Mark Hunnicutt

Choosing Student Curriculum

One of the most frequent questions I get asked is, what curriculum do we use in our student environments at Mud Creek? The answer is, whatever is out there that will help communicate the content of the Bible text, doctrine or character that is currently on our curriculum map. We map out a year's worth of biblical content and then pull the creative context to that content. One of the greatest tools written for curriculum mapping is 7 Checkpoints by Andy Stanley and Stuart Hall.

Authentic Faith

This checkpoint focuses on a correct understanding of faith. Faith is confidence that God is who He says He is and that He will do all He has promised to do.
Principle: God can be trusted; He will do all He has promised to do.
Critical Question: Are your students trusting God with the critical areas of their life?
Key Passage: Proverbs 3:5-6

Spiritual Disciplines

The focus of this checkpoint is a student's devotional life. The apostle Paul assures us that transformation begins with a renewed mind. As students begin to renew their minds to the truths of Scripture, their attitudes and behavior will change.
Principle: If we could see as God sees, we would do as God says.
Critical Question: Are your students developing a consistent devotional and prayer life?
Key Passage: Romans 12:2

Moral Boundaries

Purity paves the way to intimacy. One of the most important things a student can do is establish limits. Students need to learn how to protect their body and emotions by honoring God's plan for sex and morality.
Principle: Purity paves the way to intimacy.
Critical Question: Are your students establishing and maintaining moral boundaries?
Key Passage: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8

Healthy Friendships

The people our students associate with the most will determine the direction and quality of their lives. This principle focuses on helping our teenagers build healthy friendships while avoiding unhealthy ones.
Principle: Our friends determine the direction and quality of our lives.
Critical Question: Are your students establishing healthy friendships and avoiding unhealthy ones?
Key Passage: Proverbs 13:20

Wise Choices

In light of past experience and future dreams, students need to ask themselves "What is the wise thing to do?" Good decision making is more than simply choosing between right and wrong. This principle focuses on the necessity of wisdom in decision making.
Principle: Walk wisely.
Critical Question: Are your students making wise decisions?
Key Passage: Ephesians 5:15-17

Ultimate Authority

Freedom and authority are often viewed as opposing concepts. But the Scriptures teach that freedom is found under authority. This principle focuses on the need for students to stay under the authorities that God has placed over them.
Principle: Maximum freedom is found under God's authority.
Critical Question: Are your students submitting to the authorities God has placed over them?
Key Passage: Romans 13:1-2

Others First

Selfishness comes natural. Selflessness must be learned. The hallmark of a believer is his or her willingness to put the needs of others ahead of their own. This principle addresses our student's propensity toward selfishness and self-centeredness.
Principle: Others First
Critical Question: Are your students putting the needs of others ahead of their own?
Key Passage: Philippians 2:3-11

I believe that if a student travels through these relevant biblical checkpoints every year guided by a text, doctrine or character they are well on their way to facing the culture as an adult. The 7 Checkpoint team has developed curriculum and samples can be downloaded here. This downloadable material can be geared to the different purposes of your environments. We have also discovered that these content rich curriculum resources can be plugged into our environments and our map. Doug Fields Simply Youth Ministry Student Life

In Quest

 

LifeWay Biblical Solutions for Life Life Track & Vital Truth

Youth Specialties TalkSheets

Student Discipleship Ministries

Remember we are not teaching curriculum to students we are teaching students the Bible.  These resources are tools to help us communicate the content of God’s Word in a relevant way to the current youth culture. What other contect rich resources have you used and would recommend?

Phil 1:12-19 – Paul used his problem as a pulpit. God may I realize that my message is the loudest when I praise/preach through problems… #tc

Scripture

12 And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13 For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God's message without fear. 15 It's true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. 16 They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. 17 Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. 18 But that doesn't matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. 19 For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.

Observation

• Paul had the right perspective
• He used his prison as a pulpit
• Always people with wrong motives
• Paul made relational connections
• Some served out of selfishness
• The point is getting the message out
• Paul rejoiced in "The Message" not the messenger
• Consistent rejoicing
• He depended on prayers

 

Applications

• Use every problem as a pulpit
• Concentrate on the message not he motive of people
• Don't judge motive
• In all rejoice! – what is the other option?
• Know that people are praying for me

 

Prayer

Only You can give me a Paul perspective! I ask that you empower me today to use every situation as a pulpit to preach the GOOD NEWS. Forgive me for not listening to people's message because I'm judging their motive. May the GOOD NEWS be my priority today!

Phil 1:8-11 My life cannot be full of joy unless it’s full of people…

Scripture

8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. 9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

Philippians 1:8-11

Observations

• Paul had a passion for people because Jesus' compassion flowed through him
• Paul prayed for the people he loved
• Overflowing love & growth was his prayer
• His desire was for the people he loved to have the right perspective and live in purity
• How I live and the fruit I produce brings glory to God

 

Applications

• The closer I get to Jesus the more compassion I have for people
• I cannot express love in a better way than to pray
• Pray for people to be overwhelmed with God's love
• Ask God to reveal Himself to them and then to live through them
• The more I love and pray for people the more glory and praise God gets

 

Prayer

Father, my life cannot be full of joy unless my life is full of people. You are in the people business. As I sync my life with You I ask that Your compassion for people will flow through me. I ask that you overwhelm those close to me with Your love. Reveal to them Your plan and purpose and empower them to live in purity.

SOAP Phil 1:1-7 – Our cause and collaboration bring unity…

Scripture

1 This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus. I am writing to all of God's holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the elders and deacons.

2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy,

5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.

6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

7 So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News.

Observations

• Paul & Timothy, slaves of Jesus – their cause brought unity
• Paul prays for grace and peace
• His thoughts are positive thoughts because his prayers are consistent prayers
• Paul was not an island
• Paul had confidence in the work that God was doing
• The cause of Christ and their collaboration brought unity

Applications

• Invest in Timothy's
• Join God in His work don't manufacture my own
• The more I pray for people the more positive I will be about them. PRAY MORE
• Christ and His cause is the only thing that brings true unity

Prayer

Jesus, I think You for THE Gospel. I think You for co laborers and how we work together for its advancement. I ask that You align me with Your plan and Your purpose before You align me with people. Help me to recognize that others love and desire for your Kingdom. My we join together in a collaborative effort to do more together than we ever could separate. AMEN

 

 

Psalms 2:9-12 – Submission to my warrior Savior brings protect and provision…

Scripture

9     You will break them with an iron rod

and smash them like clay pots.' "

10     Now then, you kings, act wisely!

Be warned, you rulers of the earth!

11     Serve the Lord with reverent fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

12     Submit to God's royal son, or he will become angry,

and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities—

for his anger flares up in an instant.

But what joy for all who take refuge in him!

Observations

• Jesus, warrior King, WILL break & smash those like clay pots
• Those = block the flow of God's glory
• Act wisely = decisions should be based on God's plan not theirs
• Respect God as creator, redeemer and sustainer
• Submit, line up under, or face the consequences of rebellion

Applications

• View Jesus as coming warrior
• Don't block the flow of God's glory
• Make wise decisions in leadership
• Stay submitted under God's protection and provision

Prayer

The safest most successful place to be is under the submission of You my Savior! Lord, I understand there is going to be pain this side of heaven. I asked that I suffer the pain of shorter discipline instead long term discipline. Empower me to be wise and willing to submit to You and Your plan instead of living outside of Your will and way.

Psalms 2:1-8 – Jesus is more than a religious icon. He is THE eternal Ruler that should affect my worship and walk… #tc

Scripture

2:1     Why are the nations so angry?

Why do they waste their time with futile plans?

2     The kings of the earth prepare for battle;

the rulers plot together

against the Lord

and against his anointed one.

3     "Let us break their chains," they cry,

"and free ourselves from slavery to God."

4     But the one who rules in heaven laughs.

The Lord scoffs at them.

5     Then in anger he rebukes them,

terrifying them with his fierce fury.

6     For the Lord declares, "I have placed my chosen king on the throne

in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain."

7     The king proclaims the Lord's decree:

"The Lord said to me, 'You are my son.

Today I have become your Father.

8     Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,

the whole earth as your possession.

Observations

• Jesus came through the line of David (Kings of Israel)

2:7–9 The Davidic King Speaks. The king recalls what God had said at his coronation. Lying behind this is the promise that the line of David will be sure forever before the Lord (2 Sam. 7:16) and that the obedience of the peoples will come to the ruler from the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10), together with the very purpose for choosing Abraham and his offspring. (EVS Study Bible)

• People rebelled against the nation Israel
• God established and promised to protect the line until Jesus
• A heavenly perspective is established
• Christ rules over all the nations

Applications

• Expect rebellion against the message of Christ
• Have a heavenly perspective about rebellion and resistance to Jesus
• Through the cross and the empty tomb Christ is THE King! Act and react like a child of the King!

Prayer

God, I ask that You are more than religion to me. I is comfortable to look at You as a religious icon but uncomfortable to follow You as my Ruler. You are in control! You always have been and always will be. For that I praise You!

Psalms 1:1-6 – God’s Word comes before a godly walk & work… #tc

Scripture

Ps 1:1     Oh, the joys of those who do not

follow the advice of the wicked,

or stand around with sinners,

or join in with mockers.

2     But they delight in the law of the Lord,

meditating on it day and night.

3     They are like trees planted along the riverbank,

bearing fruit each season.

Their leaves never wither,

and they prosper in all they do.

4     But not the wicked!

They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.

5     They will be condemned at the time of judgment.

Sinners will have no place among the godly.

6     For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,

but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

Observations

• Joy in "nots" – follow advice of wicked, stand with sinners, join with mockers
• Delight in "dos" – Delight in God's Word, think about it deeply
• When I avoid the "nots" and do the "dos" = Planted and prosperous
• The wicked = opposite
• God watches over the path of the of those that "do" and doesn't those that "don't"

Application

• Follow God's advice, advance and apply
• Think more about my life in light of scripture
• Keep seeking God, keep moving based on obedience & keep growing

Prayer

Lord, I think You for the path of godliness. I'm dependent upon You and the revelation of Your Word. I ask that You provide, guide and protect me on Your path. Forgive me of listening, standing and not advancing. I love you Lord!