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HOW TO RUN AN ALPHA GROUP AND FAQS

We want to support you well as you lead Alpha! Below we have our frequently asked questions and concerns.
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If we haven't answered your question with the details provided send us an email and we can set up a time to talk.
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Find the weekly Alpha film links and discussion questions below - Alpha Schedule.‍

TRAINING MATERIALS

In order to be involved in leading at Alpha you must attend a training. Trainings are scheduled in the fall, winter, and spring. Email us to sign up for the next training. You can review the most important training video here: How to lead an Alpha small group.

HOW DO I START A NEW ALPHA GROUP?

That’s great that you want to start a new group! First attend a training, and then review the weekly resources below. Email us to tell us about the new group you'd like to start.

ALPHA ISN'T FOR CHRISTIANS, RIGHT?

Great question! The topics are both basic and accessible AND deep and nuanced. The films provide rich discussion for both Christians and people far from Jesus. Using the Alpha curriculum across our small groups helps our community become aware of what people who are skeptical think. It helps us identify where we may be living in a Christian bubble and how we can start seeing more like Jesus, who had eyes of compassion for those who were lost. Alpha teaches us tools of hospitality, listening, and dependence which are ways of showing up that we can then apply wherever we are: work, a family gathering at Christmas, in the cafeteria at lunch. Anywhere.

I WANT TO INVITE SOMEONE

I have lots of friends/coworkers/family who are far from Jesus and I want to invite them to an Alpha. Great! You can invite them to the Alpha at your home or invite them along with you to an Alpha at one of the community spaces around town, or online! Here’s the website you can send to them. AskAtAlpha.com

PREPARING FOOD FOR ALPHA

Need Help preparing food for Alpha?

Have a weekly sign up for your group to assign dates for meals. This is a great way to include your group in leading Alpha.
If dinner seems like too much, try providing light snacks or desserts, and drinks. The goal is to create an environment of hospitality and connection, the “type” of food doesn’t matter as much.
Running Alpha Online? Try a light ice breaker and create hospitality by having prompted questions for guests to answer.
Need easy Recipes ideas? Try these: Easy Recipe Ideas
Remember it’s also okay to order pizza, make a big pot of chili, or even do breakfast for dinner! Anything goes and remember to have fun with it. We love a good, taco night or Italian night too.
If you have additional questions about preparing food email us at alpha@vineyardcolumbus.org.

HOW TO INVITE

An invitation to Alpha does not have to be perfect. What’s most important is that we simply do it. That’s what is so scary. The good news is that even the simplest invitation, made with genuine love, can be used by God to speak deeply to someone, even if they are not outwardly seeking.

INSPIRATION AND EXAMPLES OF INVITATION

“Even when I’m scared or nervous, I invite to Alpha, or church, because it’s a part of my life and it would be strange for me not to want to share a different part of my life with my friend. I also invite because then it gives my friend the chance to say, “yes” or “no”, if I don’t then I’m choosing for them. I want them to have the opportunity to respond, ‘yes’ or no’.
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Read more about how to invite when you’re afraid of hearing ‘no’.
What if I invite but they say “no”?
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Here are a few ideas of how to invite Alpha. Try using one of these ideas in a text message to a friend or mention it as you play pickleball with a co-worker:

“Alpha is an international organization that helps create spaces to process faith, and I’m going to be involved in hosting one of those spaces in Columbus. Would you like to attend with me?”
“One thing I miss the most these last couple years is having a place to talk to people who think differently than me and challenge me with new perspectives and ideas. I miss talking about real things with people who are not in my ‘bubble’. I'm going to be doing exactly that at a place called Alpha, would you want to try it out with me?”
“I know you’re not interested in church that much right now. I’m getting involved in something called Alpha, I think you would love it because it’s a space where we talk about faith and big life topics, but in a natural way, and anyone can say anything they like. I know you love talking about spirituality and all sorts of things- would you like to try this out with me and give me your feedback about what you think?”

RESOURCES TO INVITE

Alpha Promo Ad
Social Media Invite
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Maybe it feels easier to invite someone to a place outside your home? That’s why we’re doing Alpha at community spaces around town: Alpha at COhatch spaces, Online Alpha, or the Vineyard Community Center are great places to invite people. You send them this website where they can get information and register: AskAtAlpha.com.

We also have invite cards! Pick some up at Guest Central at your campus.

ALPHA SCHEDULE

Below is a list of topics for each week along with a link to a video when applicable.

Week 1

WHAT IF YOU WERE LOVED?
‍Getting to the first week of Alpha is the hardest, for people hosting and for the guests. It’s hard for everyone! So be encouraged if you feel nervous or scared, God is with you. When you feel nervous, remember that if you’ve invited people, they probably also feel nervous so just pray for them.

Read through the Huddle Note for this week (below) and take a few minutes to pray with your hosts and helpers, or even by yourself if it’s just you. Give the group over to the Lord. He’s the good leader, you just follow and respond to what He is doing.

What if you were loved?
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‍Huddle Notes

WEEK 2

WHAT IF YOU WEREN'T ALONE AND YOUR LIFE HAD MEANING?

‍What if you weren't alone?

What if your life had meaning?
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‍Huddle Notes

Week 3

WHO IS JESUS?

‍Who is Jesus?

‍Huddle Notes

Week 4

WHY DID JESUS DIE?

‍Why Did Jesus Die?

‍Huddle Notes

Week 5

HOW CAN I HAVE FAITH?
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‍How Can I Have Faith?

‍Huddle Notes

Week 6

WHY AND HOW DO I PRAY?

‍Why and How Do I Pray?

‍Huddle Notes

‍Prayer Exercise

Week 7

WHY AND HOW SHOULD I READ THE BIBLE?

‍Why and How Should I Read the Bible?

‍Huddle Notes

‍Prayer Exercise

Week 8

HOW DOES GOD GUIDE US?
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‍How Does God Guide Us?
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‍Huddle Notes
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‍Prayer Exercise

Week 9

INVITATION TO TRY CHURCH AT ADVENT
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‍Invitations to “Try Church at Advent” will be made available soon for you to pass at to your group.

For people who encounter Jesus for the first-time during Alpha the perfect next step is to do Alpha again as a ‘helper’ or to invite friends to come with them. The next Alpha will be in Jan/Feb 2023 (information to come).

We’ll also have a little survey people can fill out about their experience with Alpha.

‍How Does God Guide Us?
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‍Huddle Notes
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‍Prayer Exercise‍‍

Sometime between Week 6 and Week 8 there will be a special "Holy Spirit Saturday" with all Alpha groups invited to participate. Email Alpha.VineyardColumbus.org for details. These videos will be seen that day:
• Who Is the Holy Spirit?
• How Can I Be Filled With the Holy Spirit?
• Discussion questions and prayer resources

PRAY

We are dependent on God to move in people’s heart. Prayer is the most important thing we can do in this Alpha season. Please pray along with our guide each week.

Weekly Prayer Guides

WEEK 1

IS THERE MORE TO LIFE THAN THIS?‍

P – Pause: Roman 5:5. Throughout Alpha, we need the Holy Spirit. Invite the Holy Spirit to come, wait in silence, and welcome his presence.
R – Rejoice: 1 John 3:1. Rejoice and thank God for... The faith of those who invited friends, family, even strangers to Alpha. The people who we know are coming to Alpha and for the people coming that we don’t know about yet. The hosts, helpers, and volunteer team—particularly those helping for the first time. God’s love for each of us.
A – Ask: 1 Thessalonians 2:8. One of the greatest ways to love people is to pray for them. Each week, we will pray for our guests and for one another.
Ask God for the guests: That nothing will prevent them from coming to Alpha, and God would give them the courage to attend. That they feel relaxed during the first group discussion. That the whole experience would blow them away: totally different than what they imagined!
Ask God for the team: For our welcome and hospitality to feel natural and give guests a sense of belonging. For wisdom, discernment, and direction to place each guest in the right group. For the emcee(s) as they host the evening. For laughter and connection among the guests, hosts, and helpers in the groups. For the health and safety of all team members and their families.
Y – Yield: Romans 12:1. “Yield” or more simply put, “Say yes to God!” He wants us to experience the joy of partnering with him. Tell God that you surrender and “Yes!” to everything he wants to do on this Alpha. Go enjoy the adventure!

Week 2

WHO IS JESUS?

P – Pause: Invite the Holy Spirit to come, wait in silence, and welcome his presence.
R – Rejoice: Thank God…
For the guests who came last week.
For the new people who signed up this week.
For the small group discussions that took place.
For the Holy Spirit moving through our team.
A – Ask:
Ask God for the guests…
That guests from last week would return and new people would come tonight.
That the small groups would be fun, barriers would come down, and questions would be asked!
For friendships to spark among the guests.
Ask God for the team (John 7:37-38)…
For team members who have had a hard day and are feeling spiritually thirsty today.
For hosts and helpers to have empathy and the peace of Christ, as they listen and hear from each of the guests.
For continued wisdom and discernment for putting new guests in the right group.
Y – Yield: Sometimes wild things are said during this session’s group discussion. Take a deep breath and say “yes to God” in how he is using all of it for his good purpose.

WEEK 3

WHY DID JESUS DIE?

P – Pause: Pslam 103:8-12. Invite the Holy Spirit to come, wait in silence, and welcome his presence.
R – Rejoice: Thank God…
For his love—that he would die in our place.
For making us clean by the blood of Jesus—he came not to rub it in, but to rub it out!
That whatever we’ve done, we can be forgiven.
A – Ask:
Ask God for the guests…
That they would learn more about themselves, about Jesus, and specifically why he died.
That he would bless the group discussion. Pray specifically for one person that you are excited about and one person who is more vulnerable or hurting.
Ask God for the team…
For a fresh revelation of your own forgiveness right now. Receive his forgiveness.
For ears to hear and eyes to see how God is already at work in the lives of the guests.
For God to use the hosts and helpers in their questions.
Y – Yield: Is your group not quite what you expected? Set aside any doubts, yield to God, and pray in faith for God to work in this group.

WEEK 4

HOW CAN I HAVE FAITH?

P – Pause: Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. Invite the Holy Spirit to come, wait in silence, and welcome his presence.
R – Rejoice: Thank God…
That our faith is not in ourselves but rests in him!
That he is using us to help the guests discover a relationship with Jesus.
That he is already at work—even if we cannot see it!
A – Ask:
Ask God to work in the guests, as he did in Matthew 13:4-8
Vs 4 - “As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.” Pray for guests who immediately forget what they hear when they leave Alpha each week.
Vs 5-6 - “Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.” Pray for guests who can’t seem to get beyond the surface and are avoiding deep hurts and pain.
Vs 7 - “Other seeds fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.” Pray for guests who are struggling with the worries of the world and how this is choking their faith.
Vs 8 - “Still, other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop – a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” Pray for guests who are hearing and receiving the good news of Jesus.
Ask God for the team…
For a fresh revelation of your own forgiveness right now. Receive his forgiveness.
For ears to hear and eyes to see how God is already at work in the lives of the guests.
For God to use the hosts and helpers in their questions.
Y – Yield: Is your group not quite what you expected? Set aside any doubts, yield to God, and pray in faith for God to work in this group.

John Wimber famously said, “Faith is spelled R-I-S-K!” Faith has been described as putting your full weight on something, like sitting on a chair.

Yield to God’s power and not our own human wisdom. Pray for God’s presence during this session.

WEEK 5

WHY AND HOW DO I PRAY?

P – Pause: Read Ephesians 3:14-21. Invite the Holy Spirit to come, wait in silence, and welcome his presence.
R – Rejoice: Thank God…
For the relationship we enjoy with him through prayer.
For listening to and answering our prayers throughout Alpha so far.
For the friendships forming in the Alpha groups.
A – Ask:
Ask God for the guests:
That they continue to share openly and honestly during group discussions.
That they would take one step closer in prayer and relationship with God.
That they would experience God’s love in a real and relevant way.
Ask God for the team…
For hosts and helpers as they model prayer for the first time in the small group. Pray each guest would think, “I can do that!”
That the team, too, would experience God’s love in a very real way.
Y – Yield: Yield to God and be encouraged.

WEEK 6

WHY AND HOW SHOULD I READ THE BIBLE?

P – Pause: Read Psalm 19:7-11. Invite the Holy Spirit to come, wait in silence, and welcome his presence.
R – Rejoice: Thank God…
For the guests who are starting to pray and have a relationship with God.
For God’s work in people’s hearts.
A – Ask:
Ask God for the guests:
That their desire increases to read God’s Word and know about Jesus.
That the small groups would continue to have engaging conversations.
Ask God for the team…
For continued wisdom around introducing prayer and reading the Bible.
For the Holy Spirit to fill them and speak through their questions.
To radiate God’s love for the guests.
Y – Yield: Yield to God’s love for you. He loves you and wants to minister to you.

WEEK 7

WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?

P – Pause: Jesus encourages us to ask, seek, and knock. He reminds us that the Father longs to give the Spirit to those who ask. Read Luke 11:13. Invite the Holy Spirit to come, wait in silence, and welcome his presence.
R – Rejoice: Thank God…
For all the guests who are still present at Alpha.
For the hearts he is preparing for this moment.
A – Ask:
Ask God for the guests:
That the session would be full of joy, laughter, and peace.
That as people process who the Holy Spirit is, that they would grow in expectation for what the Holy Spirit will do.
Ask God for the team…
To fill the team with the Holy Spirit, so they can share that ministry with others.
To continue to lead with respect for the individual and where each guest is comfortable.
Y – Yield: Yield to the Holy Spirit and whatever He wants to do this session and the next session.

WEEK 8

HOW CAN I BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?

P – Pause: Invite the Holy Spirit to come, wait in silence, and welcome his presence.
R – Rejoice: Thank God…
That he is personal and loves to encounter us with his presence.
For the hearts he is preparing for this moment.
A – Ask:
Ask God for the guests:
To remove any barriers blocking someone from receiving the Holy Spirit.
That the session would be full of joy, laughter, and peace.
That the session would be full of joy, laughter, and peace.
That God would encounter people with his love, heal, and give gifts of his Spirit to people.
Ask God for the team…
To fill the team with the Holy Spirit, so they can share that ministry with others.
To continue to lead with respect for the individual and where each guest is comfortable.
For prophetic words and pictures to help guide the prayer time.
To move in power as they pray for the guests. For hosts and helpers to see God working in and through them.
Y – Yield: Yield to the Holy Spirit and whatever He wants to do this session and the next session.

WEEK 9

HOW DOES GOD GUIDE US?

P – Pause: Read Jeremiah 29:11. Invite the Holy Spirit to come, wait in silence, and welcome his presence.
R – Rejoice: Thank God…
For people who started reading the Bible this week.
For the ways God has been guiding the guests and our team throughout Alpha.
A – Ask:
Ask God for the guests:
For this session’s discussion—that God would give assurance for those who are unsure about God’s plan for their life.
Pray that the guests begin to see how God has been guiding them.
Ask God for the team…
To give everyone strength, discernment, patience, and confidence in how he is moving in ways we see and ways we don’t see.
As Alpha winds up, pray for rest and encouragement for the team.
Y – Yield: Yield to the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Alpha

Alpha is a place for honest conversation about Christian faith. Vineyard Columbus hosts Alpha gatherings in the fall, winter, and spring of each year, in community spaces and in homes.

HERE'S HOW YOU CAN ENGAGE:

WHAT IS ALPHA?

HOW TO RUN AN ALPHA GROUP AND FAQS

HOW TO INVITE

ALPHA SCHEDULE

ALPHA SCHEDULE

PRAY

Alpha

Alpha is a place for honest conversation about Christian faith. Vineyard Columbus hosts Alpha gatherings in the fall, winter, and spring of each year, in community spaces and in homes.

HERE'S HOW YOU CAN ENGAGE:

WHAT IS ALPHA?

HOW TO RUN AN ALPHA GROUP AND FAQS

HOW TO INVITE

ALPHA SCHEDULE

ALPHA SCHEDULE

PRAY

TELL US YOUR STORY