3 Teaching Calendar Basics

Josh on January 31st, 2008

As we plan our student ministry annual teaching calendar, a few things came to mind that I thought I should journal so our future planning sessions could follow this guide. Here’s my 3 major building blocks of building a strong teaching calendar:

Theme
The teaching topics and series must support the vision of the student ministry, and ultimately the direction of the church. The theme should be selected as a building block in a student’s spiritual growth. Themes should resonate with the discipleship process and challenge students spiritually.

Timing
The one simply answers the “when” does this series fit in the year. It is better at the beginning of the school year? When should the entry-level be expressly evangelistic? Could this be a series that builds momentum into the summer? Does it fit with a holiday, current event or season? Topics like the purposes we always cover in the Fall, and we always plan a sex series after the New Year. If you are creating a new culture with a weekend teaching series, make sure you don’t plan it right before everyone leaves for vacation.

Teacher
This is the who – who should teach this topic? Is there a volunteer that could take it on – is there a student with a story that fits in perfectly? I think it also starts to address the how it should it be taught. Consider an outside voice, consider an unexpected voice. The team teacher could say the same thing 100 times and it never connected – bring in a new voice and students just might resonate immediately with the concept.

Answer the theme, timing and teacher question, and you’re on your way to a great teaching calendar. Got one you would add?

JG

Leave a Comment

Joe at 12:19pm January 31

As you consider themes, I think it’s important to have a set of “must have’s”. Themes/topics that need to be covered every year. This keeps you from feeling like you have to start brand new every single year.

ewald at 6:07am February 3

great thoughts!

Caleb at 12:23pm December 5

Something I’m planning on is taking the 3-year Lectionary from the back of the BCP (Book of Common Prayer) and working on ways so that the kids will have heard or read the entire Bible in three years, if they only come to Sundays. This includes readings from the OT, NT, Gospels, and Psalms. We’re also thinking of creative ways to make this work so that it’s not just one reader or just regular stand-in-the-front reading, but incorporating drama, dance, music, and art.