Author: Dr. John C. Kwasny
One of the core purposes of the local church is to disciple the people of God: adults, youth and children. To accomplish this important mission, a curriculum or system of content must be chosen to teach all ages. This is no easy task, as there are many publishers of discipleship curriculum available today, as well as unique perspectives of every church. And yet, there are at least five big mistakes that churches must avoid when deciding on curriculum for the discipleship of its people. Hopefully, staying clear of these errors will produce a wise decision for teaching God’s Word and sound theology in the local church.
Mistake #1: Disconnecting curriculum choice from the purpose of discipleship. Why should the local church teach God’s Word and the Christian faith in the first place? This question must be answered before choosing a curriculum which implements that purpose. When the “what” we teach isn’t connected to the “why” we teach, then the chosen curriculum may not accomplish our discipleship goals. A good curriculum communicates its own purpose so it can fit well with the purposes of the teacher.
Mistake #2: Prioritizing “extras” over the content. Discipleship curriculum, especially for children, often offers a variety of elements intended to help the teacher and student. Worksheets, music, skits, crafts, crossword puzzles, and other activities are often attractive pieces that can sell the overall curriculum. While some of these “extras” can be useful, it is a mistake to choose the curriculum primarily based on these. The content of what is being taught should be the priority when it comes to discipleship in the church, not to be neglected for other “bells and whistles”.
Mistake #3: Disregarding the theological foundation of the curriculum. Every curriculum is written by a person (or persons) from a particular theological vantage point. It is impossible to teach the Bible and Christian theology from some sort of non-theological position. So, it is a mistake to ignore the theological underpinnings of any curriculum: for adults, youth, or children. While curriculum can always be adapted, it is challenging to convert each and every lesson from a poor theological foundation to a better one. If the chosen curriculum is not theologically sound, then your discipleship will necessarily be weakened and less effective.
Mistake #4: Choosing curriculum that “dumbs down” Scripture. In many pockets of academia, content is being dumbed down for our children and youth. Sadly, this modern educational trend can also impact the church as it seeks to teach God’s Word. While learning the Bible isn’t only an intellectual effort, a growing knowledge of it is still essential in Christian discipleship. Settling for a curriculum that oversimplifies Bible content or avoids the difficult parts of God’s Word is a mistake that will impact the sanctification of God’s people.
Mistake #5: Putting the decision solely in the hands of the teachers. While teachers can give input to the overall curriculum choices, it is the responsibility of church leadership—pastors, elders, and ministry leaders to set the vision. Curriculum choice is not only about what the teacher likes or is most comfortable with, but what fits within the purpose of the church (see mistake #1). A curriculum necessarily guides the entire teaching process, so it is the duty of leaders to wisely and prayerfully make this important decision!
One final bonus mistake: Not choosing a curriculum in the first place! It can be tempting to just piece together Bible lessons without giving thought to an overall system. This method of discipleship will certainly leave holes in content as well as a directionless purpose.