Student pastors are constantly bombarded with the newest
curriculum that some Christian agency has developed to grow students to a
spiritual level that other curriculum was unable to achieve. Most student
pastors may ask the question, “Which curriculum will achieve the desired results
for students?” This blog will propose three components of quality
curriculum for student and
family ministry.
First, theology proper in the traditional Protestant system may be defined as the Doctrine of God.[1] Quality curriculum will exploit God as omnipresent, omniscient, holy, triune, creator, sustainer, redeemer, merciful, just, righteous, and any remaining characteristics within each lesson. Students must be exposed to the glory of God through his special revelation to his people. Quality curriculum will develop the majesty of King Jesus so that students will be in reverence and awe of God’s nature therefore willing to live lives for his glory in light of receiving the gospel. A.W. Tozer correctly stated, “Perverted notions about God soon rot the religion in which they appear. The long career of Israel demonstrates this clearly enough, and the history of the Church confirms it. So necessary to the Church is a lofty concept of God that when that concept in any measure declines, the Church with her worship and her moral standards declines along with it.”[2] Curriculum that does not highly portray God and the plan of his redemption for fallen humanity should not be considered quality curriculum. Curriculum may have fun ideas, games, discussion questions, life application, and videos, but if those portions of curriculum are not founded on the nature of God, they will be devoid of spiritual development and authenticity.
Second, quality curriculum should be Bible saturated. The historical Christian position on the Bible may be defined as, “a form of revelation specifically provided for sinful humanity as an authentic disclosure of the nature and will of God.”[3] The Bible discloses to fallen humanity a special revelation of God in order that humanity can come to know and be in relationship with God through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Therefore, any quality curriculum will be saturated with biblical truths from the Word of God. The Bible must be the foundation that the curriculum builds off of. Although not required in order to be counted as quality curriculum, curriculum that works verse by verse and book by book or works systematically or even biblically through the Bible may be deemed in a category of curriculum beneficial to student ministry. Bible saturated curriculum will not only provide adequate and correct use of each biblical text presented, but Bible saturated curriculum should expose students to Jesus Christ. Tony Merida confirms, “A commitment to Christ-exalting exposition is consistent with the expositional principles of Jesus. Jesus said the Scriptures were about Him!”[4] Philosophically preaching and biblical teaching are related in that they both attempt to relay biblical truth to an audience, but in each element Christ must be magnified. Curriculum that rightly uses the Bible as the main source for lessons and magnifies Christ in all of the Scriptures used should be considered quality curriculum for student and family ministry.
Third, quality curriculum should be adaptable by providing the student pastor with the ability to develop the curriculum into a mentally challenging lesson for each age group represented within student ministry. Curriculum ought to be used by the student pastor as a tool for preparing messages, sermons, or lessons not as the lesson itself. Curriculum develops the foundation, but the youth pastor should work the curriculum to fit the mental abilities of students and families within the context of ministry. Curriculum that fits into a category of excellence has to provide material that can be adapted to mentally challenge students from all academic levels to grow deeper in their spiritual walk with King Jesus in a variety of church settings. In Creative Bible Teaching, the authors affirm the value of curriculum comes in the form of experts creating material that keeps up with educational methodologies and developmental stages in the lives of students.[5] However, Richards and Bredelft also noted:
It is important to remember that published curricula are an aid, but not the answer. All lesson materials are limited in value. When used as a crutch even the best can stifle the freedom and flexibility, so essential to creative Bible teaching, which the writer hopes to encourage. Teachers need a healthy attitude toward their lesson materials. They must look to them with appreciation for guidance in the choice of truths relevant to the age group they teach. They should expect ideas on the meaning of the passages taught and a teaching plan that will lead to student response…Creative Bible teachers use curriculum as a teaching tool, not a taskmaster.[6]
Quality curriculum will be a teaching tool that that student pastor has the ability to further develop in order to make the material age appropriate and mentally challenging for all levels of students.
These three components for quality curriculum defines how I analyze curriculum within my own student ministry to students and families. I hope this helps you as you seek to glorify God through the use of the multiple tools available to shine light on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on our behalf and disciple students to live their lives for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).
Richards
and Bredfeldt, 204.
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