A Multi-Purpose Tool For Churches

Christianity Explored (http://ChristianityExplored.org) is tool for churches that was originally intended for evangelism. By going through the Gospel of Mark, people interested in investigating the Bible and the Christian faith are exposed to Jesus and His teachings in an informal environment, usually following a meal and often conducted in a home or other informal setting.

The course covers 10 weeks, which includes one "day away" or retreat to discuss such topics as the Bible, the Church, Prayer, and the Holy Spirit. Developed and refined for over 10 years, Christianity Explored was developed in All Souls Church (AllSouls.org), London the Anglican parish formerly served by John Stott, the
well-known evangelical leader, writer, and preacher. Christianity Explored was not developed by Stott himself, but emerged under the leadership of Rico Tice out of the reverent, Christ centered, solidly Biblical culture Stott built at All Souls. The program has been enhanced over the years to include the "relational elements" of being conducted over a meal.

The founders of Christianity Explored encourage groups of 6 to 9 to gather. After the meal and a brief discussion of the previous week's lessons, participants hear a talk delivered in person or from a DVD on the current week's theme. After that, Christianity Explored groups discuss any questions that arise in an informal way. It's a very casual "non-churchy" setting that lets people raise questions if they wish. Nobody is required to read, talk or pray aloud, though all may join the discussion if they wish.

Churches using Christianity Explored have found it to be a very non-threatening way to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with friends and neighbors in a friendly setting.

Because the name "Christianity Explored" is associated with evangelism, it's possible many churches are missing out on a variety of benefits that could be obtained by using this curriculum on a regular basis. Part of the reason for missing out on the benefits of CE relate to our own fears of evangelism, and failing to see how this program may be used to further other objectives of the church. Here are some other potential uses of the Christianity Explored materials:

1. Christianity Explored is a wonderful tool for people who think "We can't do evangelism." Usually that's because people envision an "evangelist" as an all-knowing, fearless, Gospel salesperson who won't take "no" for an answer and keeps on until the "prey" capitulates in defeat. Yet that doesn't mean the person has capitulated to Jesus Christ - only that he or she has said whatever was necessary to "escape" from the "evangelistic encounter."
   
   That is not how our Lord called people, and that image of "evangelism" is itself a dreadful caricature of someone who is the Lord's Messenger. Christianity Explored allows people who never felt themselves to be "evangelists" to work in the Lord's harvest field using their warmth, friendship, and ability to operate a DVD player to play a presentation (this is not true yet in all language versions but it is true in the English version). It's not even necessary to have all the "right" answers! One only needs to be willing to help connect people to God's Word and trust the Holy Spirit to provide the answers people seek through God's Word.

2. Christianity Explored is a wonderful tool for renewing the local congregation. Because Christianity Explored is connected with a meal, it's a wonderful relationship-building tool. Use it as a Biblical and - relational - refresher course to get people back into the Scriptures and back together for the sake of God's Kingdom! The fact is that many professed Christians come to Christianity Explored groups because they want to get serious about their faith, and Christianity Explored is a way for them to do that!
   
   Along the way it also prepares them to help facilitate CE groups for others. When Christians are renewed in their understanding of Christ and the Good News, when they're renewed in their connection to the congregation, and when they see how easily they can participate in the work of evangelism, that's a positive recipe for strengthening and expanding the congregation. Create a special small group to test it. Or Sunday School classes may wish to use the materials for their own study.

3. Christianity Explored is an excellent basis for receiving new members into the congregation. The expectations we convey to new church members will ultimately make or break the church. If a congregation uses a curriculum like Christianity Explored, it is conveying to new members that the most important value of the congregation is to live by faith as a repentant disciple of Jesus Christ. Over time, as every member embraces that reality, the congregation as a whole takes on a new character and trajectory that is driven by Christ Himself instead of the idols that tend to captivate the church. Some, upon learning of this requirement, may stop pursuing membership, but this should not be a cause for alarm. Even our Lord Himself saw many turn away when He called them to genuine faith and self-sacrifice. But no soldier enters the military without "Boot Camp" to learn the fundamentals of military life, not to mention ongoing drill. In the same way, no soldier of Christ should expect to live within the "Church Militant" without likewise having experienced a boot camp and ongoing training for Life in Christ. Christianity Explored should not be confused with a complete program of catechism; but such a program is far more than most congregations require. And to remind new members that Christians are continually required to study to "show themselves approved" (2 Timothy 2:15) as God's workers - an excellent "graduation gift" for new members would, of course, be a copy of the catechism!

4. Christianity Explored is an excellent group activity for confirmation or youth camps. Many youth (and adults) have less than flattering memories of confirmation. Start off your confirmation class with Christianity Explored to bond the group relationally, and unite them in their common appreciation of the Good News of Jesus Christ. One might do worse with a confirmation class! Once bonded through Christianity Explored, the traditional curriculum is more likely to be received with enthusiasm as well. Likewise, depending on the length of the camp, the CE curriculum might be incorporated in whole or in part as the basis of an intensive youth camp centered on the Gospel of Mark.

5. Christianity Explored is excellent preparation for short-term mission trips. Requiring Christianity Explored as a prerequisite for a short term mission trip ensures that participants better embody what it means to be on the mission of Christ. Even when language barriers forbid preaching or even speaking the Good News by mission trip participants, being reminded of our Lord's own self-sacrifice for the sake of the world can't help but shape the character of mission trip participants to radiate Christ through their holy service, despite language barriers.

6. Christianity Explored is an excellent prerequisite for service on the church leadership board. In the Protestant Church's traditional understanding, the congregation's elder approximates on the local level a serious Christian who is discerning and able to guide the people of God's daily affairs with divine wisdom. In practice, many elders are selected not for their holy gravity but because of their availability or popularity. Many confuse their service as elders in Christ's Church with the role of a director on a corporate board, not a spiritual ministry of service and watching over the flock. When the local congregation requires that potential elders and other church leaders at least have participated in Christianity Explored, that is a solid step forward in the direction of the church from quasi-business enterprise to Kingdom outpost.

7. Christianity Explored may even help people who want to learn a new language. Depending on the setting, there are immigrants who wish to practice conversational English. In fact, Southern Baptists have regularly used the Gospel of Mark for "English as a Second Language" instruction -  the same Bible book used in CE. Christianity Explored has "Easy English" versions, but even normal CE can be a setting where people have an opportunity to converse in English in an informal setting with native speakers. Because CE comes in a variety of translations, a participant could conceivably have a copy in English and in their native language to compare. 
   
   A current list of CE translations is available here:
   

   http://www.christianityexplored.org/news/62/christianity-explored-translations/

8. Christianity Explored helps identify and train future congregational leaders. Christianity Explored is simple. It does, however, take work, a degree of organization, and faithfulness to the spread of the Good News. Those who perform well in their work with CE will do well in other acts of service in Christ's Church. But because advanced degree, profound theological knowledge, and sophisticated skills are NOT required to work in the Christianity Explored ministry, this allows people who might otherwise feel "disqualified" from serving Christ to test and prove for themselves the skills they possess for the kingdom of God. They may be pleasantly surprised and reveal their future usefulness! Suddenly CE allows even those who feel they cannot teach to find a place of useful service in ministry with the pastor, elders, and others.

9. Christianity Explored relieves pastors of many burdens. Sometimes we pastors believe we should do everything ourselves. After all, the big churches create their own curriculum; why shouldn't we? When practical time constraints make this impossible, the guilt and sense of leaving necessary work going undone can weigh down on the minister. Christianity Explored is a credible, proven tool that - as outlined above - can be used repeatedly in a variety of settings in the same congregation to make sure that the Good News of God in Jesus Christ flourishes in the congregation! Using it can relieve the pastor of many burdens whether they are realistically our burdens to bear or not.

In sum, Christianity Explored offers a sound and versatile instructional resource that can benefit local churches in a wide variety of ways.