Introduction to Curriculum

The lessons I will post were written with the belief that children can “eat” the same spiritual goodness as adults especially if the message is served to them in age-appropriate bites. There are all kinds of curricula available, but often times the message behind the fun and flair is what Apostle Paul might call, “dung.” Too often children's curriculum is filled with lessons that at best might teach them good citizenship or worse breed self righteousness or hopelessness in their hearts. As a children's pastor, I knew our kids desired spiritual meat and began teaching them the same principles we were learning as adults. Because some children were unfamiliar with basic Bible knowledge, we often taught them gospel principles in the midst of a basic Biblical story. This curriculum is written with the idea that some children's facilities have limited resources. The goal is to maximize spiritual impact whether or not resources are available.

The purpose of this curriculum is to lay a foundation of grace, peace, righteousness, and the love of God. Although some lessons and object lessons might seem more conceptual than a usual lesson for children, I have seen fruit from those lessons in children who seemed too young at the time we taught it. They may not be able to communicate with their thoughts and words, but they can still catch the message with their hearts. Children have the same size God as adults and because their hearts are generally more sensitive, they can often receive and experience more than adults. Don't underestimate the power of God in their hearts just because they don't appear to be understanding, worshiping or participating. Children respond to God even if they don't look like it. They are hungry for grace-filled teaching, and the fruit of what is planted in their hearts at their age will be evident in eternity.