18 home & group studies on the basics of the Christian faith, and how to put them into practice

This short, self- and group- teaching course uses an easy, programmed method of learning, and is ideal for nurturing new believers.

It is especially ideal for those who have been through Alpha or other enquirer courses, who have made a commitments of faith and who now need further discipling. However, older members, too, will benefit by using it and so become more sure of the basic tenets of their Christian faith.

The course content is divided into three main sections – the believer's first steps, the believer's new life, and the believer and the church. Each section is further divided into six studies, taking clearly defined topics for each study. One advantage of this approach means that new students can join the course at any point (although it is strongly advised that students joining mid-course are initially taken through the first two studies). This allows for a continuous 'teaching cycle' which can be maintained on a rolling basis in a local church small group programme, thus avoiding those 'between course' times which may be just when some new believers are in need of discipleship.

The programme - lessons and content

First Steps

1. The new birth
2. Repentance from sin
3. Faith and forgiveness
4. Obedience
5. The family of God
6. Filled with the Holy Spirit

New Life

7. How to read the Bible
8. How to pray
9. How to overcome the Devil
10. How to overcome the old nature
11. How to overcome the world
12. How to share the Good News with others

The Church

13. Baptism
14. The Lord's Supper
15. Members of a local church
16. What is the 'Church'?
17. God's stewards
18. Led by God

Home Study book: The home study book is the main building block from which the student learns at his own pace and in his own time, enabling him to come to each group study having already achieved a great deal of learning without much apparent effort. The group study then uses small group dynamics to underpin and develop each topic in a way that grounds our discipleship into the realities of everyday life.

Tutor Manual: The tutor's manual gives detailed guidance for leading the group studies – how to run the course; the preparation of each lesson and the goals to be achieved; how to adapt the contents and the methodology to the student's level, either by simplifying or amplifying the approach; advice and help on counselling and nurturing new believers; group dynamics and working with a group. Using this book, mature Christians can lead a group even if they have never done so before.

Extras: With each home study book come two double-sided bookmarks, double-sided memeory verse cards, and a (newly-written) evangelistic leaflet (6-page 210x99). All are printed 2-colour.

Support: SEAN UK is conscious of the fact that Life to the Full is often likely to be the users' first experience of this type of material and we now make routine 6-week and 6-month follow-ups (via a phone call wherever possible) in order to offer practical advice, encouragement and support. Moreover, the tutors are especially encouraged to take advantage of a tutor-training day – these are held regularly at Weycroft Hall. Additionally, ongoing 'road' workshops introducing this type of learning are held in various parts of the UK – email admin@sean.uk.net or phone 01297 630104 for details of the next few.

Ultimately, any small group tools rely on the group leader (or tutor) for their effectiveness, and SEAN UK places great emphasis on tutor training – see tutortraining.html for more details.

Accreditation: Through the SEAN Extension College you may obtain credits which go towards certificates and diplomas. Credits can be issued only by the tutor. When the appropriate number is obtained, SEAN will award a certificate or diploma signed by the Dean of Studies, Martin Goldsmith. Certificate and diplomas can add incentive to study the word of God.

Testimony:

SEAN's Life to the Full as a follow-on... 'In our South London parish we have found Life to the Full to be an ideal Alpha follow-on. Alpha provides an excellent introduction to the basics of Christian faith and Life to the Full follows on with an introduction to Christian living, covering the main areas of discipleship in a thoughtful, challenging, and thoroughly biblical way. We heartily recommend it.' Rev Gary Jenkins, Vicar, St Peters, St Helier, Morden.

SEAN has been discipling members, and training pastors and leaders, for over 30 years and its courses are now available in over 100 countries and more than 70 languages. If your church needs help in teaching basic doctrine or lacks ways of giving adequate theological training to lay people, SEAN can help you.

The Rev Dr Michael Green says...

'One of the main reasons for the inability of western churches to sustain evangelistic programmes could be that so few of our churches have thorough discipleship and leadership training programmes as a natural part of church life.

Evangelism is not enough. If a serious attempt is to be really made by our churches to bring in a vast harvest (rather than gleanings) from the needy and confused world of the 20th/21st century, workers need to be envisioned, trained and mobilised, and leadership drawn in, not just from the middle classes but from the vast and relatively untapped pool of non-academic but spiritually-alive working men and women. Remember Jesus trained ordinary disciples, on the job, not academics in a college!

To train an army like this for Jesus requires lucid and affordable training programmes that can be readily assimilated into the life of a church and that raise the ministerial skills of the ordinary Christian. But be encouraged! This particular wheel has already been invented. Popular Level Theological Education by Extension (TEE) was born, developed and honed as a discipleship and leadership training tool in the fast-growing churches of the Third World. Britain seriously lags behind in its uptake and use. I hope that TEE courses such as SEAN will prove under God to be a springboard for the revival of Biblical discipleship in the life of our churches.'

The Rev Dr Michael Green, Advisor in Evangelism, Archbishops of Canterbury and York

Tell new Christians, tell your church, tell your Christian friends... Do you know of new Christians who aren't (yet) being discipled? Does your church have members who've been through Alpha and are looking for the next stage? Do you need to work afresh through the basic tenets of your Christian life? Then Life to the Full is a 'must-do' for you. Publicity material If you are a group leader wanting some wording for local publicity material with a view to starting an Life to the Full group yourself, why not use this sample wording which you are welcome to use or adapt. It's been written in the form of a 'spiritual health check' with an emphasis on overcoming any misconception that the course is 'too easy'. Order Life to the Full from the Catalogue & Order Form page – today!

PLEASE, if you've used SEAN courses before and you're thinking about introducing some sort of discipleship programme into your church or fellowship, do start with Life to the Full. We've invested a great deal of time in tailoring this course for those who are not yet familiar with this method of learning – it is therefore ideal as a starting point for ongoing discipleship training.