“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” – James 1:22-25
Starting this fall, instead of going through a book study, our small groups will begin using what’s known as “pulpit curriculum” to facilitate our small group times. Pulpit curriculum is small group curriculum that is developed each week to correspond with the Sunday sermon. The curriculum will consist of a short study to be done individually before the small group as well as several discussion questions based on the text/sermon from Sunday.
Why the switch? Consider these 5 advantages to pulpit curriculum:
1. It emphasizes the centrality of the preached Word in the life of the church.
2. It further compels small group members to make Sunday morning worship a priority.
3. It requires that people listen to or watch the sermon online if they miss a service.
4. It helps the church apply what is learned each week in God’s Word.
5. It ensures that the church grows in unity together through the preached Word.
I am excited about this change and I hope you are too. God’s Word speaks very seriously of those who hear the Word of God but fail to do what it says. Pulpit curriculum will help us further hold each other accountable to not just be hearers of the word, but doers also.
