Why Christianity Explored is good for the whole church!

Christianity Explored is an evangelistic Bible Study course with a difference. Fine-tuned by Rico Tice, minister for evangelism at All Souls Church in London, it uses Mark’s Gospel to explain the Christian gospel. It encourages the church to do evangelism as the church, and not merely as isolated individuals.

The materials for Christianity Explored come in an attractive package of DVDs with clear and well-produced study materials. Rico himself is a gifted communicator with a warm, gracious and infectious enthusiasm for the gospel and the church.

There are many reasons why Christianity Explored is such a helpful tool for our churches.

1. The church can use it together. Guests are welcomed by a fellowship of Christians who get to know and love them in a context of open-hearted friendship. We often began with a simple meal. This was the church being itself—God’s evangelistic community. The transforming work of Christ in our members’ lives and in their fellowship with each other can become evident to our guests. The gospel can be “seen” as well as “heard.”
2. The whole body is needed. Christians who are gifted in helping to explain the faith can serve together with those whose greatest gift is a welcoming and caring heart, or cheerfully serving meals. Everyone can have a vital part. The power of a transformed community is visible. That is a profound New Testament principle!
3. Genuine relationships are built. Guests become free to ask whatever they want to. If our members could not answer a question, they promised to find it for the next meeting. There was no pretence of easy (and sometimes wrong!) answers to tough questions!
4. Christ speaks in Mark’s Gospel. Christ “walks off the pages,” revealing his identity, enabling people to understand why he came, why they need him, and how to become Christians.

This kind of fellowship in evangelism stimulates our own people to search the Scriptures better themselves. It binds them together in real fellowship as they pray together, are nervous together, and as together they see God work. As the Lord draws people to himself through his Word, expectation is increased that, on an ongoing basis, the Lord will bring more people to himself. That in turn leads to greater expectation in prayer as we ask him to do just that. At least this was certainly our experience.

Christianity Explored is no more than a tool; but it is a fine tool. And since there is nothing in the world more important than exploring Christianity, it provides a most helpful way of doing just that.

I’m Glad You Asked: Why Does God allow suffering?

A question on lots of people’s lips at the moment is why God allows all the suffering and pain in the world.

What has been your response in the light of the earthquakes and tsunamis that have struck our planet over the last few months?

All responses welcome.

I’m Glad You Asked: (Let’s be honest, sometimes we’re not!)

Some questions that people ask are tough. And that’s why we’re putting together a resource that gives short answers to the 11 most commonly-asked questions we face.

So, if you were asked ‘How do you know that God exists?’ what would you say? Who or what would you call on as evidence? What stories, illustrations, sound bites have you found helpful?

Promoting an Evangelical Future for Anglicanism

Do you know anyone setting off into ministry in the Anglican church?

This is the conference for them.

More information, including speakers, programme, cost, etc, can be found over at the Ugley Vicar's blog.

The aim of the Conference is to identify and encourage the next generation of Anglican Evangelical clergy leaders who will take on the strategic challenges for the Church of England of the mid twenty-first century.

I’m Glad You Asked: Keep those ideas coming!

Thanks for those of you that have got in touch with helpful illustrations or stories that helpfully illustrate the biblical answer to some tough questions Christians often face.

Please do keep them coming.

Question number three: Wasn’t Jesus just a great teacher?

How would you answer?

Easter Videos

Tyndale House have produced three short videos for Easter showing how the earliest manuscripts support the Resurrection.

Other Easter video resources you might find helpful:

• That's Easter: Death to Life
• That's Easter: Life to Death

For Children:

• Introduction to Jesus
• Jesus on the Cross
• The Death of Jesus
• Jesus is Alive

April Fool Round-up

Pleased to say that most people enjoyed our April Fool's Joke. Here's a round up of some of the others, secular and otherwise:

Any (good ones!) that we missed?

• BMW M3 Ute
• Mini Apple Store playset
• Dog High Chair from IKEA
• CofE sets up a £250,000 fund to eliminate OHPs in churches
• The Heresy App
• Farmville meets the Book of Common Prayer

I'm Glad You Asked: more help needed!

Thanks so much to all of you who've helped out with the first question we posed for this new resource.

Now we'd love you to help with the second question. If you've heard, or used, a story which helpfully illustrates the biblical answer, please please share it with us:

Can we trust what the Bible says?

All comments massively welcomed, just stick them below…