The idea of training or growth seem to be taken to two extremes. Some are overly fixated on training, especially formal training, hesitant to jump into any ministry until they feel adequately prepared, a day that all too often never seems to materialize. Then there are others that see training as completely unnecessary and even view it as a hindrance to the Holy Spirit. Sermons in Scripture are viewed as impromptu, inspired “on the fly” by the Holy Spirit. So there is a hesitancy to put too much work into preparation because it might hinder the work of the Holy Spirit. No need is seen to train for the pastorate or for the ministry. All that is needed is for us to jump in and figure things out as we are led by the Holy Spirit.

The story of David and Goliath is often referred to as evidence that training is unnecessary and a hindrance to ministry.

On Paul and Barnabas’ first missionary journey, Mark had left prematurely, and now at the beginning of their second journey a dispute arises between Paul and Barnabas. Barnabas would like to bring Mark with them, but Paul disagrees. He feels that since Mark had previously abandoned them, that for this next journey Mark should stay home.

I have heard many a sermon where Barnabas is praised for his commitment to Mark, and Paul is blasted for his harshness. Mark later becomes successful in ministry, being the writer of the Gospel of Mark, and is later called on by Paul himself to come and minister with him. It is assumed that Barnabas was right and Paul was wrong. Barnabas’ name is translated as “the Son of Encouragement” and so it is further assumed that the key to training, mentoring, apprenticeship is encouragement. There are plenty of passages that confirm that encouragement is an important part of training. 

The problem with this interpretation, besides it being speculative, is that the ministry of Mark from here on out is not defined by his relationship with Barnabas. It is only his relationship with Paul that is mentioned in 2 Timothy 4 and in Philemon 1.

The training model that Jesus presents to us is fairly simple: three years of apprenticeship with no formal education that we know of.  The effectiveness of this model is seen in Acts 4 when Peter and John preach before the rulers, elders, scribes and chief priest in Jerusalem, “Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.” This is remarkably the same thing said of Jesus in John 7, “The Jews then were astonished, saying, 'How has this man become learned, having never been educated?'” People were surprised that Jesus and the disciples were able to be effective preachers without a formal education.