridge the gap between increasing desire and development into the likeness of Jesus
- Discover and demonstrate a basic understanding and practice of up to 40 specific classic and contemporary spiritual disciplines to bridge the gap between increasing desire and development into the likeness of Jesus
- Develop a basic understanding of and competency in discerning the transforming work of Jesus in their own lives