Most churches use a wide range of volunteers to teach children. A few have a lot of training and experience; most have little or no training or experience.  Some have been in the church for a long time; others have been in the church less than a year. Because of this wide range of experience in teachers, churches benefit from investing in biblically solid, user-friendly curriculum and training teachers in how to use it. The benefits are many.

  1. Teachers have confidence they are teaching according to the Bible.
  2. Teachers are exposed to varied teaching methods.
  3. Teachers teach systematically, covering many important topics rather than merely teaching their favorite topics over and over again.
  4. Teachers benefit from the insights of those who have studied the Bible and can speak not only from their own study, but also from the studies of others.
  5. Teachers have lessons appropriate for the developmental age of the children they are teaching.

Therefore, it is important to spend time thinking through your choice of curriculum. Here are some essential components of a great curriculum:

  1. The curriculum must be Bible-based.
  2. The curriculum must use a variety of teaching methods, not just lecture.
  3. The curriculum must have a scope and sequence, covering a range of topics over a period of time.
  4. The curriculum must offer some leader insights that will help you as you prepare to teach.
  5. The curriculum must be developmentally appropriate. Babies learn differently than pre-teens.

There is no perfect curriculum, so pick one that covers the most important things you need then adapt it to your setting. As a teacher, I will always stick to the Bible passage and memory verse, but will often vary the activities to fit the needs of the children I am teaching. 

As I travel the country and speak to people in different churches, I can tell the churches who value small group Bible study. Teaching the Bible makes a difference in how people live, believe, and act out their faith. Being in a small group allows children and adults to ask questions and have some accountability in their faith. Small group Bible study and the curriculum it uses matters.


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People Who Believed in Me – Part Two

Dr. Iorg reflects on the humble families who made his seminary education possible.

Jeff Iorg
President
Dr. Jeff Iorg is the president of Gateway Seminary. Prior to his service at the Seminary, Dr. Iorg was the Executive Director of the Northwest Baptist Convention for almost ten years. He was also the founding pastor of Greater Gresham Baptist Church in Gresham, Oregon, and has served as a pastor in Missouri and a staff pastor in Texas.

People Who Believed in Me – Part One

Dr. Iorg reflects on the humble families who made his seminary education possible. He encourages others to invest in the church’s future leaders.

Jeff Iorg
President
Dr. Jeff Iorg is the president of Gateway Seminary. Prior to his service at the Seminary, Dr. Iorg was the Executive Director of the Northwest Baptist Convention for almost ten years. He was also the founding pastor of Greater Gresham Baptist Church in Gresham, Oregon, and has served as a pastor in Missouri and a staff pastor in Texas.

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Stepping Away from the Edge — Avoiding Moral and Ethical Drift

Dr. Iorg cautions leaders against slowly drifting away from their moral and ethical principles. He describes some warning signs to watch out for and ways that leaders can better guard themselves. 

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Peter’s Confession

The confession of Peter begins with the question; who is Jesus? This is the first time in Mark’s Gospel that someone admits Jesus is the Christ. Jesus then defines who the Christ is and what He does. What does Peter’s reaction and the context of this passage mean for


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Chris Chun and Chris Woznicki discuss the signs of true revival, signs of the work of the Holy Spirit, and why it is important to critically assess the characteristics of revival in a spirit of charity.

Chris Chun
Professor of Church History | Director, Jonathan Edwards Center
Dr. Chris Chun is the professor of Church History and the director of Jonathan Edwards Center at Gateway Seminary. Chris’ doctoral research at St. Andrews University was focused on the eighteenth-century Edwardsean Baptists in Britain. He also has served as president of The Evangelical Theological Society (Far West Region).

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Chris Chun
Professor of Church History | Director, Jonathan Edwards Center
Dr. Chris Chun is the professor of Church History and the director of Jonathan Edwards Center at Gateway Seminary. Chris’ doctoral research at St. Andrews University was focused on the eighteenth-century Edwardsean Baptists in Britain. He also has served as president of The Evangelical Theological Society (Far West Region).

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