Week 8 - How and Why Should I Tell Others?

*** Week Eight Small Group Leader Notes click here

6:15 pm Prayer / Administration Meeting
7:00 pm Supper
7:40 pm Introduction/Welcome suggestions
<Joke>
7:50 pm Worship
8:00 pm Talk – Why and How Should I Tell Others? Introduction
8:45 pm Optional coffee break
9:00 pm Small Groups (start at 8:45, if no coffee break)
9:45 pm End (end at 9:30 pm if no coffee break)

6:15 Prayer/ Administration Meeting

5-10 minutes	Worship: led by the Worship Leader or use a worship CD 2-3 songs of worship to prepare team
15- 20 minutes	Prayer Points: led by the Prayer Leader • Begin by breaking into groups of 3-4 and praying for each other • For the speaker and the talk • The effects of the talk – that everyone would be encouraged to go and tell others and invite friends and family to the Celebration Supper
5 minutes	Announcements: led by the Course Administrator • The Alpha Celebration supper will be on the (give date). • There are supper invitations available for guests (and team members) to begin to invite friends and family. • Please talk about this in you small groups and give us an idea of how many people to expect.
5-10 minutes	Training tips: led by the Course Administrator · Begin this week’s discussion with the question: ‘Has anyone told anybody that they’re doing the Alpha course?’ Can follow up with: ‘How did that person react?’ · Leave the last 20-30 minutes for gathering prayer requests and to pray. Ask if there is anything anyone would like to pray for. Silent prayers are fine. · All groups should pray together tonight.

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7:00 pm Supper

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7:40 pm Introduction/Welcome suggestions

“Good evening and welcome.”

“This evening’s talk is entitled ‘How can I tell others?’ and the books we recommend tonight are:
• Searching Issues - Nicky Gumbel
• Becoming a Contagious Christian - Bill Hybels
• Out of the Salt Shaker and Into the World – Rebecca Pippert

The Alpha Celebration Supper is on (give dates) and is a chance to bring friends who may be interested in seeing what you’ve been up to for the last 10 weeks and finding out about Alpha for themselves. One of the main things that we do at the supper is clear up some of the misunderstandings about the Church.

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<Joke> Church bulletin bloopers

One of the reasons that there are so many misunderstandings about the Church is that we as the Church often send out misleading messages about what we’re about.

I think one of the things about the church is that sometimes we have sent out confusing messages to the world and I think it is our fault sometimes the way that we put across the message.....is not exactly very clear.

This is particularly true in church bulletins. I don’t know whether you are familiar with the sort of information in these bulletins, but someone made a list of some of the most humorous ones. These are actual printed church bulletins. Let me give you some examples.

One church had this, ‘This afternoon there will be a meeting in the south and north ends of the church. Children will be baptized at both ends.’

Another one wrote this, ‘Tuesday at 4pm there will be an ice-cream social. All ladies giving milk come early.’

‘This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mr. Johnson to come forward and lay an egg on the altar.’

‘On Sunday a special collection will be taken to defray the expenses of the new carpet. All those wishing to do something on the new carpet, come forward and get a piece of paper.’

Another church had this notice, ‘A bean supper will be held on Saturday evening in the church basement. Music will follow.’

Finally this, ‘Tonight’s sermon: “What is hell?” Come early and listen to our choir practice.’”