The Importance of Curriculum

Curriculum is more than Bible study questions.  It provides direction the group needs to navigate physical, relational and spiritual growth challenges.  It helps the leader map out how to effectively minister to a group of people and to work with the mission of the church.

Sermon-based Curriculum

We offer our cell groups a weekly Sermon-based Curriculum which willl be available online the Thursday before the weekend the sermon will be presented.  A hard copy of this curriculum is available in the Spiritual Formation Center.  There are times when we will strongly encourage the groups to use the sermon-based curriculum because of the importance placed on specific sermon material and its impact on the whole church.  We will notify the cell leaders directly when we strongly encourage them to use the sermon-based curriculum.  The current series on the Holy Spirit is one in which we strongly encourage the groups to use.

Alternative Curriculum

Here are some alternative curriculums we suggest that can be used when we are not strongly encouraging the leaders to use the sermon-based curriculum.  Use the following guidelines to help you select the appropriate curriculum.

     1.  You have a new group or a group that recently

          branched out and you have four or more new

          people.  In this case, it would be helpful to

          use curriculum that develops the Inward

          component of the group.  (See options below.)

     2.  You have recently re-covenanted and the last

          group evaluations indicate the need to focus

          your group toward a specific CrossWard

          dimension (Upward, Inward, Outward, Forward).

     3   Your group has gone a cell cycle or longer

          without adding new people.  Attention should

          be directed to the outward dimension.

     4.  Your group is stuck in the Storming developmental

          stage.  Use an intervention curriculum.  (See

          cell cycle web page.)

Selecting the appropriate curriculum for your group requires that you understand the four dimensions of group life and have evaluated where your group is in terms of these dimensions.  These dimensions are based on Biblical values that drive healthy Christian community.  As such, they also serve as indicators of group health.  The four dimensions are:

          Upward (Looking upward toward God)

          Inward (Connecting inward to other believers)

          Outward (Reaching outward to non-believers)

          Forward (Moving forward in discipleship and leadership

                        development)

Understanding these dimensions and directing your group accordingly is critical to developing healthy cell life and cell growth.  Through group evaluations annd an objective appraisal of cell fruitfulness, you will be able to discern the health of your group and the direction your group needs.  (See cell cycle page for information on assessing your group.)

Alternative Curriculum Offerings

We can order these for you and usually we get them at a better price.  Some of these require that each member of the group have a copy of the curriculum and others only require the leader to have the curriculum.  We will scholarship anyone who cannot afford to pay for their curriculum.  Copies of these curriculums will be available in the Spiritual Formation Center for review.

Leader Agenda
(for leaders only)