Alpha Power Point Leader Training Lisa 1.1.10 Higher Version
1.
2. Welcome
to Alpha Leader Training!
Introductions
•Name
•Church
•What Alpha means to me
•Icebreaker
Be succinct – or we’ll be here till next
week!
3. What is the Purpose of
Alpha?
Ultimate Purpose –
Everyone come to know Jesus
Goal –
Gently, persuasively, caringly,
sensitively, respectfully to listen and
love them
4. Why Alpha?
What is the vision of Alpha?
To make disciples of Jesus from all walks of
life to transform society one life, one church,
one community at a time.
What is the mission of Alpha?
To support the local church in its call to make
disciples of Jesus and deepen relationships
with Jesus and other Christians by providing
the tool of the Alpha course.
5. Alpha History
• Began in England in 1976 in the living
room of a clergyman of the Anglican
Church
• Most of its current form was developed
by Nicky Gumbel, an Anglican priest at
Holy Trinity Brompton in England
• At HTB, more than 500 people
participate in each of three courses
held during the year
6. Alpha History
The Alpha course is worldwide
• 44,365 courses
• 163 Countries
• Over 13 Million Attendees
• 72 languages – 5 major translations
• 127 denominations
7. Alpha History
Alpha stands for…
• Anyone can come
• Learning and laughter
• Pasta
• Helping one another
• Ask anything
9. Alpha Schedule
Introductory Dinner - Alpha #6 ―How Does God
―Christianity: Boring, Untrue & Guide Us?‖
Irrelevant?‖ – soon to be - ‖Is
There More to Life than This?‖ Weekend/Day Away
Alpha #1 ―Who is Jesus?‖ Alpha #7 ―How Can I Resist
Evil?‖
Alpha #2 ―Why Did Jesus Die?‖
Alpha #8 ―Why and How
Alpha #3 ―How Can I Be Sure Should We Tell Others?‖
of My Faith?‖
Alpha #9 ―Does God Heal
Alpha #4 ―Why and How Do I Today?‖
Pray?‖
Alpha #10 ―What About the
Alpha #5 ―Why and How Should Church?‖
I Read the Bible?‖
Celebration Supper
10. Alpha Small
Groups
Table leaders are servant leaders
- not self-serving leaders!
– not teachers!
Those attending are guests.
11. Alpha Small
Groups
The small groups are seen as a
fundamental part of Alpha’s success
across the world
Friendships are developed and this is
the primary reason people come back
(especially the skeptics)
The small group may stay together
after the conclusion of the course
12. Alpha Principles
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come
with eloquence or superior wisdom as I
proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For
I resolved to know nothing while I was with you
except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I came
to you in weakness and fear, and with much
trembling. My message and my preaching were
not with wise and persuasive words, but with a
demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that
your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but
on God’s power.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
13. Expectations for Team
• Continue to develop personal
faith
• Focus on Guests
• Communicate with prayer
partners and leaders
• Prayer
19. Aims of Small Group
Leaders
Discussion
You are the host. They are
your guests. Treat them as
such.
• Non-judgmental
• Respectful
• Honest
• Authentic
• Genuine
20. Aims of Small Group
Leaders
• Practical details
• Common errors
– weak leadership
– too dominate leadership
• Ask simple questions
– What do you think?
– What do you feel?
• Be prepared for common questions
21. Aims of Small Group
Leaders
Leader is a referee and does not
join sides in discussions.
There to ensure fair play.
Share the Ground Rules.
There to draw out thoughts,
feelings, and ideas.
Get Searching Issues and read it.
22. Aims of Small Group
Leaders
Model Bible study
1. Only when the most reluctant person is
ready
2. Start with questions
3. Prepare carefully
4. Have group read Bible passage
5. Give short introduction
6. Get people talking
7. Encourage everyone
8. DON’T be like school!!!
9. Pitch low
23. Aims of Small Group
Leaders
Develop lasting friendships
with the Body of Christ
Get to know each person well.
Key – 5 or 6 significant
Christian friendships.
24. Aims of Small Group
Leaders
Learn to minister to one
another
27. Pastoral Care
Summary of Alpha: LOVE!!
1.God loves you – message of the
Bible
2.We love God – 1st commandment
3.Love others – 2nd commandment
Heart of Christianity
28. Aim of Pastoral Care
• Love who God sends us
• Lifelong process to personal
spiritual maturity
• Don’t hurry the process.
• Small groups and
relationships are KEY!!
29. Aim of Pastoral Care
Be patient. Lots is going on.
• Hearing the gospel.
• Seeing Jesus Christ in your lives.
• Experience Jesus Christ.
• Experiencing Christian community.
• Not just one relationship.
30. Methods of Pastoral
Care
Give Guests opportunities
• Encourage growth in:
• To study
• To pray
• Personal relationship with Christ
• Relationships within the Body of
Christ
31. Alpha General
Attitudes
Be an encourager
• 1 Thessalonians 5:11
• Therefore encourage one another and build
each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Understanding
Affirmation
Validation
Appreciation
Acceptance
32. Alpha General
Attitudes
Be a listener
• James 1:19
• My dear brothers, take note of this:
Everyone should be quick to listen,
slow to speak and slow to become
angry.
No religious conversation during meals.
Draw them out.
33. Alpha General
Attitudes
Be a listener
• Listening empowers people.
• Opinions are valued.
• Gives dignity.
34. Alpha General
Attitudes
Be a peacemaker
• Matthew 5:9
• Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will
be called sons of God.
Don’t argue.
Diffuse arguments between guests.
Validate points made by each.
No arguing allows people to change with
greater comfort.
35. Alpha Commitment
Colossians 1:29
To this end I labor, struggling with all his
energy, which so powerfully works in me.
Our Responsibility:
Prayer Overcoming tiredness
Hard work Loving everyone
Effort Overcoming disappointment
Late nights Concentrating on guests
36. Alpha Commitment
God’s Grace
Allow the Spirit of God to speak
to you during the talks and fill
you during worship and ministry
moments.
Ask for the Holy Spirit to be
present.
Be ready to serve.
37. Some Listening Facts
•We can effectively hear 125-250 words per
min.
•We can effectively think 1,000-3,000
words per min.
•85% of what we learn is by listening
•45% of our day is spent listening
•75% amount of time preoccupied, distracted
or forgetful
38. What does the Bible
say about listening?
Proverbs 18:13
He who answers before listening—
that is his folly and his shame.
James 1:19
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone
should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to
become angry,
Proverbs 18:2
A fool finds no pleasure in understanding
but delights in airing his own opinions.
39. It’s a Process
• Conversion Process (Vision New England)
• 86% of new converts came to faith in
Christ over a period of time.
• 32% over several months to a year
• 54% journey to salvation took place over
several years
• 14% one point conversion
“Vision New England Recent Convert Study”, Jan. 2007, Vision New England,
Acton, Main.
40. Six Invisible Barriers
1. Jumping to Conclusions or Causes
•Shuts down communication
•Tell someone their motive
•Make judgement about their relationship with
Jesus
•Judging can make guest frustrated and decide
to not return
•Guests don’t feel valued
42. Six Invisible Barriers
3. Hot Buttons
•Cause emotional responses.
•If they hit a hot button for me and I
respond, it becomes about me.
•Focus should be on guests.
•Think soccer ball.
43. Six Invisible Barriers
4. Anxiety
•Allows focus to shift to us again!
•We worry about:
•Questions we don’t know the answer to
•Asking good questions
•Domination
•Dead air
44. Six Invisible Barriers
5. Defensiveness
•We become preachy and argumentative
•Key
•Breath slow long and deep
•Talk to self – NOT ABOUT ME!
•Need to know what to say to them
45. Six Invisible Barriers
6. Insensitivity
•Must be aware of the feelings of others
•Must not ignore any sharing
•Pay attention to the message we are
sending
•Focus on us or guest?
46. Oswald Chambers said:
We often represent Jesus in
a spirit that is not his. We
harm Him by our advocacy for
Him.
47. Alpha Guest
on First Night
How do they feel?
What are they looking for?
48. Greatest Gift
•Listening ear, eye contact, and
good body language.
•It gives them value.
•Allows for sharing
•Gives a place for Jesus Christ to
touch them.
50. 5 Keys to
Communicating
S ervant attitude
E ye contact
R elaxed posture
V aluing differences
E mbody Jesus’s love – Love them
thru me
51. If We Listen
Effectively
•Realize that the first thing out of our
mouth isn’t want they want to talk about.
•Must make them feel safe.
•Validate their feelings.
•Understand.
•Allow them to share at the deepest level.
52. Feeling Chart
Nonverbal Warmth
Remember: Also Consider:
S – Sensitive Seating T – Touch
O – Openness E – Environment
L – Leaning A – Accommodating
Attitude
A – Appropriate eye
contact
R - Relax
53. Questions
•Not a sales pitch
•Not memorized set of questions
•Putting caring for them into words.
54. Basic Reflective
Listening Formula
Tentative Opening + Feeling + About/Because/When + Thought
It sounds like you feel mad about
I hear you saying that you feel sad because of
If I hear you correctly you feel glad when
You seem to be saying you feel afraid about
I think I hear you saying you feel confused because of
I’m not sure I am follow you feel ashamed about
Am I hearing you say you feel lonely when
55. Basic Reflective
Listening
•Careful not to give advice.
•Practice with others figuring out what they are
really saying.
•Not being manipulative – just trying to
understand
•Hearing and understanding leads to compassion.
•Compassion keeps us from trying to be right
and lets us sit with them.
56. Characteristics of
Wondering Questions
1. Non-threatening
• No right or wrong
• Only opinions
2. Communicates humility
3. Allows people to discover the truth for
themselves
• About caring for someone with no
ulterior motive
57. Characteristics of
Wondering Questions
4. Causes people to ask questions
• We are all seekers
• Must listen first – but discern what
people are wondering about
• Initiate a wondering dialogue – be
curious about them
• Search for underlying questions
• Think Columbo
58. When they ask
the hard question
•Try to find out the underlying question
•Don’t debate – that comes from
emotional base
•Stay away from theology
•―I was wondering why that question &
why that question right now?‖
59. When they ask
the hard question
•Important to decide when & if to send
the question back to the table.
•End with ―I wonder if you can continue
to participate in the course and if you
don’t find the answers you seek, we’ll
talk.‖
•Write the question down so they know
you won’t forget to get back to it.
60. When they ask
the hard question
You have the privilege of meeting people
where they are worried.
That is the place where they long to
meet Jesus
61. I Corinthians 1: 26-31
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called.
Not many of you were wise by human standards; not
many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame
the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to
shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this
world and the despised things that are not – to nullify
the things that are, so that no one may boast before
him. It is because of him that you are in Christ, Jesus,
who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our
righteousness, holiness, redemption. Therefore as it is
written: ―Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.‖
62. 1 Peter 4:8-11
Above all, love each other deeply, because love
covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality
to one another without grumbling. Each one
should use whatever gift he has received to serve
others, faithfully administering God's grace in its
various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it
as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone
serves, he should do it with the strength God
provides, so that in all things God may be praised
through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the
power for ever and ever. Amen.
63. To get access to this
Alpha slide show:
http://www.slideshare.net
/lmcculloch/slideshows
