After the death of Moses the Lord's servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, who had served Moses. “Moses My servant is dead. Now you and all the people prepare to cross over the Jordan to the land I am giving the Israelites.” Joshua 1:1-2 HCSB
God has allowed me to lead many Sunday School leadership conferences across the United States and even in Belarus. I try to help Sunday School leaders know how they can be more effective as leaders and in teaching God's Word. Having an apprentice teacher is the best way to train and equip new leaders. An apprentice teacher helps with teaching and fills in for the regular teacher when he needs to be gone. The ultimate goal is for the apprentice teacher to develop the skills needed to teach a new class.
Joshua was one of two spies that had come back from Jericho with a report that they could defeat those in Jericho even though they were large in stature and well fortified. He knew that with God all things were possible even though the other ten spies said they could not do it. He had served as an apprenticeto Moses for 40 years and was now ready to take the leadership role. Moses and God had prepared Joshua for this important task.
Challenge: If you are a teacher, enlist an apprentice teacher and begin training him to eventually take your place or teach another class. If you are not a teacher, pray and consider becoming an apprentice teacher. Even at your place of work you should be training new people to do your job.