SERVE on Alpha:
It's always recommended that a guest/student go through Alpha a second time but from a position of service. The person will serve on a team or as a host or helper the second time and invite friends. This is especially good for new Christians as they navigate their new faith and learn to be a part of kingdom work. It also takes new or refreshed faith to the next level and becomes a great discipleship tool.
STUDY BOOK Options:
“30 Days: A Practical Introduction to Reading the Bible” - Nicky Gumbel has selected thirty fascinating passages from the Old and New Testament, accompanied by a challenging commentary and thoughtful prayer. Designed to be read over 30 days, this book guides the reader through the process of Bible study. It helps answer the important questions like, "How should I read the Bible?", "Where do I start?", and "How is the Bible relevant to my life?". This is an excellent resource for those who have just completed Alpha or anyone who is interested in exploring the Bible.
“A Life Worth Living” – If scientists can prolong life, will it be worth living? Without purpose or joy, extended life seems a hollow victory. So, how do we live life to the fullest? Based on Paul's letter to the Philippians, Nicky Gumbel's A Life Worth Living is a practical and positive guide to help us uncover a new heart, purpose, attitude, and confidence in how we live our lives. This book is written for those starting out in the Christian life and is an ideal follow-up to Alpha.
“The Jesus Lifestyle” - Jesus didn't leave us a lifestyle magazine; he sat down on a mountainside and began to teach. In this engaging book, Nicky Gumbel examines Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and the radical alternative it presents to our modern lifestyle. Simple, memorable, and profound, Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount are as relevant and as challenging today as they were 2,000 years ago. Nicky's reflections on the Sermon on the Mount are shared with his familiar mix of humor and wisdom and present the life that Jesus wants us to live. This is an excellent resource for those who have just completed Alpha.
“How To Follow Jesus” - In How to Follow Jesus, Craig Springer, former executive director of Alpha USA, one of America's most effective evangelism movements, explores numerous myths surrounding the Christian faith that create unnecessary obstacles to growth, including illustrating that sin and temptation are not the greatest threat to a flourishing faith, forgiveness means going through rather than around our feelings, and how disappointment in the Church may be the essential step in growing a foundation for life-changing community. Sharing personal stories from his own journey to a mature faith, Springer sets readers at ease and offers them practical, easy-to-implement advice for following Jesus. Destined to become a timeless classic, How to Follow Jesus is a must-read for new and returning Christians.
The above books are available in our Alpha Resources Store here.
They are not video studies but are in book form that can be read by chapter and then discussed as a group. If someone cannot serve on Alpha, these are great follow up resources, and you could still start with a meal and begin the group time with worship, so you keep the ‘feel’ of an Alpha evening.
VIDEO COURSE Options:
Prayer Course studies from 24/7 Prayer. These are free, multi-week small-group studies with downloadable videos and study guides. There are three courses to choose from: a study through The Lord’s Prayer, a study on Unanswered Prayer, and the Lectio Course.
Life Shared small group series. This is a three-week series and initiative to help Christians develop relationships and have conversations about faith. It is also free and has downloadable resources.
The Marriage and The Pre-Marriage Courses are great options for married or engaged couples. They act as a bridge between the Church and the local community by recognizing the need to go beyond the social as well as physical walls of the church, to help couples with their relationships. The Marriage Courses are designed to be easy for churches to run in-person or online; with episodes available to download online, along with training, guides, and journals. The sessions are completely private, with no group work.
Lastly, a couple of resource options used by many Alpha Churches for next steps include Rooted and The Bible Project. While Alpha doesn’t officially endorse these options, they seem popular with many of our Alpha churches!
Life Revealed journeys through Luke and Acts, provokes curiosity around the person of Jesus, and creates an accessible way for young people to read and understand the Bible.
Life on Purpose is designed to serve teens by helping them make the connection between meaning, belonging, impact, and the joy of having their friends come to know Jesus.