The Alpha Course

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
M

MaryM

Well-known member
#1
Nov 25, 2022
505
299
63
#1
Has anyone here attended the Alpha Course?

I did, with friends many years ago. I really enjoyed it and benefitted greatly. It launched me into other good directions to further my knowledge and find fellowship with other Christians.
We should ask questions, discuss and seek. Blind faith is not my style, I need to constantly explore what the Bible says and think about it, to apply it to my life.
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#2
Jul 3, 2015
59,887
29,274
113
#2
MaryM said:
Has anyone here attended the Alpha Course?
Click to expand...
Yes. I was invited to attend the Alpha Course by a friend who would be hosting one of the
tables at the church I was attending at the time (this was nineteen years ago). I had been
attending that church and maybe two others for a number of months as a non-believer.
At some point during the course, I realized it was geared to convincing people of the Truth
of God's revealed written Word, and I immediately realized at the same time I needed no more
convincing. That was a major turning point in my life, and at the end of the course, I was baptized.




I post these videos for seekers and new converts who join CC looking for answers. There are 10 videos total. :)
 
ResidentAlien

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
#3
Apr 21, 2021
8,247
3,587
113
#3
I have mixed feeling about it. I've never been involved with it, but I've studied what it teaches. There are 16 videos which people watch about the basics of Christianity; they share a communal meal; and they break up in small groups and discuss whatever video they watched. I'm not sure, but my guess is Alpha refers to the beginning of the journey.

I guess anything that brings people together to discuss the faith is better than nothing; however, I have wondered if it's not a little too geared toward unity at the expense of the gospel. The 16th video is the one that really pushes ecumenism and unity among anyone and everyone who professes the name of Jesus.

 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#4
Jul 3, 2015
59,887
29,274
113
#4
ResidentAlien said:
There are 16 videos
Click to expand...
Oh! I had thought there were only ten. :unsure:. Has it been expanded? It has been
updated since I first attended, but any I have attended since only had ten videos.
 
wolfwint

wolfwint

Senior Member
#5
Feb 15, 2014
3,759
936
113
62
#5
ResidentAlien said:
I have mixed feeling about it. I've never been involved with it, but I've studied what it teaches. There are 16 videos which people watch about the basics of Christianity; they share a communal meal; and they break up in small groups and discuss whatever video they watched. I'm not sure, but my guess is Alpha refers to the beginning of the journey.

I guess anything that brings people together to discuss the faith is better than nothing; however, I have wondered if it's not a little too geared toward unity at the expense of the gospel. The 16th video is the one that really pushes ecumenism and unity among anyone and everyone who professes the name of Jesus.

Click to expand...
Well in my church the teaches the alpha courses, but what makes it suspect for me that for the theme about the Holy Spirit they visited always a charismatic church for an weekend.
Sorry for to taught about the Holy Spirit biblically its no need for to visit an different church.
There are for shure biblical correct teachings in the course, but also wrong things.
 
Evmur

Evmur

Well-known member
#6
Feb 28, 2021
5,219
2,618
113
London
christianchat.com
#6
MaryM said:
Has anyone here attended the Alpha Course?

I did, with friends many years ago. I really enjoyed it and benefitted greatly. It launched me into other good directions to further my knowledge and find fellowship with other Christians.
We should ask questions, discuss and seek. Blind faith is not my style, I need to constantly explore what the Bible says and think about it, to apply it to my life.
Click to expand...
Many folks have come to know the Lord through Alpha, an excellent way to win souls.
 
Evmur

Evmur

Well-known member
#7
Feb 28, 2021
5,219
2,618
113
London
christianchat.com
#7
wolfwint said:
Well in my church the teaches the alpha courses, but what makes it suspect for me that for the theme about the Holy Spirit they visited always a charismatic church for an weekend.
Sorry for to taught about the Holy Spirit biblically its no need for to visit an different church.
There are for shure biblical correct teachings in the course, but also wrong things.
Click to expand...
Alpha is a fruit of the "Toronto Blessing" happily coupled the evangelical wing of the Anglican church, in the person of Nicky Gumbel.

:giggle: ... that'll please some folks.
 
ResidentAlien

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
#8
Apr 21, 2021
8,247
3,587
113
#8
Toronto blessing. What's not to like about that?
 
Angela53510

Angela53510

Senior Member
#9
Jan 24, 2011
11,786
2,957
113
#9
I’ve taught the Alpha course twice! Or facilitated it. The first time we did it in my home. I was able to screen and leave out the charismatic parts. After all, we were a Baptist Church.

The next time the format was different. We did it as a church, we all watched the videos together. I thought generally, the videos were much better the second time. Except the charismatic part. I was also in another Baptist Church. I do not agree with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as a second blessing, as I believe we receive the Holy Spirit from the time we are saved. Among other things.

I guess the pastor agreed with me, as we have never done another one, in 7 years. Since it is supposed to cut across denominational lines, I don’t think it should be pushing a Pentecostal/charismatic doctrine. Or that lesson should have been left as optional for churches who agreed with it doctrinally.

It’s too bad, as we put a lot of prayer & preparation into the course, to say nothing of the meals & logistics of putting it on. It could be a great community outreach, if it didn’t bring in specific doctrines which are not accepted by all denominations. The. Videos were very professional and very convincing. I would recommend the course, but not in my church which doesn’t believe in speaking in tongues. Unless they omit that part of the videos or make them optional at the end.
 
Moses_Young

Moses_Young

Well-known member
#10
Sep 15, 2019
9,961
5,524
113
#10
MaryM said:
Has anyone here attended the Alpha Course?

I did, with friends many years ago. I really enjoyed it and benefitted greatly. It launched me into other good directions to further my knowledge and find fellowship with other Christians.
We should ask questions, discuss and seek. Blind faith is not my style, I need to constantly explore what the Bible says and think about it, to apply it to my life.
Click to expand...
Don't like it. It seemed weak to me when I first listened to it - like a watered down gospel. I can't remember the specifics as it was many years ago, but it seemed more focused on being trendy than being true. As a side-note, I learned that the masons and witches and similar cults like to use the word "alpha" within their religions (e.g. alpha lodge).

I'm not saying it can't be used for good, but personally, I would find better material.
 
Dino246

Dino246

Senior Member
#11
Jun 30, 2015
25,400
13,746
113
#11
Moses_Young said:
Don't like it. ... As a side-note, I learned that the masons and witches and similar cults like to use the word "alpha" within their religions (e.g. alpha lodge).
Click to expand...
We Christians better stop using the entire alphabet too, while we're at it... just in case.

smh...
 
L

Locoponydirtman

Guest
#12
#12
I had never heard of it until it was posted about in another thread.
I dont know why it takes 16 movies to gibe the gospel to a "lost" person. I certainly dont believe charismaticsim, and reject the toronto deception.
My church has the catechism, which is a book that outlines basic doctrines of the Bible. We use it to teach the youth and converts. Not as usually as a conversion tool but as a basic tenants of the faith.
 
Moses_Young

Moses_Young

Well-known member
#13
Sep 15, 2019
9,961
5,524
113
#13
Dino246 said:
We Christians better stop using the entire alphabet too, while we're at it... just in case.

smh...
Click to expand...
Wow! A combination of alpha and gambling! A double-sin, maybe? :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.