a) Where it starts

Introducing God starts in the midst of the smorgasbord of spirituality that is modern Australia and then moves to the pluralistic amphitheatre of Ancient Athens.

The assumptions made about course participants is that they have not accepted that the God of the Bible is the true and living God.

b) A relationship with God

We meet God in relational categories. We understand “sin” as our declaration of autonomy. We do not “become a Christian” rather having got to know God over a number of weeks we are encouraged to enter into a committed personal relationship with Him—recognising his commitment to us, and our response to trust and serve him.

c) A relationship with others

Over the course strong bonds form amongst the table groups. For many guests this is the first group of adults that they have had extended significant conversations with. Our experience has been that many groups have wanted to keep meeting together after the course (and that some who haven't entered into relationship with God at the end of the course do so months later in what have become follow up Bible study groups).

d) It's safe

It is crucial that the guests on Introducing God feel that this is an environment where they are safe to express their views however dissenting. Christian hosts need to “bend over backwards” to achieve this.

e) “How does it work?” over “Is it true?”

Much more than “Is it true?” our guest's questions have been “How does relationship with God work in your life?” The answer to the truth question is provided in the small group when it comes up.

Find out the thinking behind Introducing God.