On more than one occasion, I heard Reggie say this line last week at the Orange Tour.
We are stewards of timeless truths.
What I think is interesting is that I often hear people complain about Orange curriculum Usually I hear people complaining from the point of view that there isn’t enough Bible in it. The funny thing is that I have people on my own staff who at times complain that the curriculum is too church. Honestly, there’s no such thing as a perfect curriculum and that alone isn’t reason enough to go out and start writing your own.
Curriculum was made to be tweaked… especially when they give it to you in editable digital form, right? Whether your curriculum comes from a virtue perspective or a chronological spin through the scriptures, the foundation doesn’t change that scripture is the basis for all things taught. If we don’t connect kids and students to the life-changing power of the scripture, we’re sunk. We may explore how the scripture can transform us to lead self-controlled lives or how certain events in the Old Testament teach us about what God wants to do in our lives right now. The bottom line is about how scripture connects to our lives.
In ministry, we have to understand that we are stewards of timeless truths. Every one of us. Leaders, small group leaders, hosts and story tellers. We steward these timeless truths and it is so important that we convey these truths accurately and responsibly. Too many times in my ministry have I heard a leader butcher the telling of a biblical truth, either in delivery or in content. We need not forget about James 3:1.
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
We are stewards of timeless truths and we must never take this responsibility lightly.
Too many times people forget this. I think a lot of churches are looking for the every elusive “perfect” curriculum. Like the fountain of youth or a shopping cart at Walmart that doesn’t have that one wobbly wheel, it just doesn’t exist.
The good news is that all of these curriculum companies have 1 amazing thing in common: phenomenal source material (The Bible). The question, then, comes down to which presentation works best for your church. Just because one works better for you doesn’t mean the rest wrong. It just means they work better for someone else and there’s nothing wrong about that.
Kenny,
I loved this post.
When looking at different curriculum, this is something that I myself-as someone very young in ministry-have struggled with as well.. We are stewards of timeless truths and it is always critical to remember. What an opportunity, what a calling. Love it!