The word "Alpha" comes from the first letter of the Greek alphabet and symbolizes a beginning or starting point of a journey.
In the Bible, Jesus refers to Himself as the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end (Revelation 1:8,11; 21:6; 22:13).
Some people ask why Alpha starts with "Who is Jesus?" and not "Who is God?" The reason is that the Bible tells us it is through a relationship with Jesus that we can get to know God, experience His power, and know His character (John 1:14, John 14:6-9, Matthew 11:27).
Alpha is the first step to exploring the big questions of life and discovering who Jesus is. It’s an understanding of, but also an encounter with, the person of Jesus that is the most important part of what we believe.
Alpha covers the basics of the Christian faith with a simple overview. It's just the beginning!
What does Alpha cover?
The first half of Alpha looks at who Jesus is, why He died, and how we can communicate with God. The Weekend Away is about halfway through the course and covers 4 talks including who the Holy Spirit is, what He does, and how the Holy Spirit can help us live a life of Christ-like love and power.
The video teaching in the second half of Alpha explores the "new" life of a Christian, including topics such as evil, healing, and the role of the Church. This provides valuable information for new Christians but also for those who have questions about the Christian lifestyle or those who may have preconceived ideas.