Business Life - Understanding the Alpha Course

Resources | Business Life Project | Business Life Groups | Navigator Bus/Professional |

Events | Video | Contact Us

Understanding the Alpha Course

(Comment)

How does the Alpha Course Work?

The Alpha Course, run in a business or workplace setting will work much the same way as it does in any other setting with the exception that Business Alpha and Alpha in the Workplace are more constrained by time.

The course consists of three components:

The Meal
The Talk
The Small Group Discussion

Details of the Meal and the Talk are covered elsewhere (see Vision to Action = Transformation, A Guide for Leaders and Facilitators obtainable by emailing us) but the Small Group discussion deserves some examination here.

Typically, all of us, when confronted with any new idea, even though we may be stirred by that idea, are slow to take action. Seldom do we follow the path shown below where we can hear an idea but do we take immediate action? The answer is often 'no'. (See diagram 1)

"...for many people this [life] restoration is so revolutionary that... they find... they have for the first time in life began to experience real happiness on a consistent basis" John 10:10

Diagram 1

On Alpha: How an Idea turns into Response (Action).

What is more likely is that we will follow this track in our thinking...

First, we hear an idea. Then we process the idea through discussion and research and just weighing up the matter. We deliberate on it. We evaluate the idea. We then come to a point of realising the reliability of the idea and then we accept it as truth and take action. (See diagram 2)

Diagram 2

A process does not work in and of itself as described above. However, on an Alpha Course, allowing for open discussion leaves room for the Holy Spirit to illuminate the truth to the seeker.

This is essentially how the Alpha Course helps the seeker to come to a place of turning from sin and turning to God based on an understanding and discovery that Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God.

Bill Bright, Founder of the Campus Crusade for Christ, said that he had always found that anyone who with integrity takes the time to examine the claims of Jesus Christ and the power of His Resurrection will inevitably discover that those claims are the Truth.

Removing the Fear Factor

Looking at the workplace we note that even where Christian groups in the business world are growing [a very good thing] there can be a tendency to concentrate mainly on looking after the needs of Christians in the marketplace.

Some development of Christians in this manner is important but what is most important is to provide the type of development that helps believers overcome the fear of engaging with non-believers.

If Jesus' first command to His disciples is "Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19), then our response, as current day disciples, to Jesus' command must be to give ourselves to becoming 'fishers of men' under His guidance as He directed.

Equally vital is to find a way to present the Gospel to help non-believers overcome the fear of enquiring about God.

Without these two measures in place, namely, helping believer and non-believer overcome their fears, the enemy holds both groups at bay. The enemy uses 'a spirit of fear' to continue the 'wall of separation' between the people of God and the people who are yet to know God.

The Alpha Course has been outstandingly successful as a means to remove the fear factor and create common ground where both believer and enquirer can explore the Questions of Life. (1 John 4:18: "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear...")

Out of this exploration in a non-confrontational, welcoming and highly participative environment many non-believers can and do meet with the living God through Christ for the very first time.

Believers -> Common Ground <- Non-Believers

But the Alpha Course is not only fruitful in that non-believers find a real faith and real relationship with their Heavenly Father, it is demonstrably biblical and theologically sound. This course can be used as a practical introduction to the Christian faith in the workplace, in the boardroom, the lunch room and among business people at all levels.

This is where Business Alpha and Alpha in the Workplace obtain their reason for being.

Understanding and Implementing Relationship

The Gospel is all about God restoring our relationship with Himself in accordance with His original plan in Christ. That is why promoting and developing Alpha is all about relationships right from the start.

My good friend and mentor, Jeff Penny, (one-time senior level management consultant and Boardroom Ministry Founder at Garden City, Kings, Metro and Liberty Churches in Queensland) explained to me that the key to all success in anything is in relationships. When we met up again few years ago we became involved in promoting soul winning in the business community. Jeff kept saying to me, "Tony, it's all about relationships. Not events. Not programmes. But relationships. Everything begins and progresses through relationships." Jeff made a strong point about this and always continued to emphasise it whenever we would meet.

It is, therefore, with this attitude that we should launch a Business Alpha course. Right from the start we must have our eye on the fact that we are initiating relationships both between ourselves and our guests and ultimately between our guests and God.

"The Key to all success in anything is in relationships.
Not events. Nor programmes. But relationships.
Everything begins and progresses through relationships."
Jeff Penny, Former Chair, Boardroom Ministry

Resources | Business Life Project | Business Life Groups | Navigator Bus/Professional |

Events | Video | Contact Us