“Train up a child in the way he should go, when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6). It is in childhood that crucial spiritual development occurs so getting biblical facts straight and implementing viable applications that will effectively reach your little audience with the truth is extremely important; it is how they will filter through and understand the world around them. There is only so much time to instill important truths before they are thrown into the arena of life.
10 Reasons Why A Bible Centered Sunday School Curriculum is a Must-Have
We are Responsible for What We Say
Proverbs 18:21 says that death and life are in the power of the tongue. The commentary regarding this verse in Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible is worth quoting: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…. Of witnesses, according to the testimony they bear; of judges, according to the sentence they pass; of teachers, according to the doctrine they preach; of all men, who, by their well or ill speaking, bring death or life to themselves and others.” If you choose a curriculum that is careless with the truth and seeks majority approval rather than God’s, you are personally responsible for the destruction it breeds.
Correct Biblical Language Will Result in Effective Application
I’ve seen teachers soften or entirely change a word in Scripture in order to make it more palatable for their audience. Finding the right Sunday school lesson that is not only true to the words in Scripture, but that is also able to clearly present doctrine in a way that does not adulterate it, is hard to find. But it is the correct application of Scripture that will make effective connections between the truth and everyday experiences; that will challenge real life actions, words and even feelings in light of the truths presented.
A Biblically Sound Christian Sunday School Curriculum Will Expose the Lies of the Enemy
We are surrounded by a plethora of worldviews in a constant battle with the righteousness of God. The only way to identify the counterfeit and protect against it is to be familiar with the genuine and authentic article so that you cannot be fooled. A Sunday School program that accurately represents the truth and provides the building blocks and supporting materials, illustrations, activities and opportunities to memorize Scripture, will have the greatest impact on the heart of a young child.
If Not Us, Who?
It’s time we take ministering to children more seriously because if we don’t, the enemy of this world will. Yes, it is the parent’s responsibility to oversee the education, emotional well-being and spiritual growth of the child; but for the parents striving to ace these honorable goals, a sunday school curriculum for kids that provides spiritual and intellectual stimulation on the foundation of God’s Word, one that will reinforce family values and encourage godliness, will provide a breath of fresh air. And for children out of touch with this important form of family discipleship, exposing to the truth of God’s Word with every opportunity afforded, you can make every bit of difference.
Obeys the Great Commission
The church is commissioned to preach the Gospel and teach the truth. The transfer value of children learning and taking this learning home with them and to other parts of the “world” should not be underestimated.
Encourages Biblical Fellowship
The instruction to “not forsake assembling of ourselves with other believers” does not simply apply to adults. It is interesting to see how children naturally gravitate to their own smaller kind. Providing fellowship for children clothed in God’s Truth will help create an environment of loving others and a community that exists to love God, and it will reinforce godly values.
Equips Children for Battle
In a relatively short amount of time, you have the opportunity to alter the course of an otherwise cursed existence; to help our little guys and gals face the hostility of a fallen world, a reality which is right around the corner for them. We war not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:12); and the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (2 Corinthians 10:4). We live in a cursed world, bent on replacing God with everything else. The war is not as physical as it appears and only the Word of God will prepare a child for the inevitability of the battle. We cannot send them out without the proper weapons of warfare; we cannot leave them to be chewed up and spit out by the enemy of this world.
Dispels Philosophical and Theological Speculation
Cultivating a love of wisdom begins with a love of God’s Word. The wisdom of Biblical truth is essential to avoiding the control of hollow and deceptive speculation: “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:80). The ability to present a defense of the truth and critically refute all opposing worldviews is a discipline that should begin early.
Deters From Destructive Habits
The inevitable results bound in the law of sin and death is as predictable as any of the fundamental laws of physics. We are born into a curse that has no other outcome outside of complete destruction. Except by some miracle and divine intervention, no man, woman or child can contradict this powerful law. The good news is this, that “…the gospel of Christ is the power of salvation for everyone who believes.” (Romans 1:16). It is essential to properly represent this message.
The Best Sunday School Curriculum Helps Children Gain a Healthy View of Church
I can remember like yesterday sitting in church at a tender age listening to the poetic, albeit, lofty words of the pastor just following the most hollow representations of worship I had ever heard. I wondered if God himself was as bored stiff as I was. No sooner had I resigned to mentally checking out for the day, my friend sitting next to me whispered “Church of the Living Dead”. It was all I needed to confirm my intense sentiment and I never worked so hard to hold back laughter than I did in the seconds that followed. I loved Jesus but I didn’t like “church”, and for years the oxymoron didn’t sit right with me. After all, the church is Christ’s body and His bride. Cultivating a love of Scripture and an honest love for the community of His people will assist in bridging disconnect, and help divert thoughts of musty hymnals, dry sermons, and judgmental stares to a healthier definition of Church.
What’s in a Good Sunday School Curriculum for Children?
Psalm 119 maps out what the perfect training program should contain; of these essential items I will name a few. The best curriculum should place emphasis on the value of God’s Word, encourage Scripture memory, provide insight into righteous living and righteous conversation, present relevant application, encourage the disciplines of worship, prayer, and meditation on God’s Word, and it should accentuate godly fellowship. Without these elements your children’s study program will fall flat and have very little effect on the lives you shepherd.