How To Pick The Right Curriculum For Your Ministry

Something a lot of youth ministers stress over is content.  And nothing is more frustrating than spending money and time on content that teens won’t embrace.

Picking the right content takes more than an online search or purchasing the latest release.  To pick the right content for your ministry you need to:

KNOW WHO YOU ARE TRYING TO REACH

There might be certain subjects that are important to you but they might not connect with your teens.  Demographics and age all have an impact on what you should be teaching.

What you share with middle school students needs to be different than high school students.  What you think is important might not be relevant to the next generation.

To get to know your audience spend time figuring out what owns their attention and time.  Look at the issues they face and what opportunities lie ahead of them. (More on know your audience HERE)

FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO KNOW AND BEHAVE

As a leader of the next generation, you need to know where you want to take them.  What type of:

• Habits should they embrace?

• Relationships do you want them to have?

• Activities do they need to engage in?

The type of content you choose for your ministry needs to not only give them information but tools to help them behave like a disciple of Jesus Christ.

PICK SOMETHING THAT IS ADAPTABLE

Most youth ministries don’t have the time to develop their own content.  Outsourcing is so important; however, it can be overwhelming.  When looking for content make sure it:

• Not limiting.

• It has different components that are interchangeable and optional.

• Doesn’t require too much prep time for your team.

There are plenty of subscription services like the Rebuilt Parish Association and Formed that offer series, videos, and transcripts.

THINK ABOUT WHAT’S NEXT

Keep the future in mind.  It’s easy to find a dynamic curriculum and think you are set for life.  The reality is that it could easily lose relevancy and become overly predictable.

Don’t be afraid to shop around and look for other resources.  As you create a culture for your ministry it’s important for you to think about how you can go deeper and challenge them to go further.

PERSONALIZE IT FOR YOUR AUDIENCE

Over time you do want to make the content you are using unique to your culture.  To do that look for people who can add to what you are using.  These are people who can:

• Write well.

• Think outside of the box.

• Take risks and learn from mistakes.

Build a team and you’ll find a way to not only create your own content but take your audience to a deeper level.

Your content does matter but to find the right type takes time.  Don’t just go after they hype of a new resource and avoid just settling for the same workbook.  Know your teens, where you want to take them and how you want them to follow Christ.