Leaders' Frequently Asked Questions

The course runs for ten weeks, with a weekend or day away part way through. Leader's training sessions precede the course.

Each week a different topic is covered:

   1. Introduction
   2. Jesus - Who Was He?
   3. Jesus - Why Did He Come?
   4. Jesus - His Death
   5. What Is Grace?
   6. Jesus - His Resurrection
      Exploring Christian Life Sessions: The Church, The Holy Spirit, Prayer, The Bible
   7. What Is A Christian?
   8. Continuing As A Christian
   9. Choices - King Herod
  10. Choices - James, John and Bartimaeus

The course is designed to introduce people to Christianity in an unthreatening way. You can run it for 5 people or 500. It can also be used alongside preparation courses for marriage or confirmation, as follow up after missions, on a one-to-one basis or even as a 'refresher' course for church members.

All the material you could need is readily available, including transcripts of the talks, PowerPoint presentations, and of course, answers to the weekly Bible studies.

All 14 talks are also available on DVD. These DVDs are a tremendous resource for those who want to run the course but don't have time to prepare the talks themselves.

In addition, there are many free downloads to help you make the most of your course.

Yes, it's designed to to be used in many different settings, for different groups of people. Christianity Explored groups can be set up for businesses, parent/toddler groups, in sports/leisure clubs, prisons, universities and colleges, as well as in churches and homes. And if you use the DVDs, the course can also be used 'one-to-one'.

Christianity Explained consists of six one-hourly sessions, and was developed by Michael Bennett in Australia.

Christianity Explored is a longer, ten-week course that makes use of the additional time to forge trusting relationships with participants, and look at Mark's Gospel in greater depth. It also explores other themes such as assurance, the church, the Holy Spirit, the Bible and prayer.

In addition, Christianity Explored resources contain a far greater breadth of training material for those leading on the course.

Yes. Christianity Explored doesn't become dated because it is based on Mark's Gospel. Each time the course is run, new illustrations can be added to keep things topical, but the core material remains the same.

There are three main ingredients that make Christianity Explored different.

Firstly, the course focuses on Mark's Gospel. Throughout the course, participants are encouraged to explore the book of Mark in their group, and on their own. The aim is to help people answer three questions that cut to the heart of Christianity: who was Jesus? Why did Jesus come? And what does Jesus demand of those who want to follow him?

Secondly, the course carefully explores the problem of sin. Participants are gently and respectfully shown what Jesus says about the human heart, God's wrath, judgement and hell so that the sheer wonder of God's unmerited love can be fully grasped.

Thirdly, participants are given time and space to consider the cost of becoming a Christian before being given the opportunity to begin following Christ.

All you need is a Study Guide for each participant, a Study Guide - Leader's Edition for each leader (including yourself), and a single copy of the How to Run the Course book. Of course, if you'd prefer to run the course with DVDs rather than presenting talks 'live', you will also need the DVD Series.

A Christianity Explored Starter Pack is available and contains everything you need to start your course: How to Run the Course, the DVD Series, nine copies of the Study Guide, and three copies of the Study Guide - Leader's Edition.

You can order all of these course materials from our publishers, The Good Book Company.

Packs of posters (sizes A2 to A4), postcard invitations and large banners are available. Each has a space in which you can print (or write) when and where your course will be happening. You can order them here.

The Downloads section of this website also has images and logos you can use if you'd rather make your own publicity.

And don't forget to put yourself on the map! Add your course so that we can let people in your area know via the course finder.

Generally, the main reason people come to CE is because trusted friends have invited them (or have invited them to a 'guest event/service' at which CE is mentioned).

Of course, church members may be reluctant to invite friends until they're assured of the course's quality. With that in mind, many churches have run CE for their own congregation first, either as a church induction course, or by using CE studies in any small groups that are already running.

Conferences happen all the time. They offer practical guidance on teaching Mark's Gospel and how to run the course. Visit the Training Explored section of this site for more information.

A short booklet, entitled Guide to Using the DVDs is included with the DVD Series, and tells you everything you need to know.

Translations of CE course material are being commissioned and will appear in due course.

No, but there is a DVD Series. You can use the DVDs in place of a 'live' talk, or - if you're preparing to give your own talk - as a way of getting to grips with the material.