The Encounter Course

The Encounter Course is designed to teach the basic principles of a Christian life

Why do we need training?

In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus said to his disciples ‘…. go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you..…….." Clearly ‘discipleship’ is the main purpose of every Christian, in every church, in every place and in every age. Discipleship is teaching and training in knowledge, character, skills and spirituality. It’s what helps us grow into maturity and effectiveness.

What is an encounter course?

At Kings we provide a course called ‘Encounter’ which has proved to be a major help to most of our people. Everyone needs to encounter God. This a voluntary course made up of three distinct parts. They are the Pre-Encounter, the Encounter and the Post-Encounter.

In the Pre-Encounter sessions, the new believer studies themes related their new life in Jesus. Someone from the cell group personally takes the new believer through several, weekly Bible studies. Sometimes this is arranged in groups with other new Christians. These cover topics such as, the certainty of salvation, the power of prayer, the power of the Bible and How to be set free from the past. The aim of the Pre-Encounter is to prepare the believer for the Encounter.

Then comes the Encounter, which usually takes place over a weekend at a Christian conference centre. Many Christians of all denominations have benefited greatly from taking time away from their busy schedules to focus their attention on God. But the Encounter is much more than just a three-day retreat, in a setting away from the normal distractions of life. It is usually a time of great joy, cleansing and healing. Most people return from the Encounter with a new sense of freedom and a knowledge that the old has gone and the new has come.

Over the weekend the subjects taught include Repentance, Forgiveness, The Cross, How to be set free, How to be set free and the mission of the church.

The Encounter weekend is followed by another eight week course, called Post Encounter, designed to teach the basic principles of the Christian life, enabling the Christian to enjoy all that God has prepared for him or her.

Encounters for all

Does this mean that the Encounters are only for new believers? No, they are for everybody. Often believers move into the area and join the church but have never had the opportunity to be established in the faith. The Encounter program is an ideal way to ‘catch up’ on some issues that were perhaps overlooked when they first became Christians.