Courses
Courses
As well as enquirers’ courses, the Plant runs a number of courses aimed at teaching, encouraging and training members of The Plant. Most of these courses are run across the network, but some may well be run by individual meetings.
We run a wide variety of courses including Bible overview courses; church history; training in sharing your faith clearly; Bible study and many more. Some of these courses are written and led by members of The Plant’s staff (and do let us know if there is anything you would particularly like a course on). But we also have a number of courses written by others and published which The Plant has bought. These courses are available for members to run for each other.
Courses are a great way to teach one another as church members and to grow in faith as we take part or lead them. Below is a list of the courses The Plant has. If you like the sound of one of them, there are two things you can do. You can either ask John Hindley (who is looking after courses) to try to get the course run soon, or you could volunteer to lead the course yourself. If you are not sure if you are able to do this, why not have a chat with John and look at the material to work out if you could lead the course – or maybe do it with a friend? Maybe you would be happy to do the course with a view to leading it yourself next term? You could run a course at your home, or at a friend’s or at the Mill – whichever you think would work best. Why not pray for wisdom and guidance about whether you should ask for one of these courses to be run so you can take part, or whether you should run one of these courses yourself?
It is very important that more of us get involved in leading courses, for a few reasons:
· Christ wants members of his church to be teaching one another, not just elders to be teaching. This is one way to do this (along with Bible Reading Partnerships and other more informal teaching)
· Some members will have probably been given gifts by the Holy Spirit to lead such courses, and we will be missing out if they are not given chances to use their gifts
· This means we will deliver more courses that members want, rather than what John and Phil think people want (or what they want to teach!)
· As The Plant grows, the elders have more pressures on their time, which makes it harder for them to run as many courses. We are very keen that we keep having good quality courses that help us all to live for Christ, and that means more people leading them
So why not read about the courses we have available below, and think how you could get involved? The courses we currently have available are:
- So Many Questions
- Six Steps to Encouragement
- Six Steps to telling people about Jesus
- Discipleship Explored
- Pure
- Good Book Guides (1 John)
So Many Questions
This is a course designed to help us both think through questions we might have about the Christian faith and to teach us how to give useful answers to questions that people might ask us about our faith.
The advertisement for the course says: ‘When was the last time you were asked one of these?
- How do I know God exists in the first place...?
- Is the New Testament story about Jesus reliable...?
- Wasn't Jesus just another great religious teacher...?’
- Is the New Testament story about Jesus reliable...?
- Wasn't Jesus just another great religious teacher...?’
These are important questions, and the course covers 17 questions like them. The course is based on a DVD with answers from Christians who have researched these issues and also a course book to work through as a group. The contents of the course are:
Introduction: How to answer questions
The 17 questions:
Introduction: How to answer questions
The 17 questions:
1. How do I know God exists in the first place?
2. Is the New Testament story of Jesus reliable?
3. Wasn't Jesus just another religious teacher?
4. Did Jesus really come back from dead?
5. Hasn't science disproved Christianity?
6. How do we account for all the suffering in the world?
7. Does 'faith' mean believing things we can't accept?
8. What about miracles - can miracles actually happen?
9. What about those people who have never heard about Jesus?
10. What about other religions: are they all true?
11. Aren't all people basically good?
12. Can we just be good enough to please God?
13. Do you have to go to church to be a Christian?
14. Could it be said that the Bible is sexist?
15. What does the Bible say about homosexuality?
16. Isn't Christianity responsible for a great deal of the environmental disaster in our world?
17. Aren't Christians just hypocrites?
2. Is the New Testament story of Jesus reliable?
3. Wasn't Jesus just another religious teacher?
4. Did Jesus really come back from dead?
5. Hasn't science disproved Christianity?
6. How do we account for all the suffering in the world?
7. Does 'faith' mean believing things we can't accept?
8. What about miracles - can miracles actually happen?
9. What about those people who have never heard about Jesus?
10. What about other religions: are they all true?
11. Aren't all people basically good?
12. Can we just be good enough to please God?
13. Do you have to go to church to be a Christian?
14. Could it be said that the Bible is sexist?
15. What does the Bible say about homosexuality?
16. Isn't Christianity responsible for a great deal of the environmental disaster in our world?
17. Aren't Christians just hypocrites?
The course finishes with a think about: Where to from here?
If this sounds like something you would find useful, why not borrow the DVD and workbook and think about running this course? Talk to John Hindley if you want to know more
Six Steps to Encouragement
This course aims to help us see how words change lives
The authors write: ‘God has given every Christian an enormous privilege and gift: the power to speak his life-changing word into the lives of other people. Every Christian can change the lives of those around them through knowing and telling the message of God's grace, whether in front of a group, in a hand-written note, in a one-to-one conversation over morning tea, or in a thousand other ways. Every Christian can be a channel of encouragement.
In Six Steps to Encouragement you'll learn the why and how of personal encouragement. Through video input, Bible study, practical examples, discussions and hands-on exercises, you'll discover how to bring life, hope and strength to those around you by bringing the powerful word of God to them. You'll also work through practical case studies such as welcoming newcomers, listening, rebuking, and dealing with suffering.’
The authors write: ‘God has given every Christian an enormous privilege and gift: the power to speak his life-changing word into the lives of other people. Every Christian can change the lives of those around them through knowing and telling the message of God's grace, whether in front of a group, in a hand-written note, in a one-to-one conversation over morning tea, or in a thousand other ways. Every Christian can be a channel of encouragement.
In Six Steps to Encouragement you'll learn the why and how of personal encouragement. Through video input, Bible study, practical examples, discussions and hands-on exercises, you'll discover how to bring life, hope and strength to those around you by bringing the powerful word of God to them. You'll also work through practical case studies such as welcoming newcomers, listening, rebuking, and dealing with suffering.’
To be a church is to be a family. Sadly, like in our families, we often find that we are not always treated and looked after in church the way we want to be. If we are honest, I think we would also say that we often do not treat our brothers and sisters in Christ the way we would like to be treated. This course is designed to help us be better brothers and sisters, and to equip us to help others walk closely with Christ and in step with the Holy Spirit until the day Christ returns
The course takes six session (probably best run over six weeks). The sessions are:
The course takes six session (probably best run over six weeks). The sessions are:
1. God the speaker
2. God's word changes us and others
3. God's fellow workers
4. What to say
5. How to say it
6. The place of prayer
2. God's word changes us and others
3. God's fellow workers
4. What to say
5. How to say it
6. The place of prayer
The course involves watching sections from a DVD and working through a course book together. This means that it does not so much need leading as facilitating – all the members of he course will teach each other as they work through the material and Bible studies together. If this sounds like something you would find useful, why not borrow the DVD and workbook and think about running this course? Talk to John Hindley if you want to know more
Six steps to telling people about Jesus
Everyone in this world desperately needs to know and follow Jesus Christ. This is why we were created, it is at the heart of our humanity. It is also the only hope we have in the face of the coming judgment of God against rebels who have spurned his love and his rule. We each meet lots of people every day who need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. The authors of this course write:
‘Think of the people you meet everyday: your family, your work mates, the man at the newsagents, the old friend you catch up with after work. Is there a single one of them who doesn't need to be following Jesus?
All the same, many Christians feel uneasy about reaching out to those around us. We're unsure where to start and what to say, and more than a little afraid that we'll make fools of ourselves.
This short course starts from square one, and helps you make a start. Over six interactive sessions, with DVD input, Bible study and group discussion, you'll explore topics like:
All the same, many Christians feel uneasy about reaching out to those around us. We're unsure where to start and what to say, and more than a little afraid that we'll make fools of ourselves.
This short course starts from square one, and helps you make a start. Over six interactive sessions, with DVD input, Bible study and group discussion, you'll explore topics like:
· The core motivation for reaching out to others
· How to depend on God in prayer
· How to invite people to read a book or come to an event
· How to tell your own story of what God has done for you in Christ
· How to explain the gospel of Jesus in a simple way’
Like ‘Six Steps to Encouragement’, this course involves watching sections from a DVD and working through a course book together. This means that it does not so much need leading as facilitating – all the members of the course will teach each other as they work through the material and Bible studies together. If this sounds like something you would find useful, why not borrow the DVD and workbook and think about running this course? Talk to John Hindley if you want to know more
Discipleship Explored
Discipleship Explored is for anyone who wants to make the most of their Christian lives, learning what it means to be a follower, or disciple, of Jesus. In particular, Discipleship Explored is perfect for people who have been through an enquirers’ course have decided to follow Christ.
It has been developed by the team behind the Christianity Explored enquirers’ course and is based on the book of Philippians from the Bible. The course lasts eight weeks, and each session takes about two hours. Each week there is a group discussion, a Bible study in Philippians, a short talk and further discussion.
It has been developed by the team behind the Christianity Explored enquirers’ course and is based on the book of Philippians from the Bible. The course lasts eight weeks, and each session takes about two hours. Each week there is a group discussion, a Bible study in Philippians, a short talk and further discussion.
The course contents are as follows:
Week 1: Confident In Christ (Philippians 1:1-11)
Week 2: Living In Christ (Philippians 1:12-26)
Week 3: Standing Together In Christ (Philippians 1:27 - 2:11)
Week 4: Transformed By Christ (Philippians 2:12-30)
Week 5: Righteous In Christ (Philippians 3:1-9)
Week 6: Knowing Christ (Philippians 3:10 - 4:1)
Week 7: Rejoicing In Christ (Philippians 4:2-9)
Week 8: Content In Christ (Philippians 4:10-23)
Week 2: Living In Christ (Philippians 1:12-26)
Week 3: Standing Together In Christ (Philippians 1:27 - 2:11)
Week 4: Transformed By Christ (Philippians 2:12-30)
Week 5: Righteous In Christ (Philippians 3:1-9)
Week 6: Knowing Christ (Philippians 3:10 - 4:1)
Week 7: Rejoicing In Christ (Philippians 4:2-9)
Week 8: Content In Christ (Philippians 4:10-23)
Unlike some of the other courses, this one probably does need ‘leading’ more than simply ‘facilitating’. It demands a bit more from the leader in terms of input. However, if this sounds like something you would find useful, why not borrow the leaders’ guide and carefully think about running this course? If you are not sure, you could always ask one of the Plant Ministers or Ministry Trainees if they could lead it with you to give you some experience. Talk to John Hindley if you want to know more
Pure
This is a course on sex and relationships, aimed primarily for students and produced by UCCF, the Christian Union movement. They say:
‘The area of sex and relationships is one of the biggest pressure points facing young Christians today. Many
have felt both overwhelmed and under-equipped to deal with life in a culture that tells them that if they’re not
doing it then they are missing out. There is a desperate need to provide solid biblical teaching and practical guidance to a generation who are drowning in a sea of confusion and uncertainty.’
Clearly this is an important area for all of us to understand the Lord’s will about and to have a chance to think through and discuss. Pure is a six week course which does this. There is a leaders’ manual and also handouts free to download at http://www.uccf.org.uk/resources
Good Book Guides
These are a series of Bible study guides written for individuals or small groups. Each of them has a number of sessions (which should last about 1-1½ hours) and a leaders’ guide at the back, with answers to the questions. This means they will require some preparation from the leader, but not an exhaustive knowledge of the book. You will probably have to put in about an hour’s work before each session so you can keep things on track. Members coming on the course won’t expect you to have all the answers – it is more about growing together through studying God’s wonderful word to us together. As usual, if you are interested in running this course, have a chat with John Hindley.
We have the following Good Book Guides available:
1 John – how to be sure
The authors write: ‘We live in an age of uncertainty: about ourselves, about the truths of the Christian faith, and about the future.
At a time when the first-century church had been invaded by false teachers, the apostle John knew that Christians who are not sure of God's truth can wander away, never to return. He wrote to help his 'dear children', not only to know the real truth, but to be confident of it, and to rest upon it.
If then, why not today? We all urgently need to hear and obey God's loving message in this letter of John's. This Good Book Guide will help us continue in Christ, so that we will be confident and unashamed when he returns’
At a time when the first-century church had been invaded by false teachers, the apostle John knew that Christians who are not sure of God's truth can wander away, never to return. He wrote to help his 'dear children', not only to know the real truth, but to be confident of it, and to rest upon it.
If then, why not today? We all urgently need to hear and obey God's loving message in this letter of John's. This Good Book Guide will help us continue in Christ, so that we will be confident and unashamed when he returns’
Sounds good to me!
Course Contents:
Week 1: The Heart of the Matter – 1 John 1:1-10 Week 2: Walking in the Light – 1 John 2:1-14
Week 3: Staying on Course – 1 John 2:15-27
Week 4: Family Likeness – 1 John 2:28-3:10
Week 5: Family Ties – 1 John 3:11-24
Week 6: True Love – 1 John 4:1-21
Week 7: How to be Sure – 1 John 5:1-21