This week I engaged in some conversation online with other youth pastors and it went similarly to conversations I’ve had before.

“ What do you think of this curriculum? Have you used it?”- they ask

-I respond about the curriculum

“ I just want you to know normally I like creating my own stuff, I just am so busy and need to use some curriculum to help me out.”

It’s after these conversations I walk away asking myself why everyone has the same response.

If you use curriculum there is something I want you to hear today:

There is nothing wrong with you for using curriculum! It doesn’t make you a bad pastor, in fact it could even make you a great pastor. You don’t need to come up with your own materials.

Each of us is uniquely gifted and for some of us creating content comes easily, for others of us it doesn’t. Each of our ministries is different, some have huge teams where people can focus on specific roles while others are struggling to get everything done by themselves.

Curriculum is a tool, it is published by individuals for you to use. And I believe that as long as you are putting the best time and effort you can into prepping and delivering the most God-honoring curriculum you can…. then you are doing your job. If you are really strong at spending time counseling students and that is how God has gifted you, be an excellent counsellor and do your best teaching you can. If you are great at evangelism but struggle with teaching all the nitty gritty bits of faith: Share and bring others to Christ and use tools to help guide them.

There should be no stigma associated with using curriculum. The only time it becomes a problem is when you use it to cut corners. When you let it do all the work and you don’t dedicate any time to it. But if you are using it to help you whether you need to free up time for a season, or whether you just need help teaching because you are gifted in some other way….please don’t feel guilty! You are doing the best with what you’ve got and God will honor and bless that. Besides its the Holy Spirit that does the heavy lifting anyways we are all just his tools.

So be blessed as you prep your lessons this week, this month, this winter no matter how you do it!

Kyle Corbin has been serving youth as a volunteer or pastor for over 10 years and blogs exclusively here on LoveGodLoveStudents.com. He is currently the youth pastor at the Bridge Church in North Vancouver B.C. Hit him up on Twitter @CorbinKyle