Naming Your Stage of Apprenticeship

Why is naming your stage of apprenticeship important?

Apprenticeship to Jesus is a journey; from immaturity to maturity, from wounding to healing, from false self to true. But if following Jesus is a journey, is there a map? Or landmarks by which we can navigate? Have those who've gone before us left behind their thoughts on how to stay the course, avoid detours, and chart our progress? All journeys are different, but all journeys are similar. To name your stage of apprenticeship to Jesus, and your season of life, is to better recognize God’s invitations for you in each and every day.

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Teachings

Before you begin the practices with your community, listen through these teachings to understand why this practice is important and discover what it can do in your life.

1

The Three Ways

An ancient paradigm called “The Three Ways,” which charts a course from purgation through illumination to union.

2

The End of the Journey is Love

We summarize stage theory paradigm of love and reiterate that the end goal of the spiritual journey is love.

3

Shema Reimagined

In every stage of our formation journey we must awaken to engage all dimensions of our being.

4

The Critical Journey

Discovering the stage theory paradigm called “The Critical Journey,” a six-stage journey to a life of love.

5

First Half / Second Half of Life

The most basic stage theory paradigm is the two halves of life, seen in the post-resurrection conversation with Peter.

6

Active & Passive Spirituality

We mature by a combination of practicing the way of Jesus and accepting the invitations of Jesus in our pain.

7

Second Half of Life Spirituality

Most of our spirituality focuses on the first half and very little is offered about the second half of life.

8

The Dark Night of the Soul

At some point in the spiritual journey, we come to what is called “the dark night of the soul”

9

The Dark Night of the Soul Pt. 2

The spiritual journey is from attachment and anxiety to freedom to love, and into a growing sense of union with God.

10

Case Study: Rachel & Leah

We end our spring practice on stage theory with a case study from the story of Rachel and Leah

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Practice

Follow along with each part of this practice. We recommend you work through it with your community, a small group triad, a weekly meal with friends or neighbors, your roommates, whatever works. Get a group of people, set a time each week to share a meal, then talk and pray for about an hour. Transformation happens in community. 

1

The Three Ways

For millennia, church mothers and fathers have sought to map out phases of apprenticeship to Jesus.

2

The Enneagram & Noticing

Increasing our self-awareness as we begin to notice patterns in our lives and work to harness our habits for our growth.

3

Spiritual Life Inventory

Discipleship to Jesus is a narrow road replete with peaks, valleys, and spiraling labyrinthine tangles.

4

Active & Passive Spirituality

The paradigm of active and passive spirituality has been a long tradition in church history.

5

Dark Night of the Soul

Sooner or later God withdraws from us, if not in fact, at least from our conscious experience.

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Recommended Reading

Follow along with the recommended reading. We want to continually expand our minds and understanding of the way of Jesus. God wants us to love him not only with our hearts, souls, and strength, but with our minds as well.