Christian Youth Group Curriculum Teaching Tips

**Note: the following advice and suggestions come from the writer's personal experience in teaching and leading worship for junior and senior high student ministries between two churches and in being the eldest son of a senior church pastor.

With the new year already in motion, countless youth pastors nationwide are no doubt planning to transition into brand new teaching series and topics for their groups. If you plan on searching your local Christian bookstores or online retailers for a curriculum and/or accompanying workbook, there are a few things you'll need to keep in mind. While nothing can compare to crafting together your own unique lessons to cater to the knowledge and education level of your students, there is still much to be said for teaching from a curriculum which employs the use of handouts, activities, discussion starters, etc. Here are a few tips and suggestions to bear in mind as you begin working through any Christian youth curriculum:

1. Don't Limit yourself to the Format of the Curriculum

Remember that no one knows your students better than you do. While certain aspects of a curriculum may be relevant to your students, others will not. Before leaping into or purchasing any curriculum, spend some time reading through its contents. If you are shopping online, find some user reviews and assess the usability of its contents. Be prepared to dissect each lesson and use the suggested activities, lesson guides, handouts, etc. to your own advantage. Let the curriculum enhance your teaching, rather than restrict it.

2. Don't be Afraid to Add or Create your own Activities and/or Handouts

Much like Tip #1, this one is all about maintaining your freedom as a teacher. If a certain aspect, idea or theme within the curriculum inspires you to create and/or organize your own activity, handout or lesson, feel free to do so. After all, it's all about helping your students comprehend and apply the spiritual lessons found within the curriculum. If you find another way this goal can best be accomplished, do not hesitate to embark on your own teaching journey, while continuing to use the curriculum as a guide.

3. Incorporate Bible Verse Memorization

While the vast majority of youth curriculums will contain and/or suggest this important element, many recent ones do not. Today's youth generation is, unfortunately, becoming increasingly unknowledgeable about the content of Scriptures, particularly when it comes to specific verse and reference memorizations. As is the case with learning any material, whether for school, work or personal knowledge, repetition and memorization are critical components.

If you will be giving out a memory verse every week, encourage your students to study it and memorize it and inspire them with the promise of a prize at the end of every month for the student who says the most consecutive verses. Gift cards to Christian bookstores make great student prizes and will allow them to purchase a CD, music video DVD and/or other item that retains a healthy, God-centered theme. Avoid revealing the prize to your students before the end of the month as this may discourage students who do not care about winning a Christian gift card.

However, you may wish to find another prize outside the realm of Christian retail.

Encourage friendly competition between your students. You may want to form a guys vs. girls verse memorization battle and see who will win at the end of the month or other predetermined amount of time. This type of competition will, hopefully, spur your students on toward even greater verse memorization. Be certain to keep such competition friendly and lighthearted.

4. Incorporate Personal Experiences and Meaningful Illustrations

While studying for and preparing a particular lesson, you may find yourself reminded of an event, struggle or situation from your own past and/or spiritual walk, one which relates to the content of the lesson. If appropriate and relevant, such events can serve as illustrations to help your students better relate to you as their teacher and understand the real life application behind the lesson. Illustrations of a humorous nature always help to keep the atmosphere light and your students listening.

5. Keep Worksheets to a Minimum

This tip is particularly important for students at the high school level. Although the majority of youth group curriculums include various worksheets throughout each lesson, many students find them reminiscent of homework and therefore shirk the task of completing them. If you give students a worksheet, carve out enough time to complete it while still in session. Sending worksheets home with students is generally not a good idea, as the majority tend to lose, misplace or discard them.

Remember that no curriculum can replace your connection to and knowledge of your students. Do not limit yourself to the restrictions of the curriculum. Be creative and encourage your students to study their memory verses each week. Remember that most youth curriculums are designed and written for students who have little to know Scriptural knowledge base. If your students have grown up in church their whole lives, you will likely be able to skip over the introductory lessons and work through the meat of the content. Any youth curriculum is only as good as the teacher behind it! Bear the aforementioned tips in mind and I guarantee you will be on the path to success.