Curriculum vs. Community
Old people think they’ve seen it all.
But if you keep looking, you can keep learning. Through a men’s group I’m a part of, I’ve learned that people, especially men, can avoid having to open up and truly connect with others.
Always having a book to read and discuss or homework to do and share is a surrogate for getting together, listening to each other, and truly “knowing and being known.”
I’ve come to this slowly – like glacier speed. We were once in a small group with John Maxwell and his wife Margaret. Everyone just wanted to be “social” and talk. Guess who was always pushing for a curriculum? Yep, yours truly. A disciple is a “learner and follower” of Jesus Christ, right? So if I wasn’t learning something, why bother?
What I missed was that life is primarily about relationships. It began with the trinity relationships between God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Through Christ’s death on the cross, we were added to this “circle” . . . kindred spirits on a journey hand in hand with our Heavenly Father and with each other.
I’m not busting on curriculum. We do need to keep learning about God and his Word. But we men need to slow down and engage with other men, sometimes without a curriculum and even without a specific purpose. We just need the connection. We need to “know and be known.” That starts will being vulnerable, with allowing life to slow down just enough to hear the pauses between sentences. To find the value and meaning behind silence like that. To treasure it. To share it with others.
Curriculum is about fixing things and improving.
Community is about feeling people and loving them.
You need a healthy dose of both.
Father, help us to not get lost in curriculum. To not get distracted by theological lines that separate us, but to focus on the humanity that brings us together, especially in light of what this coming weekend means as followers of your son, Jesus. Amen.
Question: What’s your take on curriculum vs. community? Tell us here.
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Responses (9)
Love the reminder that life is about relationship and community.
We too used to push for curriculum. Only to end up in a group with no curriculum, just loving, laughing and carrying each other burdens. Changed my life.
Thanks for the great article.
Agree, but also finding the need for a ‘growth group’ or mentoring group where there’s intentionality toward disciple-making. Maybe we all need two groups…a frequent one almost exclusively for connection and community and another one for being mentored? Maybe once a month with some assignments in between?
Thanks Regi…this is great. Yes…both curriculum and community are essential. And maybe it’s my temperament, but if I had to have one or the other in a small group, I’d lean toward community…looking for other ways to find curriculum to round out my “diet”. But the magic happens when both are there…making the curriculum more than just a lecture or sermon…and making community more than just surface-y hang-time. Thanks again!
Yes, but. I’m beginning to believe there’s two groups people need. One for community and connection and one that adds spiritual growth as a priority and passion. I just visited a church where that’s the case and it was IMPRESSIVE.
I could not agree with you more Regi! The church and our families are losing its leaders to the world and its idols. It only takes a quick invite to bring a few guys over for fellowship and fellowship always includes bringing the Lord into the conversation and most importantly prayer. For guys it helps to break bread and eat too. Blessings, Dan
Thanks Dan. I love your spirit . . . or the His spirit in you. Regi
Thanks Regi. Clearly there are a number of ways you could skin this cat.
I have to say, with the group that Eddie and I led a year or so ago…we seemed to be able to get both. It really was an incredible year. In fact, 7 of the 8 guys re-upped for another year meeting…and have now re-upped for another year (sans Eddie/me).
There are a number of reasons how/why I think it all came together to work so well. For example: starting w Bo’s Cafe/transparency, leading immediately into our retreat where everyone told their stories, all of us going to the same church, scheduling intermittent social times w and wout our wives, Eddie/me leading on both fronts, etc.
Would love to chat live if you’re interested.
And by the way, Jay Overstreet and I are getting ready to launch another group…w a couple of tweaks.
Thanks! Doug
That’s fantastic Doug. I don’t doubt for a minute you figured out how to get ‘two for one’. I’m traveling for another week, then back and available. I’d love to catch up. RC
I think of curriculum in the original Latin sense—a path (originally, the course for a foot race)—not just a path through a learning event, but a path that extends into living out what is learned. And the best learning happens in community.