Curriculum Review: New City Catechism created by The Gospel Coalition

New City Catechism Sunday School Curriculum Review

 & Adapted use for my local church proposal 

Price   Curriculum: Retail $90  Westminster Bookstore $58,  Amazon today: 58, CBD $50 

 Books for students:  Retail: $1.99  CBD $1.49 per book

Created by: The Gospel Coalition Edited by: Melanie Lacy              Published by Crossway.

Publisher Description:

The New City Catechism Curriculum features fifty-two engaging lessons developed from the questions and answers of The New City Catechism, designed to help children ages 8–11 learn the core doctrines of the Christian faith in a Sunday school, classroom, or homeschool setting. Each lesson includes three different outlines for 30-, 45-, or 75-minute sessions, a Bible passage and memory verse, a list of suggested materials, detailed instructions for activities, suggested prayers, and activity pages available for digital download—all created so that teachers can help children better understand the truth of God's Word and how it connects to their lives. The New City Catechism Curriculum is available as a boxed kit, containing lessons divided across three volumes, a resource book, and four copies of The New City Catechism for Kids.

Kit includes:

• 3 lesson volumes containing detailed outlines for a variety of settings.
• 1 resource book containing graphics and activity pages needed for the lessons. Also available as free digital downloads with purchase of a kit.
• 4 copies of The New City Catechism for Kids, a simplified version of The New City Catechism. Additional copies of this are also sold separately.

The kit is: 4 books. The orange, blue, and green are the LEADER or TEACHER guides. Purple is handouts/resources, and there are 4 small student books. 

Orange has the lessons on questions 1-20, blue is questions 21-35, Green is questions 36-52, the backs of the TG have the questions covered in that book for easy access. The lesson plans are so easy to follow, adjust, and know the content, each lesson has a suggested memory verse, big idea. aim, virtue, and bible passage cover page. Each TG book has the same intro written by the editor- a short sweet explanation of what a catechism is, the goals of this curriculum, and the goals of delivery with management types included (engage, connect, nurture heart application, how to pray and prepare), The lessons engage higher-level thinking and real-life application. 

Purple is the resource book to make copies of handouts, posters for lessons (also if purchased you can access the purple book content online.) It also contains 4 tiny and cute student books- which are just the 52 questions and answers. 

Student books: We are thinking we will have our students write down the concepts, passage, and key learning connected to the Bible study (teaching time) for each question.

We only have a 30 minute time slot and each part of the three guides gives a time limit with each activity- and suggested ways to use the curriculum in 30, 45, or 75 minutes- which is great.

I love that the main learning is to open your bibles, read one passage together, and then a brief vocabulary, concept, examples by a teacher, then discussion and activity suggestions to really learn the material, and connections to life virtues if you are living out this concept.  (we won’t likely have a lot of time for virtue connections) We will focus it as a weekly concept and Bible passage to learn and read together.  The teacher will prepare by planning how to read the passage together, what vocabulary needs to be explained, discussed, etc. (and the guides seem to do this well.) And will lead the large group in reading the passage together and briefly teach the content. 

I hope to pilot it this year with our grades 3/4/5 class. It seems solid theological curriculum and we will adapt to our needs by focusing on the content and concepts over memorization of the questions and answers in our short teaching/learning time. I think it will be easy to prepare from, and personalize to the teacher’s delivery style, and then focus 10-15 minutes on small group discussion.  We will allow parents to choose the memorization piece at home.  

My plan for the time: (will change with actually experience and input from our people)

 10:30-10:40 am singing (or start class with small group review as parents check in?)

 10:40 review/open with prayer

 10:45-11 am Teacher leads the large group through the Bible passage, shares the Q/A. 

 11:00-11:05 Students write the passage and key word definitions in their small book or notebook? Or we give stickers to place in? (but writing reaches their brains better.) 

 11:05-11:20 am (we should encourage parents to get their youngest children first and oldest children last.)  Small Group discussion time.  4^th grade boys, 5^th grade boys, 4/5 girls. 

 

Because Catechism is a liturgical word, could be a trigger- or make us seem too ‘high church’, we think we would call this the New City Curriculum, and here’s a draft of what we might give parents/teachers to describe it as:

 A one/two year curriculum where we are taking big theological concepts and letting our upper elementary students study the doctrine and what it means from the Word of God by taking one bible passage each week and discussing the key concepts it teaches, and thinking about how this applies in life.  

 Each week will feature doctrines that build on one another like: eternity, trinity, God, glorifying God, the law, sin, redemption, the Redeemer, Jesus Christ, His death, faith, salvation, Holy Spirit, Baptism, Lord’s Supper, Word of God.  

 The curriculum is organized as the traditional reformed churches catechism, but our emphasis will not be on memorizing Q & A, our emphasis will be on studying these key concepts from the Bible, and being sure that our children grasp the vocabulary, concepts, and teaching from key passages in the Bible.  We will review the concepts, not the Q & A. 

 

If approved as a curriculum, I plan to start a model of taking the curriculum and adapting it to focus more on thinking/learning than memorizing.   That would be built as a review document for the discussion leaders and would share the key learning to write in each student book. (or stick in).  But it's almost all in the curriculum- so I just need to be sure our teachers have the goal in mind. 

 I also want a scope/sequence list with the Question, the answer, the passage, the key concepts, etc.  So you have an overview in a few pages of the full scope and plan.   

 I have not yet read every part of every lesson/activity.  But here are some observations:

 ·       It seems very neutral, straight forward introductory level concepts that would build a solid foundation of key vocab, concepts, and doctrine.  And the aim is to help children grasp the life concepts of faith.

·       Example big ideas:

·       Those who have been redeemed by Christ have the confident hope of spending eternity with the triune God free from sin.   (q52)

·       When we pray, our attitude mattes (q39)

·       Example aims:

·       To help children anticipate eternal life confidently (q52)

·       To help the children consider how what we know about God should influence the attitude with which we pray (q39) 

 

So the parts of the curriculum we would use:  (and I think it’s understood that we choose curriculum for the outcomes to teach, and we trust our teachers to pick/choose the activities to deliver the content and teach the concepts.)

•  TG: Intro page with:  question, answer, Big Idea, Aim, Memory Verse, and Virtue listed.
• Student q & a books- to add the content learned.
• Teacher would read the whole lesson and choose how to use the 15 minute teaching time. (but the curriculum has a teaching outline for 15 minutes already done and they seem well done and the discussion/question time is prepared as  5 minute time, but there are activities to include as well.)
•  Teacher or curriculum support would create a teaching point note page with:
•   discussion or activity plans for small group,
• what to write in the student books (passage, vocab or aim/big idea- copied or rephrased)
• what to review

Pros:

• Bible study for our students- with thinking and talking expected of all students.
• Simple preparation, but solid teaching concepts/doctrine.
• Curriculum is designed for 30 minutes or 45 minutes- our other curriculum is designed for 60-75 minutes.
• Clear big idea stated, clear aim, key passage. (direct, easy to follow, and what will be accomplished in one day’s lesson- in CDG the aims/outcomes spiral, but a list of 10ish is presented with most lessons, so our teachers have to figure out which one-three to cover in one class, and how to build/review.)
• Will meet the needs and levels of ALL our kids- as some our of families are very biblically literate and some of our families choose us because we teach the Word of God, but the children will be able to: be exposed to a concept- and if it’s new- that’s expected. If it’s not new- reading the passage and the discussion can expand to the child’s knowledge, wonders, and questions.
• Systematic- we can choose which topics to cover, and the depths- but if we are designing a plan to create biblically literate children this seems like a great systematic approach to build in.  

Cons: 

• Catechism (could be a trigger- and if followed directly the curriculum expects each q & a to be memorized, so if our plan isn’t clearly communicated, our teachers could emphasize the true catechism and memorizing the q/a)
• Memory verse for each week, but not time to really emphasize this aspect or learn in class, even hear all the students recite the next week.
• No one has read all the teaching outlines. 
• Virtue visions- not time for, but they seem interesting and fun, perhaps could be shared with parents to discuss at home (making it a pro?)

Book Review: Imperfect Courage by Jessica Honnegger of Noonday releasing August 14, 2018

I finished the book in three sittings, in less than a week, and I must say, this book is therapy for my soul as I’m potentially reinventing my life this fall. I’m predicting NY times bestseller. The author reaches us in our head, hearts, and hands, with an amazing sister-like approach, honesty, truth, and love, that moves the reader to action. I read a lot of books from well known Christians, and this by far is my favorite book in this past year or more.

I was drawn to the title....Imperfect Courage. I was intrigued by the cover. I was motivated to read this book when I read the description about Jessica invites you in to learn self compassion. and the description of promises that she would help the reader soul search and embrace her God given identity, passions, self, and expand and create a culture of collaboration, community, sisterhood, all while being set free from whatever entraps you. And she vulnerably and authentically achieves this with compassion, real life testimonies, and her own tough love honesty.











She encourages you in a therapeutic(my word) soul searching process. I read tons of women’s Christian life and inspiration books, many which are the same instruction manuals,and are easy to read and ignore, but not so with this book. Jessica is your encourager, cheerleader, role model, and shares the testimonies of others who have joined her in this journey. 

Spoiler. 
The book ends with the encouragement of being a light as bright as the noonday, and how she named the company. While the book is light on scripture, it boldly and genuinely shares an authentic faith, her connections, and the truth she shares is very biblically driven with a Christian world view. I loved it and learned so much and feel like she has helped me process and plan out my own growth mindset to face my fears with God driven imperfect courage.

Book Review: The Eternal Current by Aaron Niequist

When your faith is shaken by life to the foundation or core-- you have options, our traditional responses are:

1) Double down to your faith that no longer works and it's practices that already isn't working for you.
2) Give up your faith- jump ship.  Pitch it...

but this book leads you to think- to have a growth mindset- seeking the Way of Christ, by inviting Jesus and the Holy Spirit to help you see that there are more options, more ways to deepen your faith, to live in love with the Lord Jesus, and to swim in the eternal current. 

Facebook Link to Aaron's 3 minute intro to the book.

As someone who was not familiar with a lot of formal practiced based faith practices, after the first two chapters I had more questions than answers, but from chapter three on, Aaron took a chapter to explain his discovery process, attempts in a church setting to include the liturgy, and other faith based practices, as well as his personal and family journey to live out faith practices in deep, meaningful ways. 

The book gives resources, ideas, and examples of these practices with the analogy of all of us swimming in the eternal current, and provides hope for even those who doubt their faith (as Aaron once did while working as a music team minister!).   It's thought provoking, encouraging, and generated ideas, thoughts, and personal connections for me to explore, build on, and recognize that I already had created my own faith based practices and found others, I just wasn't calling them 'practices.' 

This is a book that made me think, that I want to review/re-read- list quotes that I highlighted- and really process, examine, and enhance how ask God what practices would help me know Him better, not just believing him Him, but living a life that reflects and practices beliefs moment by probably pushes me from really liking it- to finding it amazing. Many books I read seem like a moment, hour by hour, season by season. And that makes it a GREAT book in my mind, and review, or for someone else, but this book the reader is a participant in, and also has a well researched with suggested readings to grow further. 

Waterbrook says this about the book:
A call for Christians to move past the shallows of idealized beliefs and into a deeper, more vibrant, beatitude-like faith rooted in sacred practices and intimate experiences with God.

This is what drew me to the book and I was not at all disappointed. As a believer, my hope is that faith is rooted in intimate experiences with God, and that is what this book highlights. And this is what will take time to develop and experience with God. (I highlighted 4 % of the book in a pdf form- that makes is so hard to highlight- it's that good). I'm going to paste some favorite quotes here- to give a picture of some thought provoking statements. 

*participate in that eternally flowing good work through practices that allow God’s Spirit to do what only God can do. Grace alone makes the River flow, but we need to wade into the water. Grace alone makes the vine grow, but we need to build the trellis. Grace alone makes the wind blow, but spiritual practices help us humbly open the window, day by day, moment by moment. The invitation is participation. (location 83)
* Location 190 And so we began to experiment with different forms, practices, and ways to worship.

*Location 205 God’s grace drenched us as we stumbled and splashed around with new (old) practices and worship forms. I couldn’t wait to see what was around the corner.

*Location 279 But at the Practice, there is nowhere to hide and it forces me to engage. I’m not sure I always like it, but I know I need it.”

*Location 427
I began to understand that the invitation of Christ has to do with far more than my personal salvation. While I am clearly a sinner and my only hope is Christ, securing a guarantee about my eternal destination did not seem to be Jesus’s central concern.

*Location 445 
We cultivate our God-given talents so they can be used to help the whole. We soak in the Scriptures to let God’s story wash over us. We draw close to the poor because Christ is with them in a special way. Discipleship and mission and community no longer sound like optional add-ons but are essential to living fully into the invitation. When we get clear about the full extent of the big story, a practice-based life becomes a tangible way to humbly say yes

*Location 535
Brother Lawrence] thought it was a shame that some people pursued certain activities (which, he noted, they did rather imperfectly due to human shortcomings), mistaking the means for the end. He said that our sanctification does not depend as much on changing our activities as it does on doing them for God rather than for ourselves.

*Location 909
What is the ache that this beatitude addresses? • How do we tend to avoid and distract ourselves from this ache? • What is the kingdom reality that Jesus offers to address this ache? • What practice can help us align our ache with Jesus’s kingdom vision?

* Location 1071
“When you boil it all down, each spiritual discipline is simply a slightly different way to offer our bodies to God as a living sacrifice.” It really is that simple . . . and life changing.

*Location 1104
“For the next three to six months, what concrete practices will help me close the gap between my deep longing and my lived reality in terms of my relationships with God, myself, my community, and the world?” 

*Location 1218
Ecumenism helps us humbly receive and participate in the full reality of what actually is—so the world might know the One who holds it all together.

*Location 1240
Sabbath keeping, biblical lament, Lectio Divina, praying for the world, washing feet, inductive Bible study, Passing the Peace, the discipline of celebration, and on and on.

*Location 1428
It’s challenging when you realize that almost none of the commands can be fully obeyed in a traditional church gathering. (a comment on we can't live faith alone or only in church!) 

Having not having been part of the Practice, when Aaron Niequist (author) talked about the Eternal Current- a river of grace- swimming in the stream-- with these new practices- I admit I had confusion and felt like I might not grasp the book since these analogies seemed pretty generic and vague- and his initial comments about his childhood faith were more critical than my experiences in the same faith based group have been. So I didn't know if these new ideas would be relevant for me. But I love to learn- and I love to read- and my interest was peaked. 

After reading the first two chapters, as I said earlier,  I had more questions than answers, and I had no more book... so that was interesting- but when I was able to get the entire book- and continue reading- it all came together, and most importantly, most if not all of the basic terms, concepts, and examples were better defined and explained in subsequent chapters. So my worry was unnecessary. 

Each chapter explored a different aspect of learning to live a practice based faith. Aaron shares from his personal experience, reading, exposure through the Practice, and his acquaintances with other faith based leaders, priests, authors, musicians, etc. His embracing diversity and the One Church- the full church universal who all have different styles, traditions, etc but are worshiping the same God, and we can learn from one another. 

His call is challenging, complete with volumes of suggested reading if a reader wants to grasp with even more depth the concepts or practices highlighted, but there are also examples, and even some practices given to try immediately. So it is a great way to be exposed and learn how to swim in the eternal current...and I've continued exploring and pondering since I finished my first reading of the book two months ago, and now I have the hard copy to highlight, make notations, and really dig into.