{{Short description|Informal Christian evangelistic teaching course}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}} {{Use British English|date=April 2015}} '''Christianity Explored''' is an informal Christian evangelistic teaching course developed by Rico Tice and Barry Cooper at All Souls Church, Langham Place, a leading Anglican church,<ref>{{Citation | last = All Souls Church | author-link = All Souls Church, Langham Place | title = What is Christianity Explored? | year = 2008 | url = http://www.allsouls.org/ascm/allsouls/static/ministries/outreach/ce/home.html | accessdate = 31 December 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080626175307/http://www.allsouls.org/ascm/allsouls/static/ministries/outreach/ce/home.html | archive-date = 26 June 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref> and published by The Good Book Company. The course is considered to stand within the conservative evangelical tradition. Christianity Explored Ministries has also developed a second evangelistic course in 2016 Life Explored.
== Course outline and versions == The third edition of the course was published on 10 May 2011. The sessions are: # Good News # Identity # Sin # The Cross # Resurrection # Grace # Come and Die
There is also a day away that features three bonus sessions: The Sower, James and John and Herod. Spin-offs include a youth version, revised in 2010 for two age groups: 11 to 14 years ("CY Nano") and 15 plus ("CY").<ref>{{Citation | title = CY is the evangelistic course for young people in the 21st century. | year = 2007 | url = http://www.christianityexplored.org/faq/cy/ | accessdate = 31 December 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081208193930/http://www.christianityexplored.org/faq/cy/ | archive-date = 8 December 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref> The seven session "Soul" DVD <ref>{{Citation | title = CY / CY Nano / Soul DVD. | year = 2010 | url = http://www.e-n.org.uk/5132-CY-CY-Nano-Soul-DVD.htm | accessdate = 30 June 2010}}</ref> is designed to work with CY, and can also be used as a stand-alone resource. There is a follow-on course entitled "Discipleship Explored", written and presented by Barry Cooper, and "English Made Easy" editions of both Christianity Explored and Discipleship Explored.<ref>{{Citation | last = Tice | first = Rico | author-link = Rico Tice | title = The Promo Movie: Rico Tice talks about the English Made Easy Edition of Christianity Explored. | year = 2008 | url = http://www.christianityexplored.org/downloads/eme/promomed.mov | accessdate = 31 December 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100919073124/http://christianityexplored.org/downloads/eme/promomed.mov | archive-date = 19 September 2010 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Christianity Explored publications are also available in Bulgarian, Dutch, German, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Luganda, Polish, Spanish, Swahili and Welsh. Translations in progress include French, Mandarin, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian and Swedish.<ref>{{Citation | title = Christianity Explored translations | url = http://www.christianityexplored.org/resources/translations/ | accessdate = 30 June 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100619141649/http://www.christianityexplored.org/resources/translations/ | archive-date = 19 June 2010 | url-status = dead }}</ref> In 2011 the course, already being used in over 50 countries, was rolled out in the United States: it was endorsed by John Piper and Tim Keller.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christianity.explored.expands.to.the.us/28156.htm|title=Christianity Explored expands to the US}}</ref>
== Use == The Church of England generally (e.g. in the 2003 publication "Evangelism - Which Way Now?") considers it, along with Alpha and the Emmaus Discipleship Course, as one of a "trinity" of courses covering all wings of the church. Other churches have also used the course: in 2006-7 the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s board of youth and children's ministry used the youth version CY extensively with the Boys Brigades.<ref>{{Citation | last = Presbyterian Church in Ireland: Board of Youth and Children's Ministry | author-link = Presbyterian Church in Ireland | title = Annual Report | year = 2007}}</ref> It has also been used in Asia, with leader training run by the Methodist Church in Singapore.<ref>{{Citation | last = Methodist Church in Singapore | author-link = Methodist Church in Singapore | title = Response Exceeds Expectations | year = 2007 | url = http://www.methodist.org.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=177 | accessdate = 20 August 2007}}</ref>
The course is popular with conservative evangelical churches.<ref>{{cite web|title=idea: The evolution of Christianity Explored|url=http://www.eauk.org/idea/the-evolution-of-christianty-explored.cfm|website=Evangelical Alliance|accessdate=11 December 2017|date=2 May 2011|quote=The course has always proved incredibly popular with conservative evangelical churches.}}</ref>
== Comparison with other evangelistic courses == Christianity Explored is distinguished from the Alpha Course by shorter videos in less formal settings, less charismatic emphasis on the Holy Spirit and by an expositional study of scripture – in this case Mark’s Gospel.<ref>{{Citation | last = Hobbs | first = Cedric | title = Resource review: Christianity Explored | year = 2007 | url = http://resource.saltlight.org/evangelism/reviewchristianityexplored | accessdate = 31 December 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080821111817/http://resource.saltlight.org/evangelism/reviewchristianityexplored | archive-date = 21 August 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref> ''9 Marks'' comments that Christianity Explored is "plainly an answer to the Alpha course". It says that the course does a "fairly good job of explaining the gospel clearly" but finds it over-full of material, and holds the view that "the use of the sinners' prayer and immediate assurance is ... troubling."<ref>{{Citation | last = Gilbert | first = Greg | title = Evangelism Course Comparison Guide | year = 2001 | url = http://www.9marks.org/partner/Article_Display_Page/0,,PTID314526%7CCHID598026%7CCIID1588422,00.html | accessdate = 31 December 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090109185051/http://www.9marks.org/partner/Article_Display_Page/0,,PTID314526%7CCHID598026%7CCIID1588422,00.html | archive-date = 9 January 2009 | url-status = dead }}</ref> It credits Christianity Explored with "the best treatment of sin, giving it a whole session", along with a good treatment of grace and the atonement.<ref>{{Citation | last = Gilbert | first = Greg | title = Evangelistic Course Comparison Chart | year = 2001 | url = http://content.silaspartners.com/456/33740/456_33740_EvangelisticComparisonChart.Course_Comparison.pdf | accessdate = 31 December 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110716070801/http://content.silaspartners.com/456/33740/456_33740_EvangelisticComparisonChart.Course_Comparison.pdf | archive-date = 16 July 2011 | url-status = usurped }}</ref> This is in agreement with (or perhaps derivative from) a 2001 article in the British Evangelical Council magazine which commended Christianity Explored, in direct contrast to Alpha, for its teaching on grace, penal substitution and the Holy Spirit.<ref>{{Citation | last = Anon | title = The 'Alpha' and the 'Christianity Explored' Courses | journal = BEC Foundations | issue = 47 | pages = 36–44 | date = Autumn 2001 | url = http://www.banneroftruth.org/pages/articles/article_detail.php?64 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://archive.today/20120730021546/http://www.banneroftruth.org/pages/articles/article_detail.php?64 | archivedate = 30 July 2012 | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | title = The 'Alpha' and the 'Christianity Explored' Courses | year = 2001 | url = http://www.banneroftruth.org/pages/articles/article_detail.php?64 | accessdate = 31 December 2008 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://archive.today/20120730021546/http://www.banneroftruth.org/pages/articles/article_detail.php?64 | archivedate = 30 July 2012 | df = dmy-all}}</ref> The course has been described as a conservative evangelical alternative to the charismatic leanings of the Alpha Course.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Jackson|first1=Bob|last2=Fisher|first2=George|title=Everybody Welcome: The Course Leader's Manual: The Course Where Everybody Helps Grow Their Church|date=2011|publisher=Church House Publishing|location=London|isbn=978-0715142844|page=90|quote=Some courses are more catholic in tone (Knowing God Better), some are conservative evangelical (Christianity Explored), some are broad church (Emmaus) and some are charismatic (Alpha).}}</ref>
The 2003 book 'Evangelism: Which Way Now?' offers a detailed examination of the benefits and drawbacks of Christianity Explored amongst other evangelistic courses and approaches to evangelism.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chpublishing.co.uk/feature.asp?id=68776 |title=Church House Publishing Alpha v Emmaus |access-date=26 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426072334/http://www.chpublishing.co.uk/feature.asp?id=68776 |archive-date=26 April 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== See also == {{Portal|Christianity}}
*Life Explored *Alpha course * Emmaus Course * The Good Book Company
==References== <references/>
==External links== *[http://www.christianityexplored.org/ Christianity Explored official website] *[http://www.ceministries.org/ Christianity Explored Ministries official website] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20150402233201/https://itunes.apple.com/app/id476470572 Christianity Explored's "One Life" iOS app] *[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.christianityexplored.OneLife Christianity Explored's "One Life" Android app]
Category:Anglican education Category:Church of England missions Category:Evangelicalism in the Church of England