Questions from organisers and table leaders
Q. How long does Christianity Explored last?
A. The course runs for ten weeks, including a course weekend or day away for participants (and leaders). Each week the course covers a different topic:
- Introduction
- Jesus - Who Was He?
- Jesus - Why Did He Come?
- Jesus - His Death
- What Is Grace?
- Jesus - His Resurrection
Exploring Christian Life Sessions: The Church, The Holy Spirit, Prayer, The Bible - What Is A Christian?
- Continuing As A Christian
- Choices - King Herod
- Choices - James, John and Bartimaeus
Course organisers also run table leaders' training sessions just prior to the course, or even arrange a training weekend away for leaders.
Q. How do I use the course?
A. The course is designed to introduce people to Christianity in an unthreatening way. You can run it for five people or 500, adapting it to suit the needs of your potential participants:
- alongside preparation courses for marriage or confirmation
- as follow up after missions
- on a one-to-one basis
- as a 'refresher' course for church members.
Q. Are there any resources to help me present it?
A. All the material you could need is readily available, including transcripts of the talks, digital slideshow presentations, and of course, answers to the weekly Bible studies. To order worldwide, see the resources section of the website or telephone the Good Book Company on +44 (0)845 225 0880 [Orders for UK and selected countries]. 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.
Q. Can I use it outside a church setting?
A. Yes, it's designed to to be used in a range of contexts by many different groups of people. Christianity Explored groups can be set up for businesses, parent/toddler groups, in sports or leisure clubs, prisons, universities and colleges - as well as in churches and homes. Resources produced for specific needs include an English Made Easy (EME) edition and youth ministry materials. And if you use the DVDs, the course can also be used 'one-to-one'.
Q. Is Christianity Explored the same as Christianity Explained?
A. Christianity Explained consists of six one-hour 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. Christianity Explored resources contain a far greater breadth of training material for those leading on the course.
Q. So what makes Christianity Explored distinctive?
A. There are three main ingredients that make Christianity Explored different:
First, the course focuses on the Gospel of Mark. 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?
Second, 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.
Third, participants are given time and space to consider the cost of becoming a Christian before being given the opportunity to begin following Christ.
Q. What do I need to run Christianity Explored?
A. 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. To order, go to http://www.christianityexplored.org/resources/
Q. Is advertising material available to help publicise my course?
A. 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. To order, go to http://www.christianityexplored.org/resources/
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 it appears on our course finder page [http://www.christianityexplored.org/find-a-course/]
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.
Q. How do I find out more about how to run the course?
A. Christianity Explored trainers work with local conference organisers to run 'Training Explored' conferences for CE table leaders and course organisers. Conferences offer delegates - who are usually drawn from several churches in a local area - practical guidance on teaching Mark's Gospel and how to run the course. Visit the Training Explored section of the website to see if there's a conference running near you.
Q. How do I use the DVDs with the books?
A. A short booklet entitled Guide to Using the DVDs is included with the DVD Series, and tells you everything you need to know.
Q. Are there any translations available?
A. Several translations - including Hindi, Hungarian and Bulgarian - have been produced, and there are many more in the pipeline. See the resources section or get in touch via the website contact form.
Q. Are audio cassettes of the talks available?
A. 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.
Q. Can I go on using the course for years to come?
A. Yes. Because it is based on Mark's Gospel, Christianity Explored doesn't date. Each time you run the course, you can add new illustrations to keep things topical, but the core material will remain the same.
More
Add your course to the website
FAQs for potential participants
Read testimony about the course
Blog post: 10 reasons why I love Christianity Explored [external website]
Contact us
Complete our web enquiry form if you have further questions, or phone +44 (0)207 580 8954
The latest version of this FAQ can be found online at
http://www.christianityexplored.org/faq-leaders/
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