| The Alpha Course
Please note that the articles below on the Alpha Course are entirely separate from our books:
Alpha
- the Unofficial Guide: Overview
|
Alpha
- the Unofficial Guide: World |
Alpha
- the Unofficial Guide: Church
and
The New Age of Alpha
and
cover aspects of
Alpha only touched on briefly in the books.
Chapter and Verse
on Alpha's Jesus
Part 1: The Character of Alpha's
Jesus
"According to Gallup, the Alpha Course
has now been run in over 150 countries. Alpha materials have been
translated into scores of languages, and a million people took the
course last year alone. It is clearly something that every believer
should be well-versed about..."
Part 2: The Nature of Alpha's Jesus
"In a radio interview recently, we were
asked what Alpha taught about the nature of the Lord Jesus. ... We
were aware of a few problems, but the question prompted us to look
in detail at this matter. Firstly, though, we should establish
whether or not accuracy on this topic is a serious one..."
Part 3: The Divinity of Alpha's
Jesus
"Nicky Gumbel writes,
'the most important question we can ever ask is, "Who is Jesus?"'.
In the same book, he states 'This is the heart of the Christian
faith: knowing Jesus Christ'. The Lord Jesus is indeed the very
centre of the Christian faith, and it is vital therefore to know who
He truly is..."
Open Letters to the Leaders of
the Alpha Course
Alpha's 'Holy Spirit
Retreat'
"Dear Rev. Nicky Gumbel, Certain important
questions are being asked regarding aspects of Alpha's 'Holy Spirit Retreat'.
Some of the main ones are given below and we wondered if it might be possible
for you to help clear them up - as we cannot find the answers in any Alpha
publications..."
Your Understanding of 'Toronto'
"Dear Rev. Nicky Gumbel, As you know,
January 2004 is exactly ten years since the 'Toronto Experience'
(TE) appeared in Toronto. Despite this elapsed time, some crucial
questions on the subject still remain. Because your church, Holy
Trinity Brompton, (HTB), was at the forefront of promoting the TE in
Britain, we have sent this letter in the hope that you will be able
to assist the many people who received the TE but who do not fully
grasp what they were encouraged to involve themselves in..."
The Powers Behind
the Alpha Course
Part 1: The Powerful Message
"Although the Alpha Course has been in
existence since 1977, the modern version originated in the early
nineties through Nicky Gumbel - a curate at Holy Trinity Brompton
church (HTB). Gumbel is a qualified barrister, but he apparently
attributes his powerful gift for communication to an extraordinary
single event in 1982. The following account by Gumbel is lengthy but
also very interesting:..."
Part 2: The Powerful Men
"It is perfectly understandable. Knowing
that [the] Toronto [Experience] is questionable (to say the least)
many people now deny that Alpha could possibly be a companion to the
Toronto spirit..."
Part 3: The Powerful Spirit
English
version |
Spanish
version |
Swedish
version |
Danish
version |
German
version
"Some Alpha Course literature
[for example] 'The God Who Changes Lives', and newspapers published
by Holy Trinity Brompton are ... filled with testimonies of people
who have been transformed during the program. This fact is
constantly used to defend Alpha against the multitude of concerns
that have been raised about its source..."
Material for Pre-Millennialists
Alpha on Israel!
"[I]n this article we ... want to
explore the question of whether or not Alpha currently teaches
truthfully about the physical nation of Israel. After all, this
topic is vital for a proper comprehension of the gospel (Romans
11:11-25) and for rightly dividing God's Word..."
Alpha - New Life or New Lifestyle?
"The Alpha Initiative is the most
popular evangelistic programme in use in Britain's churches at
present. Alpha's publications manager advises everyone 'to do the
course exactly as we've laid out for the first time - because we
know it works'. At first glance this advice seems well and good, but
in fact a purely pragmatic approach to spiritual things is not
scriptural and can even be very dangerous..."
The
New Age of Alpha
"Despite failing to reverse the decline
in church attendance in Britain, the Alpha Course has swept the
globe and is being used by an incredibly wide range of groups -
including Methodists and Lutherans, Roman Catholics and Seventh-Day
Adventists. Where other evangelistic initiatives have petered out
very swiftly, Alpha has done the opposite. From its roots in the
late 1970s, Alpha has grown to stunning proportions today and
over a million souls try it each year. Let us uncover its secret..."
The
Dragnet Behind Alpha, Vineyard, 'Purpose Driven', 'Toronto' etc (Chart)
English version (last updated 27 September 2005)
|
Spanish
version
|
French
version
|
German
version
"Bayith Ministries seeks to produce materials that are as valuable as possible.
This chart is no exception, for it not only supplies the key spiritual roots of:
a) Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB); b) Rick Warren; c) John Wimber; and d) the
Toronto Experience (TE), but it also: a) shows at a glance the key roots of all
the other names on the chart; b) demonstrates that they are all part of the same
tree (and thus that Alpha and the TE emanated from the same source, despite what
some people try to claim); and c) reveals what you and I are really legitimizing
if we promote Alpha or 'Purpose Driven' or Vineyard or 'Toronto'..."
The Dragnet Behind Alpha, Vineyard,
'Purpose Driven', 'Toronto' etc
(Supporting Documentation)
(last updated 15 January 2006)
This page is the repository for all
information regarding the chart above.
Miscellaneous Alpha Material
Is This the Hottest
Ticket to Heaven?
This article is the full transcript of the
comments we were asked to give the Mail On Sunday for their article in YOU magazine about the Alpha Course.
Alpha and
the New Age
"While Sandy Millar insists that Alpha
is merely an introduction to the Christian faith, the Course
nevertheless claims to preach the gospel sufficiently enough for
participants to come to salvation; several of the talks end with a
prayer of commitment. But testimonies such as [the following]
indicate that many participants have neither understood what the
gospel is nor what it demands of them..."
Toronto and Pensacola
Your Understanding of 'Toronto'
"Dear Rev. Nicky Gumbel, As you know, January
2004 is exactly ten years since the 'Toronto Experience' (TE)
appeared in Toronto. Despite this elapsed time, some crucial
questions on the subject still remain. Because your church, Holy
Trinity Brompton, (HTB), was at the forefront of promoting the TE in
Britain, we have sent this letter in the hope that you will be able
to assist the many people who received the TE but who do not fully
grasp what they were encouraged to involve themselves in..."
Twelve
Telling Tests of the 'TE' (Chart)
Godless
Godliness? by
Dusty Peterson
"One of the most crucial questions we can ask nowadays is this: What
are the effects on a Christian of the true Holy Spirit? The Bible
seems unequivocal..."
Bible Versions
Debate
The Bible Versions
Debate (Part 1) by
Dusty Peterson
"Christians rightly believe they
should promote the acquisition of, and obedience to, the truth. They
also believe that the Bible is God's truth given to man as a means
to guide us in the way He would have us live. Throughout the
centuries the Bible has been translated from the Hebrew, Aramaic and
Greek languages in which its various parts were originally written,
into every major language on earth. The most prolific translations
have been into English. The question obviously arises, which English
Bible version or versions should we use? Which are the most
reliable? Do they all give the truth? If not, which do - and how can
we tell? Which would God have us use?..."
The
Bible Versions Debate (Part 2a)
by Dusty Peterson
"Among other things, the British
Coronation ceremony famously describes the Bible as 'the most
valuable thing this world affords,' and I encourage the reader to
keep this in mind as they explore the following. In Part 1, ... we
looked at the two ways of translating Scripture into English:
dynamic equivalence and word-for-word translation. But the issue of
how best to translate a document obviously assumes there is no
argument about what the original document said. Unfortunately people
are far from agreed on the original text of the Bible, and this is
why I have penned the article you are now reading..."
The
Bible Versions Debate (Part 2b)
by Dusty Peterson
"The rubber has officially hit the road. It's time we came to the
nitty-gritty where I repay the investment in time and effort the
reader made with Part 2a. ... In the previous piece we learned that
some English translations of the Bible are largely based on family
'B' while others are rooted in family 'A'. ... people often argue
that the differences between these families can safely be ignored,
particularly when it comes to the published Greek texts behind
actual Bible versions available today. Here are seven common
justifications folks offer for this position, along with some
observations about them..."
The
Bible Versions Debate (Intermission) by Dusty
Peterson
"I've just been through a remarkable experience. I was asked
at the start of the year to participate in an Internet 'bulletin
board' ... on the subject of the three Bible Versions Debate
articles [above]. ... [This] discussion made it clear that some
folks today have so many preconceptions about the topic of Bible
versions that a number of such souls are literally unable to to put
these things to one side and approach material on this topic with a
truly open mind. ... Here are four central principles with which I
hope every sincere reader can agree:..."
The Bible Versions Debate (Part 3a) by Dusty
Peterson
"Joan could have wheeled out many excuses for not
reading her Bible. ... She grew up in England in the 1540s, a time
when Bibles were expensive, ... [and] when it had been illegal for
well over a century to own an English Bible. ... She was born blind
[and had] to find people who were literate enough to be able to read
it to her ... she was sometimes able to get the Bible read to her
for free - provided she braved a stinking gaol. ... But often she
had to pay ... and she was restricted to just knitting and
rope-making to earn the money. Nevertheless, ... she had memorized
large portions of the New Testament by the tender age of 21. Ought
we not to have the same kind of commitment to God's Word that Joan
demonstrated?..."
Roman
Catholicism
Various Articles on the Subjects of:
The Doctrines and Teachings of Rome / The Papacy /
Scripture and Tradition / History, Persecution, the
Reformation / The Jesuits / Ecumenism and
Interfaith / Babylon: Mystery Religion /
General Articles / Websites of Interest
Recommended Materials
Books / DVDs /
Videos / etc
Talks and Sermons
Full
of Grace and Truth by Dusty
Peterson
On the most
effective ways to give and receive correction: The NEED for correction;
RECEIVING correction; and BRINGING correction.
Beware
False Balances (1 of 3)
by Dusty Peterson
Full
Length version |
Condensed
version
"Good morning. ... Who can tell
me roughly how many denominations are officially thought to now
exist within professing Christianity? Any estimates? 50? 100?..."
Beware
False Balances (2 of 3)
by
Dusty Peterson
"Good morning everyone. ... [W]ithin
what might be called the realms of 'orthodox Christianity' there are
a whole host of differing, but very strongly-held, views about God
and His Kingdom - and they clearly can't all be right. ... The
question I want to ask here is this: How do you or I know that we
too have not become spiritually blind in one or more areas of our
doctrine?..."
Miscellaneous Topics
The
Restoration of Israel
by Dusty Peterson
"What is the 'restoration' of which the
scriptures speak, e.g. in Isaiah 49? If we take the unbiased method of Bible
interpretation that says 'God's literal prophecies will all come true literally'
(i.e. before they have any allegorical meaning), then we would expect to see a
restoration of physical Israel shortly before the Lord's return..."
Terrible
Acts: Is the UK Okay or Could Judgment be Imminent? by Dusty
Peterson
"Whatever one's personal take on eschatology
(the study of the end times), and how close we are to the return of Christ, and
what will happen to the world (and to the true Church) in the intervening time,
there's something no Christian who knows the Bible, and who is aware of God's
utter purity, holiness, justice and righteousness, and who is watching the moral
decline of the UK, can sensibly deny - and that is that the UK deserves God's
judgment..."
Letter
to Dr. John Mackay by Dusty Peterson
A response to Dr. Mackay's article "Where Do
Aborted Babies Go?"
Time
To Look At Your Watch
"Our Lord declared, 'What I say unto you I say unto
all, Watch.' Is our watch telling the right time? Or have some of us
stopped watching altogether? Certain folks believe that Christians shouldn't
bother watching the world's slide towards accepting the antichrist. They argue
that such an activity is unhealthy because it can become obsessive. They also
contend that it takes our eyes off the true Christ. Finally they claim it is
pointless anyway and is therefore a waste of valuable time. These are serious
charges which deserve proper consideration. Hopefully the following will be of
use in this regard..."
The Front Of It! Piracy of the High Cons (Chart)
"In the book of Revelation, the Bible prophesies an
end-time person who, during the last days before the return of Christ Jesus, 'deceiveth
them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power
to do ... And he causeth ALL, both small and great, rich and poor,
free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And
that NO man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark..." (Rev
13:13-17, emphasis ours). Many folks understandably ask how a single person can
achieve such a feat across the entire globe without some high-level
'conspiracy'..."
The
Front Of It! Piracy of the High Cons (Supporting Documentation)
(last updated 23 September 2012)
This page is the repository for all information regarding the chart above.
Twelve
Telling Tests of Timeliness
by Dusty Peterson
"When it comes to the various errors
infiltrating the Christian Church, folks can naturally feel that some of the
older issues are 'old hat' and that the Remnant should 'move on' from them and
focus instead on the latest problems. This is entirely understandable, but I
have identified twelve tests which I believe must all be failed before effort on
some older issue can confidently be termed 'out of date'. I supply these tests
below..."
Good
To Go
by Dusty Peterson
"The next time a fellow believer seems unpleasant
towards you without good cause, why not seek the Lord about sending them the
following Bible verses?..."
The
Passion of The Christ
10 things you really
need to know about this film! Numerous very good articles have been written
about Mel Gibson's film, and so, rather than reinventing the wheel, we have here
listed our 'top ten' aspects of the film, along with at least one reference to
an article covering each point in more depth:..."
Spirit
Warriors: Some Comments
"This theme is very popular in TV programmes and
films..."
Israel
Articles: Page One
History of Israel: The Land and its People /
The Occupied Territories / The Palestinians / Hamas,
Fatah, Hezbollah, PLO, PA, Islamic Jihad, Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, The Muslim
Brotherhood, Arab-Nazi Connection / The Voice of Jews /
The Voice of Arabs and Muslims / Western Foreign Policy, UN, EU
/ The Propaganda War / Fauxtography and 'Pallywood' /
Replacementism / Other Articles, Reports, Comments
Articles: Page Two
Operation Pillar of Cloud/Defence (Nov 2012) /
Rachel Corrie (March 2003/August 2012) / Jerusalem: Israel's Capital
City (Spring-Summer 2012) / Nakba/Naksa Day Riots (May-June 2011)
/ The Massacre of the Fogel Family (March 2011) / The Gaza
Flotilla (May 2010) / Operation Cast Lead (Dec 2008-Jan 2009)
/ Israeli-Hezbollah War in Lebanon (Summer 2006) / Gilad
Shalit (June 2006) / Gaza Beach Tragedy (June 2006) /
Israeli Disengagement from Gaza (August 2005) / Jenin (2002) /
Mohammed Al Dura (Sept 2000) / Sabra and Shatila (1982) /
Deir Yassin and the Arab Refugee Problem (1948) / The Massacres of
the 1920s and 1930s
Quotations and Miscellaneous Information
Recommended Materials and
Websites
Islam
Articles
THE SYSTEM OF ISLAM: Religion, Government, Sharia Law, Justice, Jihad,
Science and Culture, History / Islamic Attitude to Women /
Islamic Slavery / Islamic Apostasy and Persecution / Dar
al-Islam and Dar al-Harb / THE ISLAMISATION OF THE WEST: General
Articles / Terrorist and Violent Jihad / Cultural and
Stealth Jihad / Waging Jihad Through Education / The
Doctrine of Immigration / The Doctrine of Lying and Deceit /
The tradition of Rape and Pillage / WE'RE ALL DHIMMIS NOW: General
Articles / Islamophobia / Western Governments, UN, EU
/ Media, Academia, Leftism, Liberalism, Law, PC and Propaganda /
The Arab 'Spring' / Islam and Israel / News Agencies,
Websites, Other Links / Recommended Materials
Quotations and Miscellaneous Information
The Religion of Peace / The Religion of
Death / Islamic Colonialism / The Arab Spring /
Immigration and Multiculturalism / We're All Dhimmis Now
Recommended Materials and Websites
Education
Articles
The Purpose of Education / Do State/Public Schools Educate?
/ THE NEW EDUCATION: General Articles / Pre- and Primary
Schooling, Literacy, English, Dyslexia / Science and Just-So Stories
/ Environmental and Ecological Studies / Geography /
Revisionism / Social Sciences/Studies / Multicultural/Multifaith
Studies and East Meets West / Waging Jihad Through Education /
Harry Potter and the New Education / Sex Education /
Death Education / The New Classroom Discipline / 'Old
Paradigm' and 'New Paradigm' Education Charts / Teachers: The New
Parents for the New Age / Universities / A Wee (Real)
History Lesson / Homeschooling / General News Items and
Comments
Quotations and Miscellaneous Information
Compulsory Schooling / Dumbing Us Down
/ A New Education for a New One World Global Society / UNESCO
/ Junk Science, Environmental and Ecological Studies, Multicultural and
Multifaith Studies, Holistic Education / Harry Potter and the New
Education / Primary Schooling, Dyslexia / Islam /
Sex Education / The New School Discipline / Opus Dei
/ Universities and Higher Education / Humanism and Secularism
/ Training Up Children - State or Parents? / Salt and Light
Recommended Materials and Websites
Scripture References
Political Correctness
Articles: Page One
Origins and History of Political Correctness / General Articles
/ Multiculturalism, Immigration, Racism / Tolerance, Equality
& Diversity, Relativism, Human Rights, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech,
Thought Control, Hate Crimes
Articles: Page Two
Gender Fascism / Marriage, Family, Children, Child's Play
/ The State as parent / Statism / Crime/Law
Enforcement, Court's/Legal System, Surveillance, A Police State /
Education and Academia / Revisionist History /
Capitalism, Corporatism, Redistribution, Politics of Envy
Articles: Page Three
Mainstream Media and Press, Popular Culture and Entertainment /
Olympics 2012 Opening and Closing Ceremonies / The Totalitarian
Dictatorship of the European Union / Eco-Fascism /
Demonising the Dissenters / Communism, Socialism, National
Socialism, Fascism, Liberalism, Progressivism / Common Purpose
Quotations and Miscellaneous Information:
Page One
Origins and History of Political
Correctness / General Articles / Multiculturalism,
Immigration, Racism / Tolerance, Equality & Diversity, Relativism,
Human Rights, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech, Thought Control, Hate
Crimes
Quotations and
Miscellaneous Information: Page Two
Gender Fascism / Marriage,
Family, Children, Child's Play / The State as Parent / Statism / Crime/Law Enforcement, Court's/Legal System, Surveillance,
A Police State / Education and Academia / Revisionist
History / Capitalism etc
Quotations and Miscellaneous Information: Page
Three
Mainstream Media and Press, Popular
Culture and Entertainment / The Totalitarian Dictatorship of the
European Union / Eco-Fascism / Demonising the Dissenters
/ Communism, Socialism, National Socialism, Fascism /
Liberalism, Progressivism, Leftism / Olympics 2012 Opening and
Closing Ceremonies
Recommended Materials and Websites
Our Books
Please Pray for:
Saeed Adedini
a pastor and US citizen, tortured and imprisoned in Tehran for
preaching the gospel and establishing house churches in Iran
http://asiaharvest.org/pray-for-saeed-abedini-in-iran/
Benham Irani
a
church pastor in Iran imprisoned in the notorious Karaj Ghezal Hesar
prison because of his religious faith
http://incontext.webs.com/behnamirani.htm
Asia Bibi
a mother of four
children sentenced to death by hanging in Pakistan for supposed
blasphemy
http://outsidecamp.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/killing-asia-bibi.html
There
are many, many others who desperately need us to pray for them...
http://www.persecution.org/
http://www.britishpakistanichristians.co.uk/
http://www.releaseinternational.org/index.php
http://www.barnabasfund.org/
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