Christianity Explored

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Christianity Explored is an informal Christian evangelistic teaching course developed by Rico Tice and Barry Cooper at All Souls Church, Langham Place, a parish of the Anglican Church.[1].

The session topics are (1) Introduction, Meaning of Life; (2) Who is Jesus? Authority; (3) Why Jesus came: Sin (4) The crucifixion and atonement; (5) Grace, not works; (6) Jesus' Resurrection (7) What is a Christian? (8) Assurance; (9) Choices: King Herod; (10) Choices: Disciples. There is also study of the Church, the Holy Spirit and prayer.[2]

It is distinguished from the Alpha Course by shorter videos in less formal settings, less emphasis on the Holy Spirit and by a themed study of scripture – in this case Mark’s Gospel.[3]

Contents

[edit] Reaction from denominations and churches

The Church of England generally (e.g. in the 2003 publication "Evangelism - Which Way Now?") considers it, along with Emmaus and Alpha, as one of a "trinity" of courses covering all wings of the church. Other churches have also used the course: in 2006-7 the Irish Presbyterian Church’s board of youth and children’s ministry used the youth version CY extensively with the Boys Brigades.[4] It has also been used in Asia, with leader training run by the Methodist church in Singapore. [5]

[edit] Spin-offs

Spin-offs include a youth version entitled “CY”[6] and a follow on course entitled “Discipleship Explored”[7]. There are also "English Made Easy" editions of both Christianity Explored and Discipleship Explored.[8]

[edit] Comparison with other evangelistic courses

9 Marks comments that Christianity Explored is "plainly an answer to the Alpha course". It says that the course does a "fairly good job of explaining the gospel clearly" but finds it over-full of material, and holds the view that "the use of the sinners’ prayer and immediate assurance is ... troubling."[9]

9 Marks finds Christianity Explored to have, of six courses examined, "the best treatment of sin, giving it a whole session", along with good treatment of grace and atonement.[10]. This is in agreement with (or perhaps derivative from) a 2001 article in the British Evangelical Council magazine which commended Christianity Explored, in direct contrast to Alpha, for its teaching on grace, penal substitution and the Holy Spirit.[11]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ All Souls Church
  2. ^ Evangelistic Comparison Chart
  3. ^ Salt and Light Ministries Resource Review
  4. ^ Board of Youth and Children's Ministry
  5. ^ Methodist Church in Singapore: Response Exceeds Expectations
  6. ^ Christianity Explored - Youth Edition
  7. ^ Fresh Expressions - Discipleship Explored
  8. ^ Christianity Explored - News Review
  9. ^ Evangelism Course Comparison Guide
  10. ^ Evangelistic Comparison Chart 2
  11. ^ The 'Alpha' and the 'Christianity Explored' Course

[edit] External links