Is there more to Life than this?
Is there more to life than this?
17/04/2026
Yesterday we put up two banners outside the church which read, 'is there more to life than this?' accompanied by an invitation to try Alpha. Despite our city's golden beaches and laidback lifestyle many people carry this question around in their heart. Each day students, shoppers and sun worshippers walk past our church buildings hoping that the answer is Yes! There is more to life than this.
"The Church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members." — William Temple
To belong to the Church, that is Christ's Body, means to participate in its mission, going out to the highways and byways and inviting people to meet Jesus.
Alpha is a series of interactive sessions where guests from all walks of life are invited to come and explore the Christian faith. It is a space to ask life's big questions and share whatever you believe. Alpha is not a space to convert people but rather a space to ask questions, where people can come to an understanding of God on their own terms. Alpha consists of a meal, a short video exploring the Christian faith, and group discussion where all opinions are welcome.
We all have people in our lives who would not call themselves Christian. I know that many of us pray for friends and family members regularly that they may one day come to believe in Jesus. For some of us, we can be afraid that if we invite people to church or to Alpha that it may damage the relationship. That they would feel ostracized or preached at. The Alpha team here at church are committed to creating a safe space where anyone can come as they are, ask questions and share whatever they believe in a judgement free zone.
Our next Alpha course kicks off next Tuesday 21st April, 6:30pm at Robina Anglican Church.
I wonder who you might invite? An invitation to a loved one could be as simple as, 'I am going to an evening next week where people ask big questions about life. There will be great food and great discussions. Do you want to come with me?' We encourage people to try the first week and if it isn't for them no one will chase them up.
Two quick stories of lives changed:
The Banner
In 2018, a 19 year guy called Aaron walked through doors of Alpha at the church I was working at in London. He was an atheist and made it pretty clear that he didn't believe in God and that even if there was a God he didn't want anything to do with him. Every week Aaron would bring a gym bag full of books refuting the Christian faith and would argue pretty passionately in the group.
When I asked Aaron how he ended up being at Alpha he said, 'everyday as I sat on the bus on my way to work, I would see the Alpha banner on the fence outside the church. Everyday it would grab my attention. It got to the point where I couldn't take it any more and I got off the bus and signed up for Alpha.'
I was hosting the group with Chelsea, my wife, and despite Aaron's opposition to Jesus we had a sense that he was closer to God that he realised. We would often go home from our Alpha group and pray for Aaron before bed. On the Alpha Day, where guests are invited to be filled with the Holy Spirit, Aaron, much to his shock, encountered the presence of God. In that moment, it was as if the hardness of his heart melted like wax and the scales fell from his eyes as he was filled with the love of God. Aaron went on to work for the church and has since discipled and led many young people to faith. In a world of social media, AI and the algorithm, it was a banner outside a church which sparked curiosity and led to a life transformed in Jesus.
The Invitation
In 2016, my wife Chelsea was living in London and would not have called herself a Christian. One day, a friend from New Zealand invited her along to church. Chelsea responded by saying, 'thank you, I would come, but I get paid double time on Sundays... but if there was something mid-week I would come to that.' Her friend lit up and said, 'you should try Alpha!'. Over the coming weeks of doing Alpha at Holy Trinity Brompton (which just so happened to be my church at the time) Chelsea encountered the person of Jesus. This invitation from a friend changed Chelsea's life and mine! Chelsea and I met a month after she completed the course.
Call to Action
In the lead up to Alpha kicking off next week I would love your help!
Firstly... Pray!
Would you pray that like Aaron, people might walk past the banners outside the church and be prompted to come. That as people drive past or wait at the bus stop the Holy Spirit might stir in their hearts to try Alpha.
Secondly... Invite!
Would you take a risk and invite someone to come and try Alpha? You could always join them, or say let's try week 1 and see if we like it. One brave invitation has the power to transform someone's life.
The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!'
And let the one who hears say, 'Come!'
Let the one who is thirsty come;
and let the one who wishes take the free gift
of the water of life.
— Revelation 22:17