If your Bible study leadership feels like a one-person show—complete with teaching, praying, facilitating, and occasionally cleaning up the coffee bar—may I gently suggest: it’s time to build a deeper bench. Not the kind you sit on, but the kind that strengthens your ministry for the long haul. Baseball teams have benches, and successful ones have deep benches with talented players who can step onto the field in a moment’s notice and play any open position. Bible study groups need deep benches, too. Enter: the apprentice teacher.

Apprentice teachers aren’t just substitutes. They’re fellow players being trained, encouraged, and equipped to help others grow in the Word. Apprentice teachers guide Bible study regularly – like once or twice a month. Every Bible study group should have one. Here’s why:

1. Apprenticeship Is Discipleship in Action

Jesus didn’t just lecture the disciples—He sent them out, invited questions, let them fail, and patiently taught through it all. That’s apprenticeship. Inviting someone to co-teach or gradually take on teaching responsibilities is one of the most practical ways to disciple a fellow believer.

You’re not just handing over a curriculum; you’re modeling how to rightly divide the Word, shepherd hearts, and steward the room. Every time an apprentice prepares, delivers a lesson, or prays for the group, they grow not just in skill but in spiritual maturity.

And guess what? You grow too—because teaching someone else always sharpens your own clarity and humility.

2. Apprentices Strengthen the Group’s Resilience

Let’s be real: life throws curveballs. Travel, illness, work demands—sometimes the faithful teacher just needs a breather. With an apprentice teacher in place, you’re not scrambling for a last-minute fill-in; you’ve got someone who’s trained, trusted, and ready.

This kind of shared leadership builds confidence in the group. It sends the message that the ministry isn’t dependent on one person. It’s a team effort, anchored in faith and shared purpose.

Plus, different voices bring fresh perspective. Your apprentice might highlight a verse in Job you’d skimmed past or ask a question that opens a whole new layer of discussion. Diversity of thought strengthens the study.

3. Apprenticeship Creates Legacy and Multiplication

If you’ve ever wondered how to build lasting ministry impact, here’s your answer: raise up others. An apprentice today might be leading their own study tomorrow. Or better yet—mentoring their own apprentice.

This isn’t just planning for absence. It’s planning for abundance. A ministry that multiplies leaders will always flourish, because it reflects the gospel’s invitation to “entrust what you’ve learned to faithful people who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2 CSB).

Even if someone’s nervous, don’t wait until they “feel ready.” Apprentice teachers learn best by doing—and by being supported along the way. Give them a few verses to teach. Let them close in prayer. Talk through the preparation together. You’ll see growth, excitement, and confidence blossom.

Whether your study has ten people or fifty, whether you meet weekly or monthly—don’t go it alone. Invest in an apprentice teacher, and you’ll watch discipleship ripple in directions you never imagined.

And besides… coffee bar cleanup is way more fun with a partner.

So the only question that remains is: “Who will you enlist and train to be your apprentice this year?”