A new way to live
Apprentice with Jesus
Following Jesus was never meant to be a checklist. It's an invitation to learn a new way to live, up close, from Him. Here's what that looks like and where to start.
01
Be With Jesus
Everything starts here. Before doing anything for God, we learn to simply be with Him.
A lot of us picked up the idea that God is a disappointed boss we need to impress. Jesus offers something else. He compared life with Him to a branch connected to a vine. Stay connected, and good things grow on their own. He actually enjoys your company.
Being with Jesus isn't a reward for people who have it all figured out. It's the starting line for anyone willing to come close. It can be as simple as talking with Him on your drive to work.
A lot of us picked up the idea that God is a disappointed boss we need to impress. Jesus offers something else. He compared life with Him to a branch connected to a vine. Stay connected, and good things grow on their own. He actually enjoys your company.
Being with Jesus isn't a reward for people who have it all figured out. It's the starting line for anyone willing to come close. It can be as simple as talking with Him on your drive to work.
Start here
Practicing the Way is a video course about following Jesus through simple, everyday practices like prayer, rest, and time in the Bible.
02
| Learn the Teachings of Jesus |
Plenty of people have opinions about what Jesus said. Fewer have spent time with His actual words, and they're worth it. Jesus was brilliant. What He taught still surprises people.
His main message was that the Kingdom of God has come near. In plain words, God's love and goodness aren't only for someday after we die. They're showing up in real life now. His teachings show what that life looks like, and they leave no room for us versus them.
You don't have to believe everything to belong here. We're all still learning.
His main message was that the Kingdom of God has come near. In plain words, God's love and goodness aren't only for someday after we die. They're showing up in real life now. His teachings show what that life looks like, and they leave no room for us versus them.
You don't have to believe everything to belong here. We're all still learning.
Start here
Watch a Sunday message. Each week we open the Bible and talk about what Jesus said and what it means for Monday. Reading on your own? Start with John 15 to 17, then Matthew 5 to 7.
03
Do the Stuff of Jesus
John Wimber, one of the early leaders of the Vineyard movement (the family of churches we belong to), once asked his pastor, "When do we get to do the stuff?" He meant the things Jesus did. Praying for the sick. Caring for the poor. Bringing good news to people who were hurting.
That question still drives us. Jesus invites ordinary people into His work. Sometimes that means praying for someone and asking the Holy Spirit (God's presence with us) to bring healing and peace. Sometimes it means standing with people who have been pushed to the edges.
That question still drives us. Jesus invites ordinary people into His work. Sometimes that means praying for someone and asking the Holy Spirit (God's presence with us) to bring healing and peace. Sometimes it means standing with people who have been pushed to the edges.
Start here
Our classes change with the seasons, four times a year. Each one is built to help you take a real next step as an apprentice of Jesus. See what's coming up.
04
| Grow Together in Jesus |
Nobody is meant to follow Jesus alone. On a long, hard climb, you keep going because someone is beside you. Faith is like that.
The night before He died, Jesus prayed for everyone who would ever follow Him, and that includes you. He asked that we would be one, close the way He and the Father are close. That's more than being polite on Sundays. It's real, shared life. And the closer each of us gets to Jesus, the closer we get to each other.
The night before He died, Jesus prayed for everyone who would ever follow Him, and that includes you. He asked that we would be one, close the way He and the Father are close. That's more than being polite on Sundays. It's real, shared life. And the closer each of us gets to Jesus, the closer we get to each other.
Start here
We have two kinds of groups. Life Groups share a meal and go deeper into that week's message. Connect Groups gather around a shared interest. Both are great places to grow together. You can also join a serving team and get to know people while you work side by side.
05
Invite Others to Apprentice with Jesus
The Dead Sea has water flowing in and no way for it to flow out. That's why nothing can live in it. Something like that happens in us when we keep what Jesus gives us to ourselves.
Inviting someone doesn't mean becoming a street-corner preacher. It looks a lot more like friendship. A cup of coffee, a meal, a simple "Want to come with me?" We like to say it this way. We set the table, we invite to the table, and we enjoy the table. There's a seat for everyone.
Inviting someone doesn't mean becoming a street-corner preacher. It looks a lot more like friendship. A cup of coffee, a meal, a simple "Want to come with me?" We like to say it this way. We set the table, we invite to the table, and we enjoy the table. There's a seat for everyone.
Start here
Bring a friend on Sunday. Our Plan Your Visit page shows what to expect, from parking to kids, so it's easy to send along. Or watch the Alpha Film Series together. It's made for honest conversation about life and faith, and every question is welcome.
All five, in one place
The Canyon View Church App
Every part of apprenticeship has a home in the Canyon View Church app. Read the Bible with a reading plan that fits your pace. Watch Practicing the Way. Catch up on past messages. Find a group or a place to serve. And when you're ready to invite a friend, the Alpha Film Series is right there to share.
It's built to go with you through the whole week, not just Sunday.
BeWell
You Don't Have to Carry This Alone
Following Jesus includes your whole self, the hard parts too. BeWell is our ministry for emotional and mental health. It's free, confidential care that takes both your mental health and your faith seriously, so you don't have to choose between good clinical care and a faith that's welcome in the room.
Whether you're facing anxiety, depression, grief, or a big life change, BeWell offers professional counseling, peer coaching, pastoral care, and spiritual direction (someone who helps you notice where God is at work in your life). Because BeWell is donor-funded, cost never has to be the reason you wait.
Whether you're facing anxiety, depression, grief, or a big life change, BeWell offers professional counseling, peer coaching, pastoral care, and spiritual direction (someone who helps you notice where God is at work in your life). Because BeWell is donor-funded, cost never has to be the reason you wait.
Not sure where to begin?
Over the years, a lot has been piled on top of Jesus. Politics. Rules about who's in and who's out. Promises that if you just believe hard enough, life will always go your way. No wonder so many people are worn out on church.
Take all of that away and you find a person. Not a cause or a brand, but Jesus Himself. He's the One who holds everything else together. He's kinder and more surprising than the version many of us were handed, and He isn't waiting for you to get your act together. You're already deeply loved. That's what we mean by Jesus. Period. Jesus, with nothing added.
If you're curious about who He really is, the Alpha Film Series is a great first step. Watch it on your own or with a friend, at your own pace.
