Sample curriculum proposal for a Christian Education Committee

I've had a lot of people ask how to use my courses as a formal curriculum in a church.  Below is a sample proposal to a Christian Education Committee for setting up an adult Sunday School course using my classes as a curriculum.  Feel free to use it as you wish.

- Robert Jones

robertcjones@mindspring.com

Proposal for a new adult Sunday School class at <name of church> 

Class Title:  “Christian History & Theology”

Instructor:  <name of instructor>

Class Focus:

The class will focus on topics concerning the history of the Christian Church, beginning with its Jewish roots, and continuing to today.  The development of Christian theology will be examined in several of the courses.

The courses and curriculum are from a Web-based series entitled "Christian History & Theology".  The courses are available in their entirety on www.sundayschoolcourses.com.  The course titles appear below (order not significant).  Individual courses typically last in the 3-4 month range.

The Jewish Roots:

• The Apocrypha and Christianity
• The Dead Sea Scrolls and Christianity
• Jewish Religious Parties at the Time of Christ Part One: Pharisees and Sadducees
• Jewish Religious Parties at the Time of Christ Part Two: Essenes
• The Messiah – In the Old Testament, the Apocrypha, and the Dead Sea Scrolls
• The Search for the Pre-Incarnate Christ in the Old Testament

The New Testament & the Early Church:

• Meet the Apostles - Biblical and Legendary Accounts: Part One – The Twelve
• Meet the Apostles - Biblical and Legendary Accounts: Part Two – After the Twelve
• Evidence for the Gospel Accounts of Jesus Christ
• Heresies & Schisms in the Early Church 
• Origins of the New Testament
• Revelation: Background and Commentary
• Worship and Cultural Patterns in the Early Church

General Church History & Theology Topics:

• A Brief History of Christian Baptism
• A Brief History of Protestantism in the United States
• A Brief History of the Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
• A Brief History of the Inquisition
• A Brief History of Western Monasticism
• Angels: In the Bible, the Apocrypha & the Dead Sea Scrolls
• Basic Christian Theology
• The Crusades: A Brief History (1095-1291)
• Heaven: In the Bible, the Apocrypha and the Dead Sea Scrolls
• Hell and the Devil: In the Bible, the Apocrypha and the Dead Sea Scrolls
• The Holy Spirit: In the Bible, the Apocrypha, and the Dead Sea Scrolls
• Joseph of Arimathea: Biblical & Legendary Sources
• Origins of the Major Protestant Denominations in the United States
• Theological Roots of the Protestant Reformation
• Women as Leaders in the Church: From Miriam to Joan of Arc

Target audience:

This class will be open to all adults (including college age).  The experience of those that have taught these courses in the past is that the class makeup will be about two-thirds believers that want more information about their Christian roots, and one-third seekers – typically, more analytical folks that “want to get the facts” before they commit themselves to Christ.

Class format: Lecture/discussion

Start date: <start date>

Potential advertising blurb: 

"Interested in learning more about the roots of our Christian faith?  Ever wonder why different denominations have different beliefs and forms of governance?  A new adult Sunday School class named "Christian History & Theology" is starting on <date/time> at <name of church>..  The class will focus on topics concerning the history of the Christian Church, beginning with its Jewish roots, and continuing to today.  The development of Christian theology will be examined in several of the courses (see http://www.sundayschoolcourses.com/ for the complete curriculum).  The first topic:  <name of first course>.  The class will be led by <name of instructor>.  All adults are welcome."

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