Alpha class at church

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becky1984

becky1984

Member
#1
Apr 28, 2010
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atlantic Canada
#1
Hi Everybody I was wondering if anybody has gone to a Alpha class at their church? My church is starting one in 2 weeks and I can't wait until it starts it looks interesting. Answering questions about life and why we are here in a Christian perspective. Has anybody been a part of that and whats its like? We are going to do a supper at the church and then do the class after they do clean up and stuff. :)
 
Dino246

Dino246

Senior Member
#2
Jun 30, 2015
24,822
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#2
About 20 years ago, the church I attended at the time hosted an Alpha course. I thought it was a great intro to the Christian faith. I moved on soon after, so I was only ever part of it one time.
 
wattie

wattie

Senior Member
#3
Feb 24, 2009
3,101
1,046
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New Zealand
#3
The Alpha course is run a lot here in New Zealand among different churches. I have never taken it or taught it. I have heard though that it is more a pentecostal/charismatic influenced teaching than not.

A couple of people though just said it answers questions about the faith and doesn't so much get into particular teaching.

So it would be good to know exactly what they do teach.
 
Oncefallen

Oncefallen

Idiot in Chief
Staff member
#4
Jan 15, 2011
6,032
3,292
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#4
wattie said:
The Alpha course is run a lot here in New Zealand among different churches. I have never taken it or taught it. I have heard though that it is more a pentecostal/charismatic influenced teaching than not.

A couple of people though just said it answers questions about the faith and doesn't so much get into particular teaching.

So it would be good to know exactly what they do teach.
Click to expand...
Alpha originated in the Church of England. Originally it was intended to educate parishoners in their faith, but then morphed into an outreach program. Over time Alpha became an independent organization who's program is used by a broad spectrum of denominations.


 
I_am_Canadian

I_am_Canadian

Senior Member
#5
Dec 8, 2014
2,237
715
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#5
I have been to an alpha course before, I visited it a couple times before I got saved.
It's basically a discussion group, talking about what god has done for them,
I guess it could be a testimony group.
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#6
Jul 3, 2015
56,556
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#6
I went through the Alpha Course during the time that preceded my being water baptized just over twelve years ago. Nicky Gumbel developed the course after his own life changing experience of becoming Christian. For me, as a new Christian it was informative, and also lovely from the community aspect of getting together on a regular basis, over a period of about three months. Part of what was interesting for me also was the fact that at some point it occurred to me that the course seemed geared toward convincing people of the Truth of Jesus Christ, and I realized I no longer needed convincing. That was a wonderful moment to arrive at, to realize I had no more opposition after having spent three decades running from God in rebellion and defiance :)

[video=youtube;ZUHPfvCToCk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUHPfvCToCk[/video]
 
zone

zone

Senior Member
#10
Jun 13, 2010
27,214
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#10
the op deserves to know about the course.
 
trofimus

trofimus

Senior Member
#11
Aug 17, 2015
10,684
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#11
In my country, its a charismatic/pentecostal form of evangelization. Or how to get their teaching to non-charismatic churches and it was widely criticised for this practice.

There were also voices that it propagates the charismatic form of roman catholicism.

I do not have any experience with the U.S. form of it, but it should be the same in all countries, I think.
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#12
Jul 3, 2015
56,556
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#12
trofimus said:
In my country, its a charismatic/pentecostal form of evangelization. Or how to get their teaching to non-charismatic churches and it was widely criticised for this practice.

There were also voices that it propagates the charismatic form of roman catholicism.

I do not have any experience with the U.S. form of it, but it should be the same in all countries, I think.
Click to expand...
The church I was attending at the time of coming off the fence was a charismatic Pentecostal church, but the Alpha Course is carried and taught in many Christian denominations these days. When I looked up Nicky Gumbel, it did say he was Anglican, which is of course very close to Catholicism, though Anglicans are protestant, and the course is not Anglican specific. If it had actually smacked of Catholicism in the least, I would not have not have completed the course :D The course is presented as a series of videos, so it would be the same everywhere...
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#13
Jul 3, 2015
56,556
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#13
Somebody mentioned a little while ago that the course has been updated, but I do
not know what that entails. Here is what gotquestions.org has to say of the course:

The Alpha Course begins with a solid presentation of the gospel message and progresses with some solid biblical teachings. The problem is that the Alpha Course can be very different depending on the church/organization that is using it. In the hands of a solidly evangelical teacher, the Alpha Course can be excellent. In the hands of someone trying to push beliefs and practices that are Biblically questionable, the Alpha Course can be used to indoctrinate and mislead. As with any course or teaching, we must be diligent and discerning. We must diligently study God’s Word on our own and reject anything that contradicts the Bible. We must be discerning in evaluating the qualifications of the person or people teaching the course.
 
posthuman

posthuman

Senior Member
#14
Jul 31, 2013
36,758
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#14
zone said:
the op deserves to know about the course.
Click to expand...
Every time i've done a workbook study one of the first things i do is search for critiques and objections, before even starting. It's good to hear opposing views even if you do not agree with them, in my opinion. It helps develop critical thinking and keeps me from blindly accepting things - as Solomon said, the first to present his case seems right, until another comes and presents his also.
 
Locutus

Locutus

Senior Member
#15
Feb 10, 2017
5,928
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#15
I'm sticking with the Alfalfa sprout course......:p
 
Stephen63

Stephen63

Banned
#17
Aug 15, 2009
9,745
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0
#17
If it is attached to Vineyard in any way, shape, or form, I want no part of it.
 
P

Pilkington

Senior Member
#18
Jan 13, 2015
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#18
Holy Trinity Brompton where Nicky Gumbel is based is a charismatic Church of England Church. The C of E Church I went to over 20 years ago used Alpha. That particular C of E Church is and was Evangelical, we used the study guides but not the videos. C of E churches vary enormously. In general it was a good introduction to Christianity however it does depend on how the material is used. I think the social aspect of eating together is good and the opportunity to ask questions is also good. Personnally I prefer Christianity Explored, I go to a former brethren Church which is an Evangelical Church our pastor has developed his own material.
 
Angela53510

Angela53510

Senior Member
#19
Jan 24, 2011
11,782
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#19
I have helped facilitate groups twice now. (That means "teach") The first time, it was very experiential orientated, and lots and lots of charismatic stuff thrown in particularly by Nicky Gumbel. I think that was about 2014.

We had another one in our church last fall, and it had been redone from the first time I worked with it. It was Canadianized, but based a lot on Nicky's experiences.

Except, it was much more stimulating, lots of amazing testimonies, apologetics and defense of the faith. And lots and lots more time for asking questions. They left the tiniest little bit of charismatic stuff in, but our church chose to skip that video.

I was impressed with what they have done. We had a lot of street people float in and out. But one young couple lived across the street from the church and came on their own. They developed friendships, and the man recommitted his life to God. They don't come regularly, but they are still coming. So, I guess for just this one person, the whole thing was worthwhile.

I am going to read Zone's links on what is wrong with it. I may comment if I find something I think is worth bringing forward.
 
Angela53510

Angela53510

Senior Member
#20
Jan 24, 2011
11,782
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#20
From Zone's link:

"The Alpha Course, though teaching some truth, also lays truth alongside error. The wooing of people using the gospel message, only to later enslave them in ritualism, works salvation, and occult manifestations is one of the great deceptions of our time. One of the cleverest ploys of the enemy in our day is to allow "unprincipled" men to use the salvation message as an enticment to unsuspecting and untrained people, while they secretly introduce false doctrine, thereby giving "the devil a foothold" for fleshly manifestations and temptations in their lives. The men who designed this course are laying error alongside truth, introducing error secretly ("pareisaxousinin" in Greek) the result of which will ruin the faith of the believer in the end. The Bible says of this process:"


Say what?? There was nothing like this either of the courses! No ritualism, or works salvation or occult manifestations. True, it was started by an Anglican minister, but he never brought anything ritualistic, including coming to his church or denomination. The first one I wasn't comfortable with, and I found it boring.

But the second course, was excellent. I wonder where someone got this nonsense from? It simply wasn't there! No secret doctrines, no error, just the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This review did not show one thing wrong that was actually in the videos. And it is totally inaccurate!
 
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