5 minute guide to its format

On the night

The start

By the first session the team should be well prepared and ready to go.

The people turning up to the course may well feel nervous and awkward.

They may look for excuses not to come again or to leave.

So it is vital that the organisation runs smoothly and everyone is welcoming but not pushy.

It may help to have a welcoming team on the first few sessions.

They are in charge of taking people to their small groups (these have already been assigned - see step 3) and introducing them to their small group leaders.

The leader can then take over and introduce everyone in the group to each other.

It may help to give everyone name badges (if the course is quite large).

A typical evening

This is taken from a typical evening and should be seen only as a guide.

6.15PM	Preparation meeting The team meet to pray and prepare while the task force set out the chairs, prepare the dinner etc.
7.OOPM	Supper Supper is served and the people arrive. They eat supper on their laps and sit in their small groups.
7.40PM	Welcome A welcome from the leader (perhaps even a joke!) and any notices are given out.
7.45 PM	Worship
8.OOPM	Talk
8.45PM	COFFEE AND BISCUITS
9.OOPM	SMALL GROUPS People split up into their small groups. The small groups consist of around twelve people. One or two people lead and two others help. This is a time when the people in the group can study the Bible, discuss the talk, and ask questions. Suggested topics for discussion are included in the Alpha Team Training Manual. As the weeks progress the group may also feet that it would like to pray together.
9.45PM	END It helps to keep the ending time the same so that people know what time they can expect to get home.

Content

Talks given on the course:

WEEK 1 Who is Jesus?
WEEK 2 Why did Jesus die?
WEEK 3 How can I be sure of my faith?
WEEK 4 Why and how should I read the Bible?
WEEK 5 Why and how should I pray?
WEEK 6 How does God guide us?
ALPHA WEEKEND The Holy Spirit (3 talks); How can I make the most of the rest of my life?
WEEK 7 How can I resist evil?
WEEK 8 Why and how should I tell others?
WEEK 9 Does God heal today?
WEEK 10 What about the church?
ALPHA CELEBRATION
SUPPER PARTY Christianity: boring, untrue and irrelevant?