The Alpha Course

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.

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.

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.

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.

Many folks have come to know the Lord through Alpha, an excellent way to win souls.

Alpha is a fruit of the "Toronto Blessing" happily coupled the evangelical wing of the Anglican church, in the person of Nicky Gumbel.

... that'll please some folks.

Toronto blessing. What's not to like about that?

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.

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.

We Christians better stop using the entire alphabet too, while we're at it... just in case.

smh...

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.

Wow! A combination of alpha and gambling! A double-sin, maybe?