Chapter 1Curriculum:Why Do I Need It Anyway?

Repetitive themes

Common Complaints AboutPrinted “Dated” Curriculum

Cost The Bible should be enoughIt doesn’t always fit our situation

To Stay on Course The Purposes of Curriculum

a. Curriculum is rooted in Latin word currere which means “to run.”

b. To run successfully requires a course to be established.

c. Curriculum provides a teacher with the course for their students to run on to reach a specific goal: to be more like Jesus.

To Stay on Course The Purposes of Curriculum

To Perpetuate Truth

“We will not hide them from their children: we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done…. so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children”(Psalm 78:4,6).

The Biblical Mandate to Perpetuate Truth

Response to a need to “conserve the harvest” brought about by the Pentecostal revival.

The History of Radiant Life Curriculum

By 1919 Gospel Publishing House was printing lesson leaflets and quarterlies for four age levels. Eventually story papers were addedto the curriculum line.

Hearing

What Is the Goal ofRadiant Life Curriculum?

SeeingDoing

To engage students in thelearning process through

Teaching directly from the Bible text using no other resources

Three Approaches to Teaching and to Choosing Instructional Material

Teaching from self-prepared curriculum

Teaching from a printed curriculum

Stay with the favorite and the familiar

Tendencies When Using Bible Text Only

Use primarily the lecture method of presentationLimit student engagement in the learning processReduce the importance of systematic doctrine and theology

Amount of work to prepare meaningful, well-balanced, age-level-appropriate curriculum

Challenges of DevelopingOne’s Own Curriculum

Tendency to stay with the favorite and the familiarDeveloping compelling and creative supplementary materials

Provides a carefully planned approach to studying the “whole counsel of God”

Observations Concerning the Use of Printed Curriculum

Must be adapted to the local situationEnsures as much as possible the communication of essential truths to students of all ages

1. Bible-centered?2. Accurate?3. User-friendly?4. Relevant?

Questions to AskWhen Evaluating Curriculum

5. Age-level appropriate?6. Doctrinally sound?7. Visually appealing?8. Cost-effective?

Is it…

9. Does it work?

“Curriculum resources alone will not bring about spiritual growth and formation in students’ lives. Even though carefully developed by Spirit-filled writers and editors, their use will not automatically bring about life transformation and help students face the challenges of living in a postmodern world.”

— John Maempa

Is Using a Good Curriculum Enough?