Gavin Matthews spoke to Kay Carter, Global CEO of Christianity Explored, about the revamp of the popular gospel resource.
GM: What is Christianity Explored and why did you revamp it?
KC: It’s a video-based course which helps Christians share their faith by reading Mark’s Gospel with their non-Christian friends. A typical session involves watching a couple of short videos and discussing what Mark says about who Jesus is, why He came, and what that means for us.
It has been done by millions of people, but the current course was showing its age, so it was time for a refresh. We’re aware that while Mark’s Gospel is timeless, the way we talk about it isn’t. One of the amazing things about living Scripture is how it speaks to different generations in new ways, and we wanted to reflect that too.
GM: What’s different about the new version?
KC: We wanted the guests’ experience of discussing Mark’s Gospel to be reflected on the videos, so for the first time Christianity Explored has three presenters – Rico Tice, Emma Scrivener and Efrem Buckle – who explain Bible truths while also modelling gospel conversations.
We also wanted to address the fact that people’s questions are changing. People typically used to push back against the idea of a world broken by sin, but today few people need persuading that there is something deeply wrong. However, they may baulk at the teaching that they are part of the problem. In the new course we decided to look closely at the parable of the tenants in the vineyard, which makes this connection so well.
We’ve also worked particularly hard to bring the gospel narrative to life, and the new course includes animations of key Bible stories. We’ve found that these really help to make the Bible passages memorable.
GM: What are your distinctives as a gospel resource?
KC: Christianity Explored is all about reading the Bible in community with people who don’t yet know Jesus. Lots of people don’t have any experience of Scripture and it can be hard to know how to begin. Christianity Explored gives guests the confidence to read the whole book of Mark, supported by others, and teaches them how to find answers to their questions in the Bible while discovering the message of the gospel.
GM: How have non-Christians reacted?
KC: People really enjoyed being part of group which gave them the opportunity to talk about things that matter. They liked watching the three course presenters talking with each other about the theme of the session and then getting the chance to do that themselves with other people around them. Typically, guests found the questions interesting and liked how the videos are clear but also warm in the way they’re presented.
GM: Why is the course format so good?
KC: We get a lot of anecdotal evidence about an encouraging trickle of people who don’t know Jesus, coming into church. They’re looking for meaning and something tells them that they might be able to find it in church. Courses are perfectly suited to people who are happy to devote time to finding out and want clear information about what the gospel is all about. Christianity Explored explains the gospel, but it also teaches people how to go on searching for answers in Scripture.
GM: What advice would you give someone who wants to give it a go?
KC: Christianity Explored is something that you can pick up and use, whoever you are, however long you’ve been a Christian. Everything you need is on our website for free, and you can buy printed handbooks for your guests. We also provide support resources, such as our leaders’ podcast, to give you confidence that you can do it and help you know what to expect. If you can have a conversation, you can run a Christianity Explored course!
GM: Where can Evangelicals Now readers find out more?
