Resource review: Gladyouasked

Review by Cedric Hobbs, Oxfordshire, UK

Another pre-Alpha course, this resource has a number of interesting features.

In a sceptical world, it aims to present Biblical truth through leading experts in fields such as science, philosophy, medicine and law. Directed at students, the apologetics would also appeal to the more intellectual sort of person, or those with genuine questions who need time to consider and reflect on evidence. Of all the enquirers’ courses I have looked at, this is the strongest on apologetics.

At the same time, the personal stories and experience of community add in the experiential dimension that people searching for spiritual reality need to touch. “Journeys” is stronger than “Gladyouasked” on personal testimony. All the courses emphasise group dynamic and increasingly close relationships.

There are several options for how you use the resource –
a) Start with the question your group is most interested in. You can look at the first 6 sessions in any order. Sessions 7-10 (the gospel) are designed to be done in order.
b) Go through the course in the order in which it is written.
c) Go through in order, and then revisit any sessions about which the group is still asking questions.

4. Unlike all the other video-based courses, this one uses clips of filmed interview. The length of clips is anything between 1.07 and 5.26 minutes. This has two advantages: Increased variety, interest and momentum; Even if not you are not using the course, a particular clip could be useful in personal witness.

4. With all these enquirers’ courses now available, it would represent a valuable investment of a church’s budget to own and be familiar with a copy of each, so that either in a group context or friend to friend, members could make use of whichever one or parts of one they thought appropriate. We do need to get these tools into the hands of our people.

More details

Background	Launched in February 2004 by Innovista, an Oxford-based group working with students and student organisations from 43 countries in Europe and Eurasia.
Based on	Mixture of apologetics, personal testimonies, discussion based on leading questions (on screen), general discussion based on other group activities and Bible study
Format	One DVD/video and leader’s guide.
Order details	£42. Order from www.innovista.org or 01865 510313 Free sample video on http://www.innovista.org/gladyouasked/sessiontwo/sessiontwo.html
Range of questions asked	1. Does God matter? Does it matter whether God exists or not? Can science prove God? Evidence for God: the design of the universe Evidence for God: the beginning of the universe Can life be explained by evolution? What difference does it make personally? What would you say to someone seeking God? 2. How can God allow pain? Is God to blame for suffering? Why doesn’t God do something about our suffering? Does God make a difference? 3. Don’t all religions lead to God? What is the goal of the major world religions? How does each religion view God? What happens after we die? How do major religions view each other/Jesus? How do I get close to God in your religion? 4. Can the Bible be trusted? What is the Bible/are the gospels? Who were the gospel writers? What evidence is there to support the Bible? How would trusting the Bible affect our lives today? 5. Why is religion full of hypocrites? What is a hypocrite? Luke 18:9-14 Luke 18:15-17 The difference between religion and Christianity 6.  What was Jesus really like? e.g. how he treated the leper (Mark 1:40-42) 7. Am I not good enough for God? What is goodness? Luke 18:18-27 What did Jesus mean by goodness? 8. Why did Jesus die? What is crucifixion? Who abandoned Jesus? The problem of sin The temple curtain 9. Did Jesus really rise again? Does the resurrection matter? The alternatives to the resurrection A summary of the evidence What significance does the resurrection have personally? 10. Choosing Jesus  Peter’s choice: Who is Jesus? (Luke 9:18-20) Peter’s choice: Will I follow Jesus? (Luke 9: 21-26) How to become a Christian (optional opportunity to pray a prayer of repentance and commitment to Christ)