We are pleased to recommend to you the following resources to accompany the Alpha Course.
We do hope that you find them useful in investigating further some of the themes that Alpha looks at.
The Alpha Course has prompted millions to re-examine their beliefs about Jesus. Questions of Life is the Alpha course in book form and points the way to an authentic faith which is exciting and relevant.
Questions of Life was first published in 1993. It was voted Christian Book of the Year at the Christian Booksellers Convention. When author Nicky Gumbel asked convention delegates ‘Who’s heard of Alpha?’, three hands went up! Since then, the Alpha course has exploded onto the world scene, and as a result we are bringing the name ‘Alpha’ into the title, to help more people identify what it is – the content of the Alpha talks in book form.
Questions of Life is currently available in 33 other languages. By the late nineties Alpha was being used by all the major denominations and independent churches. Increasingly endorsed by colleges, it grew ever more popular with local churches. It grew internationally too: more than 27 million people worldwide have tried Alpha in 169 countries and 112 languages.
In Britain 6.5 million adults – 14% of the entire population – recognise the name Alpha as a Christian course (according to a MORI poll).
Nicky Gumbel read law at Cambridge and theology at Oxford, practiced as a barrister and is now ordained and vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) alongside an excellent leadership team. He has written many bestselling books about the Christian faith.
The book addresses key questions relevant both to Christians and non-Christians in a direct, uncomplicated and doctrinally sound manner. It aims to set out the evidence regarding Jesus, Salvation, the Holy Spirit, the Church and several other central issues, in a non-denominational manner. Its chapters, which form the basis of the Alpha course, are set in a logical sequence which comes together to postulate a strong message. The book's style is very approachable; it is humorous and topical without being irreverent; there is no arcane phraseology or obscure theology. And it is short! I found it intriguing and fulfilling, an excellent introduction to faith and to further inquiry.
This book accompanies the well known Alpha course. Useful to have around if you miss a week or want to know what's coming up next. Nicky Gumbel's stories and illustrations make this an easy introduction to the Christian faith
A Seasoned Journalist Chases Down the Biggest Story in History. Is there credible evidence that Jesus of Nazareth really is the Son of God? Retracing his own spiritual journey from atheism to faith, Lee Strobel, former legal editor of the Chicago Tribune, cross-examines a dozen experts with doctorates from schools like Cambridge, Princeton, and Brandeis who are recognized authorities in their own fields.
Strobel challenges them with questions like How reliable is the New Testament? Does evidence for Jesus exist outside the Bible? Is there any reason to believe the resurrection was an actual event? Strobel’s tough, point-blank questions make this Gold Medallion-winning book read like a captivating, fast-paced novel. But it’s not fiction. It’s a riveting quest for the truth about history’s most compelling figure. What will your verdict be in The Case for Christ?
Lee Strobel probes with bulldog-like tenacity the evidence for the truth of biblical Christianity.
Lee Strobel asks the questions a tough-minded skeptic would ask. His book is so good I read it out loud to my wife after dinner. Every inquirer should have it.
If you are thinking of buying a bible we would suggest that you buy one, which you can read easily.
We would recommend that you buy one of the following versions as they use modern language, which is easy to read:
The English Standard Version (ESV) Buy here
The New International Version (NIV) Buy here
The New Living Translation (NLT) Buy here
Click the link if you would like to purchase one of these versions.
What Alpha offers, and what is attracting thousands of people, is permission, rare in our culture, to discuss the big questions life and death and their meaning
What distinguishes Alpha from other initiatives is the easy-going, relaxed feel of the proceedings – that, and its astonishing success
Alpha is an unqualified triumph
Alpha makes Christianity relevant to modern life
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Derby
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01332 322655
info@jubilee.org.uk
Jubilee Church is a ChristCentral Church, part of Newfrontiers, a member of the Evangelical Alliance and a registered charity, no. 1162660