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Why?
After a year of going to church, singing worship songs and going to small groups, the moment came when I needed to pray. I felt embarrassed to ask my friends "What does it mean to hear from God?" or "How who you know that what you hear, is from God?". When eventually I found courage, I was disappointed with answers. Every answer was a bit different; none of it was straightforward. Not long later, I wanted to read the Bible, and I didn't know where to start. A friend told me to read Mark's gospel. Then I read Luke. Suddenly I was wondering why are Mark and Luke telling the same story. Why are they repeating themselves? Here I was, going to church for a year, worshipping God and I had no clue how to interact with him, how to read a word that he has given us.
When I first discovered Alpha course, it gave me answers not only to my questions, but also those about which I didn't think before.
Below you will find a couple of courses that I have done since. If you are running a church or a small group, this can form sort of a curriculum for the whole year of teaching that will equip people in knowledge and skills to multiply disciples.
Please, remember that there are many valuable courses out there. They are a great addition, not a replacement for Sunday worship or fellowship with more mature Christians.
Alpha Course - For beginners
Holy Trinity Brompton in London, developed the course under leadership of Nicky Gumble. Alpha happened to be a huge success. Translated to over 100 languages and done in almost 100 countries so far. Estimates are that over 24 million people around the world have tried Alpha and many become Christians later.
It is one of the best courses ever created with the best resources. Even if you are a Christian your whole life, it is worth to try. You will find answers to questions you did not consider before, and you will also learn how to answer faith questions to your non-Christian friends. It is also a great chance to live out Great Commission. Go to Alpha, meet those who want to learn about Christianity, make them friends, and disciple them.
Visit website https://alpha.org.uk/try to find where and when is the nearest course.
Prayer Course - Next Step
It is an eight-week journey that will help you and your community to grow and deepen your prayer life. Just like the Alpha course, there are interactive video lessons. You have a choice of going through course alone, in small group or during more significant event that looks just like Alpha course.
The first session of The Prayer Course unpacks the importance of prayer and the different topics covered across the course.
To find more visit https://prayercourse.org/about/
Bible Course - Next step
Alpha course format, happened to be so popular and fruitful, that many other organisations followed the same pattern of courses on different subjects.
It is created by highly respected Bible Society an eight-session course helping you explore the world's bestseller.
The Bible Course helps you see how the books of the Bible are part of one big story. Using a unique storyline, The Bible Course will show you how key events, bible parts and characters fit together. The video teaching, course guide and daily readings will help you grow in confidence as you read the Bible for yourself. Acts as an excellent follow-on resource for those who have done introductory courses like Alpha and Christianity Explored.
To find more see https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/explore-the-bible/the-bible-course/
Discipleship course - Fallow Up
It can be tough to learn how to disciple. In the end, it is not something that we as Christians are called to do once. The best way to learn how to disciple is first to be discipled yourself. If we are looking for some online resources, Discipleship Course by Christianity Explored is one of the bests.
The course goes beyond merely teaching the right moves - go to church, pray, read the Bible, share the gospel - and focuses on the music which drives discipleship: the love of Christ. The greatest love anyone can ever know.
The eight-session journey through Paul's letter to the Philippians is ideal for believers at any stage of the Christian life. It features brand-new documentary-style films and inspiring real-life stories from around the world, Bible studies and weekly reading plans, and a beautifully redesigned Handbook.
List of other valuable courses you may like: